Written by Garden Manager Lisa Bartlett spring ephemeral noun any of various woodland wildflowers that appear above ground in early spring, flower and fruit, and die in a short two-month period. That is what makes these spring flowering plants so very special, though they go dormant and don’t really die. Spring ephemerals are some of the first plants to … Read More
Birds of SGG
The Great Backyard Bird Count by Pat Pepper If you helped to count birds at SGG on Feb 18, 2017, then you were part of the SGG group that participated in the 2017 GBBC (Great Backyard Bird Count) sponsored by Cornell Labs, Audubon, and Canada Bird Studies. This count ran from Friday, 2/17, to Monday, 2/20. I arrived at … Read More
Falcon Fever
Falcon Fever By Pat Pepper Could this be the year our beloved Falcons finally win a Super Bowl? If a team’s chosen mascot can influence its performance on the field, then we stand a very good chance of winning. The Atlanta Falcon’s logo is, of course, a very stylized, artistic falcon. However, as I stared at that red and … Read More
Hellebores Are Far From Boring
Written by Garden Manager Lisa Bartlett It’s Hellebore bloom time at Smith Gilbert Gardens. They are some of the first plants to bloom at the gardens and they are putting on quite the show. Hellebore some of the most idiot-proof plants in the world. Unless you plant them in a bog, they just can’t be killed. Hellebores are even deer … Read More
Camellia Fun Facts
Written by Garden Manager Lisa Bartlett Whenever someone wonders what there is to see at the garden in winter, I ALWAYS point them toward our Palladino Camellia Garden. Camellias are a wonderful wintertime treat, offering a variety of bloom colors and types that bring life to the bleakness of winter. … Read More
Birds of Smith-Gilbert Gardens
Written by SGG Volunteer Birder Pat Pepper On December 17, 2016, I and five other birders gathered at 6 a.m. to participate in the largest Citizen-Science Project in the world, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). These counts go on internationally all through December and the first week in January. December 17 in my assigned birding area … Read More
Homeschool Days
Nature Field Day Thursday, September 26, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your homeschool students and enjoy a day of fun and fascination in the gardens! Watch live demonstrations and programs throughout the day. Join in a citizen science project. Explore many facets of our connection with nature. All programs are included with your paid garden admission. Purchase … Read More
The Point About Poinsettias
Written by Garden Manager Lisa Bartlett The Poinsettia is a terrific care free houseplant that thrives in the harsh dry conditions of our homes. With their red and green color is it any wonder than they have become such a symbol for the holiday season? Poinsettia come in a wide variety of colors now, from the traditional red to the … Read More
Keeping Your Plants Alive Through Dry Fall and Winter
ADVICE from our Garden Manager: Keeping your plants alive through this dry fall and into winter Dry summers are not that unusual in the South. But, this year’s dry spell has been exceptional. Of particular concern this year is that the dry spell is continuing well into autumn, putting plants in poor condition to get through the winter … Read More
Attracting Butterflies-No Matter Where You Live
By Lisa Bartlett, Garden Manager Butterfly gardening appeals to both children and adults, with good reason. They are so beautiful it is hard to remember they are insects at all! Whether you live in the city and have only a balcony or you have a home with a bit of land, the following tips will not fail to attract these … Read More