The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, The UGA Horticulture Club

and The Trial Gardens at UGA Combine Spring Plant Sales in Athens on April 14^th

Athens, GA. – Athens, Georgia, the hotspot of horticulture, is home to outstanding public gardens, including The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Trial Gardens at UGA, as well as many specialty nurseries, the top school in horticulture, and horticulture celebrities. Athens has long been a travel destination for plant enthusiasts, but on Saturday, April 14, 2012 many gardeners will journey to Athens to attend Plantapalooza at the State Botanical Garden, the UGA Horticulture Club and The Trial Gardens at UGA. A wide array of garden plants that thrive in the Southeast will be available at each location from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, along with horticulturists, volunteers and Master Gardeners to help with plant selections. Admission is free for all plant sales.

The Trial Gardens at UGA grows and tests the newest annuals and perennials from plant breeders throughout the world and will offer unique plants that are difficult to find anywhere else in the state. Dr. Allan Armitage will be available to sign his books (which will be for sale) and lead tours of the Trial Garden (www.ugatrialgardens.com). Profits from all sales help fund research and student employees in the gardens.

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia (botgarden.uga.edu), headquarters of the Georgia Gold Medal Plant Program (www.georgiagoldmedalplants.org), will have Gold Medal plants noted among its broad selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, and more. This sale will also offer many native plants grown at the State Botanical Garden. The Garden Gift Shop and Donderos’ Kitchen (serving coffee drinks and a selection of handmade breakfast and lunch items) will be open.

The UGA Horticulture Club will be selling a wide range of garden and landscape plants near the intersection of Riverbend Road and College Station Road.  Profits from all sales fund projects for students in the Horticulture program.

Gardeners who participate in the 2012 Plantapalooza will be able to get a special card stamped to receive discounts in many area nurseries. Each participating retailer will have a drawing for $25 worth of plants for Plantapalooza participants. Directions andinformation about participating retailers are available online at ugatrialgardens.com. Information on Athens hotels and attractions can be found at www.VisitAthensGA.com.

Participating retailers:

Cofer’s Home and Garden Showplace

1145 Mitchell Bridge Road, Athens

(706) 353-1519, cofers.com

Goodness Grows

332 Elberton Road, Lexington

(706) 743-5055, goodnessgrows.com

Specialty Ornamentals

3650 Colham Ferry Road, Watkinsville

(706) 310-0143, specialtyornamentals.com

Thomas Orchard and Nursery

6091 Macon Highway, Bishop

(706) 769-5011, thomasorchardsandnursery.com

Thyme After Thyme

550 Athens Road, Winterville

(706) 742-7149, thymeafterthyme.com

Wildwood Specialty Nursery

4970 Lexington Road, Athens

(706) 201-6559, wildwoodspecialtynursery.com

Wolfskin Nursery

10325 Double Bridges Road, Winterville

(706)543-5051.

Site Locations:

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia            botgarden.uga.edu

2450 S. Milledge Avenue, Athens

The Trial Gardens at UGA                                     www.ugatrialgardens.com

220 W Green Street, Athens behind Snelling Dining Hall

The UGA Horticulture Club                                     www.hortclub.uga.edu

near the intersection of Riverbend Road and College Station Road

We take great pride in the Trials at the University of Georgia.  We don’t trial for the sake of trialing or to make us look good or to give us something to do – we trial in the steadfast belief that what we do makes a difference.  When we provide real data under real world conditions, we do so in the belief that someone, breeders, growers, retailers and consumers, will pay attention.  That they are, as seen by better plants being put in front of my daughters, speaks to quality of selection and freshness in the marketplace.   Quality is not limited to fertility standards and spacing, quality is also what consumers, from landscapers to buyers, see when they have a little money to spend.

So, in the steadfast belief that what we do does make a difference, here are the Classic City^* Perennial Award winners for 2011, the very best perennials in the trial gardens, based on year round performance and/or eye-clutching beauty.  Of the over 2000 plants in the garden, being a Classic City Award winner is equivalent to the Oscar and Tony rolled up as one.

The Perennials: (in alphabetical order.  All are winter hardy to at least zone 5, unless otherwise noted). The companies in parentheses either bred the plant or supplied the plant to us; however, your broker should be able to obtain all of the winners.

We take great pride in the Trials at the University of Georgia.  We don’t trial for the sake of trialing or to make us look good or to give us something to do – we trial in the steadfast belief that what we do makes a difference.  When we provide real data under real world conditions, we do so in the belief that someone, breeders, growers, retailers and consumers, will pay attention.  Quality is not limited to fertility standards and spacing, quality is also what consumers, from landscapers to buyers, see when they have a little money to spend.

So, in the steadfast belief that what we do does make a difference, here are the Classic City^* Award winners for 2011, the very best plants in the trial gardens, based on year round performance and/or eye-clutching beauty.  Of the over 2000 plants in the garden, being a Classic City Award winner is equivalent to the Oscar and Tony rolled up as one.

Happy Gardening,

Dr. Allan Armitage

P.S. Check your inboxes for the full write-up and breeder of each plant. Not on our mailing list? Send your name and email address to contact@ugatrialgardens.com and we will send you the Classic City Awards 2011 and our weekly Plants of Distinctions.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out and supported us last night!! The evening went off without a hitch and we hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we enjoyed having you. Our next big thing: PLANTAPALOOZA! If any of you picked up a coupon last night the date is on there, but for everyone else we have decided on April 14, 2012. Check out our website and watch your emails for more details as the event draws closer. Thanks again from everyone here at The Gardens. Until then….

Happy Gardening!

For more information or any questions you may have, feel free to contact us at contact@ugatrialgardens.com or check out our website http://www.ugatrialgardens.com/