Athens Botanical Gardens - Athens, Georgia.

Name of Garden:
State Botanical Garden of Georgia

History and Description:
The International Garden, located adjacent the Visitor Center, portrays the interrelationship between people and plants within the context of three eras that have significantly influenced the evolution of botanical gardens-the Middle Ages, the Age of Exploration and the Age of Conservation.

Eleven botanical and horticultural collections depict the geographic origin of plants, plant hunters who sought them, and the forces that drove the plant hunters.

The Herb Garden contains collections of herbs used for culinary, dye, fragrance, and ceremonial purposes; medicinal herbs are displayed in the Physic Garden reminiscent of a 17th century knot garden. These two gardens represent the Middle Ages. Early physic gardens, then associated with medical schools, led to the development of botanical gardens.

The Age of Exploration is represented by the Mediterranean & Middle East, Spanish America, American South, and China sections. This era saw active exploration of the planet in search of new and valuable plants-and a proliferation of botanical gardens to contain and study them.

The Age of Conservation, a subject of great concern today, is explored in the Threatened & Endangered Plants section and the Bog Garden. The American Indian Plants section features plants used by Indians of the southeast U.S. whose conservation practices provide excellent models even today.

Address:
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 South Milledge Avenue
Athens, Georgia 30605

Tel:706-542-1244

Directions:
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is located in Athens, one mile from U.S. Route 441 and approximately three miles from the University of Georgia campus.

Admission and Hours:
The Garden is open daily 8:00 am to 6:00 pm October-March, and 8:00 am to 8:00 pm April-September. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and on Sundays 11:30 am to 4:30 pm excepting official University of Georgia holidays. The Garden Room Cafe serves lunch daily except Mondays