On Thursday, March 17, the American Camellia Society (ACS) recognized Smith-Gilbert Gardens as a Camellia Trail Garden. This national recognition reflects a partnership the ACS has with public gardens who hold notable camellia collections located across the country. Along with a Trail Marker, a Certificate of Recognition was presented. The American Camellia Society representatives joined Smith-Gilbert Gardens staff, Kennesaw elected … Read More
Smith-Gilbert Garden: History, Mission, Evolution
By Leslie Germaine Leslie is a professional marketer and volunteer writer for Smith-Gilbert Gardens Conservation is a mainstay of Smith-Gilbert Garden’s (SGG) mission. And conserving SGG’s history is no less important than protecting its biodiversity. But history is a funny thing. For anyone who has raised a child (or knows somebody who has) then you know kids think the world … Read More
What’s That Bird?
By Pat Pepper You can certainly enjoy watching birds without knowing their proper names. Many Southerners still call Cardinals “redbirds,” and their enjoyment of this beautiful bird isn’t diminished at all. With that being said, there is an added level to our enjoyment when we possess the American Birding Association’s nomenclature. We can then use “birdspeak” when we talk or … Read More
The Nature of SGG Volunteers
By Leslie GermaineLeslie Germaine is a writer, marketer and SGG volunteer Ask any Smith-Gilbert Gardens (SGG) employee and they will, without exception, tell you that they would not be able to function without the dedication of its volunteer force and Board members. For so many non-profit and public organizations, budgets are tight and offering top-quality services or experiences requires lots … Read More
Smith-Gilbert Gardens Introduces New Logo
On Friday, November 5, with board members, elected officials, staff and the community present, Smith-Gilbert Gardens unveiled a new logo. “Our new logo helps us tell the SGG story through symbols and represents our focus on conservation,” says Ann Parsons, Executive Director. The new logo is comprised of four symbols, representing Smith-Gilbert Gardens’ core values. The hummingbird represents hummingbird and … Read More
Petal Blight and Camellias
In the South, we are blessed with so many broad-leafed evergreens but Camellias are probably the most popular. These evergreen shrubs are highly prized for their dark green waxy leaves and large colorful flowers. Camellia species originated in Asia, where they have been used in numerous cultures for centuries. Camellias are popular ornamentals and some species can be used commercially to make … Read More
Bedtime for Bonsai
Our Bonsai collection is the nicest in the Southeast and for that reason; we take great pains in maintaining them. Bonsai are the divas of Smith-Gilbert’s collection. How we overwinter our trees is specific to the tree species. One of the ways we keep them healthy is by making sure they get their beauty rest. That means we literally put … Read More
Two Schools of Thought: Why or Why Not Leave a Hummingbird Feeder Out?
Written by Julia Elliott, owner Bird Watcher Supply Store and hummingbird bander As we enter into fall and temperatures drop, we always get the question, “When should I take my hummingbird feeders down?” Our response is an empathic – don’t! Although rare, we do have wintering hummingbirds in Georgia. Rufous is the most common species, followed by Calliope and Black-chinned, … Read More
Hummingbirds in the Year of COVID-19
Written by Pat Pepper, Birder and SGG Volunteer Today, October 13, 2020, I took my hummingbird feeder down, washed it, and put it away until next year. It had been five days since I last saw my two little visitors. I have been putting out nectar for hummingbirds for many years, but this year was different. My feeder hung just … Read More
Erosion Control
By KMHS Intern Jeremy Over the course of my internship, I’ve narrowed down my research topic to erosion, particularly the prevention of further erosion at the gardens. I planned doing this originally by testing different design parameters like materials and dimension of the erosion control device, but I ultimately decided to test how angle variations in the device could have an … Read More