Tuesday Tour

Join us at 2 p.m. every Tuesday for an in-depth, one-hour tour of the State Botanical Garden’s Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum. These tours are led by the curator or docents. Tours are $5 per person, payable at the Garden Gift Shop upon arrival. 

Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum – Classroom, 2450 S. Milledge Ave., Athens, Georgia, 30605, United States

Creating the Ultimate Landscape Design

Richard Ludwig, PhD, former host of PBS TV’s GardenSmart, past garden specialist for Southern Living Register OnlineThis course is developed for participants to enhance their design philosophy and create plans that are stunning, unified and functional. The class takes a......More

Richard Ludwig, PhD, former host of PBS TV’s GardenSmart, past garden specialist for Southern Living Register OnlineThis course is developed for participants to enhance their design philosophy and create plans that are stunning, unified and functional. The class takes an architectural approach and emphasizes topics such as form composition and lines of force. This hands-on workshop provides extensive training in design theory, moving from a basic understanding to creating a master plan in just one day. Improve your skills as you create beautiful, practical, sustainable design solutions. This workshop is part of the Certificate in Sustainable Landscape Design. You must register for all four workshops. Please see the registration link for more details.

Gardenside Room, 2450 South Milledge Ave., Athens, Georgia, 30605

Nature Ramblers

Free Leaders rotate among a group of local naturalists and biologists, featuring guest guides. Meet at children’s garden arbor. Join the Nature Ramblers to learn more about the natural areas, flora and fauna of the State Botanical Garden while making new friends and enj......More

Free Leaders rotate among a group of local naturalists and biologists, featuring guest guides. Meet at children’s garden arbor. Join the Nature Ramblers to learn more about the natural areas, flora and fauna of the State Botanical Garden while making new friends and enjoying the fresh air. Rambles start with an inspirational reading by a nature writer such as Annie Dillard, John Muir or Janisse Ray. Ramblers are encouraged to bring their own nature writings or favorite poems and essays to share with the group. This is a ramble, not a hike stopping to view interesting plants, insects, butterflies and mushrooms, etc., along the way is part of the experience each week. You can join for just one or all sessions. These informal rambles are free, but donations are accepted in the garden’s donation box in the lobby of the visitor’s center. To get a feel for what these rambles are like, visit http://naturerambling.blogspot.com.

Shade Garden Arbor, 2450 S. Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA, 30605, United States

Student Art Competition Submission Deadline

Submit Your Artwork OnlineRules and Entry FormThe State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia Student Art Competition is sponsored by The J.A. and H.G. Woodruff, Jr. Charitable Trust and Friends of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. This competiti......More

Submit Your Artwork OnlineRules and Entry FormThe State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia Student Art Competition is sponsored by The J.A. and H.G. Woodruff, Jr. Charitable Trust and Friends of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. This competition is sponsored to select original artwork that may be used to create signature items for sale at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia gift shop, such as note cards, T-shirts, scarves and mugs. Winning artwork may also be used on the garden website, brochures and promotional materials. The judges will consider creative concepts for how the artwork might be used, as well as the reproducibility of the design, how usable the design is to create gift shop items, and how well the design represents the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. For example, a photograph or painting of a Southwestern landscape, beach scene or urban architecture would not represent the garden and would not likely be considered as a winner. All entrants submitting artwork must be in 9th grade and above (including college students) attending school full or part-time in Georgia. Prizes include $1,000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place and $250 for 3rd place.

Georgia

Free Sketch Friday 

Join us at the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum for Free Sketch Friday! This free activity allows artists of all ages and skills to spend time in the museum, studying and drawing from our wonderful, varied collections. All materials will be provided by the museum.

Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum – Classroom, 2450 S. Milledge Ave., Athens, Georgia, 30605, United States

Plant Taxonomy: The Identities of Plants

Sabrina Sewell, botanist Register OnlineTaxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all elements of the world around us, including living things. A plant taxonomist specializes in determining groupings, relationships and ultimately, the names......More

Sabrina Sewell, botanist Register OnlineTaxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all elements of the world around us, including living things. A plant taxonomist specializes in determining groupings, relationships and ultimately, the names and identities of plants. This process utilizes pertinent data such as phylogenetics, phytogeography and phenology, but most essentially, plant morphology—the forms of plant parts. In this multi-session virtual course, students will focus on the diverse morphological characteristics of plants (including descriptors of leaves, flowers, roots, etc.) and their utility in identifying unknown plants. Students will also survey the history, principles and practices of plant taxonomy as a discipline and be guided through the process of plant identification via dichotomous keys. It is recommended, but not necessary, that students take Basic Botany before this class. Course StructureThis class consists of four elements: a series of pre-recorded introductory videos at-home exercises exploring plant anatomy, collecting and dichotomous keys an in-person lab session or virtual lab session and a wrap-up discussion session through Zoom. Part 1 – Introductory Video Lectures – content released March 4Part 2 – At-Home Exercises – content released March 4Part 3 – Plant ID Lab – choice of in-person session March 28, 10 a.m.–noon or 1–3 p.m. OR virtual session March 30, 6–8 p.m.Part 4 – Online Discussion Session – Zoom March 31 6 – 7 p.m.This class is a core class for the Certificate in Native Plants.

Virtual Lecture – Zoom

Plant Taxonomy: The Identities of Plants

Sabrina Sewell, botanist Register OnlineTaxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all elements of the world around us, including living things. A plant taxonomist specializes in determining groupings, relationships and ultimately, the names......More

Sabrina Sewell, botanist Register OnlineTaxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all elements of the world around us, including living things. A plant taxonomist specializes in determining groupings, relationships and ultimately, the names and identities of plants. This process utilizes pertinent data such as phylogenetics, phytogeography and phenology, but most essentially, plant morphology—the forms of plant parts. In this multi-session virtual course, students will focus on the diverse morphological characteristics of plants (including descriptors of leaves, flowers, roots, etc.) and their utility in identifying unknown plants. Students will also survey the history, principles and practices of plant taxonomy as a discipline and be guided through the process of plant identification via dichotomous keys. It is recommended, but not necessary, that students take Basic Botany before this class. Course StructureThis class consists of four elements: a series of pre-recorded introductory videos at-home exercises exploring plant anatomy, collecting and dichotomous keys an in-person lab session or virtual lab session and a wrap-up discussion session through Zoom. Part 1 – Introductory Video Lectures – content released March 4Part 2 – At-Home Exercises – content released March 4Part 3 – Plant ID Lab – choice of in-person session March 28, 10 a.m.–noon or 1–3 p.m. OR virtual session March 30, 6–8 p.m.Part 4 – Online Discussion Session – Zoom March 31 6 – 7 p.m.This class is a core class for the Certificate in Native Plants.

Virtual Lecture – Zoom

Plant Taxonomy: The Identities of Plants

Sabrina Sewell, botanist Register OnlineTaxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all elements of the world around us, including living things. A plant taxonomist specializes in determining groupings, relationships and ultimately, the names......More

Sabrina Sewell, botanist Register OnlineTaxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all elements of the world around us, including living things. A plant taxonomist specializes in determining groupings, relationships and ultimately, the names and identities of plants. This process utilizes pertinent data such as phylogenetics, phytogeography and phenology, but most essentially, plant morphology—the forms of plant parts. In this multi-session virtual course, students will focus on the diverse morphological characteristics of plants (including descriptors of leaves, flowers, roots, etc.) and their utility in identifying unknown plants. Students will also survey the history, principles and practices of plant taxonomy as a discipline and be guided through the process of plant identification via dichotomous keys. It is recommended, but not necessary, that students take Basic Botany before this class. Course StructureThis class consists of four elements: a series of pre-recorded introductory videos at-home exercises exploring plant anatomy, collecting and dichotomous keys an in-person lab session or virtual lab session and a wrap-up discussion session through Zoom. Part 1 – Introductory Video Lectures – content released March 4Part 2 – At-Home Exercises – content released March 4Part 3 – Plant ID Lab – choice of in-person session March 28, 10 a.m.–noon or 1–3 p.m. OR virtual session March 30, 6–8 p.m.Part 4 – Online Discussion Session – Zoom March 31 6 – 7 p.m.This class is a core class for the Certificate in Native Plants.

Virtual Lecture – Zoom

Tuesday Tour

Join us at 2 p.m. every Tuesday for an in-depth, one-hour tour of the State Botanical Garden’s Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum. These tours are led by the curator or docents. Tours are $5 per person, payable at the Garden Gift Shop upon arrival. 

Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum – Classroom, 2450 S. Milledge Ave., Athens, Georgia, 30605, United States

Plant Taxonomy: The Identities of Plants

Sabrina Sewell, botanist Register OnlineTaxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all elements of the world around us, including living things. A plant taxonomist Taxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all e......More

Sabrina Sewell, botanist Register OnlineTaxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all elements of the world around us, including living things. A plant taxonomist Taxonomy is the fundamental branch of science that names and classifies all elements of the world around us, including living things. A plant taxonomist specializes in determining groupings, relationships and ultimately, the names and identities of plants. This process utilizes pertinent data such as phylogenetics, phytogeography and phenology, but most essentially, plant morphology—the forms of plant parts. In this multi-session virtual course, students will focus on the diverse morphological characteristics of plants (including descriptors of leaves, flowers, roots, etc.) and their utility in identifying unknown plants. Students will also survey the history, principles and practices of plant taxonomy as a discipline and be guided through the process of plant identification via dichotomous keys. It is recommended, but not necessary, that students take Basic Botany before this class. Course StructureThis class consists of four elements: a series of pre-recorded introductory videos at-home exercises exploring plant anatomy, collecting and dichotomous keys an in-person lab session or virtual lab session and a wrap-up discussion session through Zoom. Part 1 – Introductory Video Lectures – content released March 4Part 2 – At-Home Exercises – content released March 4Part 3 – Plant ID Lab – choice of in-person session March 28, 10 a.m.–noon or 1–3 p.m. OR virtual session March 30, 6–8 p.m.Part 4 – Online Discussion Session – Zoom March 31 6 – 7 p.m.This class is a core class for the Certificate in Native Plants.

Virtual Lecture – Zoom

UGA Opera in Bloom: Mansfield Park

Purchase TicketsPre-sale tickets are sold out for March 31, and inventory is low for April 1. Please check back the week of March 30, as more tickets may become available. This April, Jane Austen’s world bursts into life with Mansfield Park, Jonathan Dove’s witty, roman......More

Purchase TicketsPre-sale tickets are sold out for March 31, and inventory is low for April 1. Please check back the week of March 30, as more tickets may become available. This April, Jane Austen’s world bursts into life with Mansfield Park, Jonathan Dove’s witty, romantic chamber opera. In celebration of Austen’s 250th birthday, we have partnered with the UGA Opera Theatre and the Hugh Hodgson School of Music to present this event under the open sky in our very own flower garden.   Follow the quietly brilliant Fanny Price as she navigates a tangle of romance, loyalty and mischief in this sparkling adaptation of Austen’s beloved novel. With Dove’s elegant four-hand piano score, an immersive, site-specific experience and the golden glow of a spring sunset, this will be Austen as you’ve never heard—or seen—before. Don’t miss this enchanting springtime journey—where music and nature intersect!    Mansfield Park (Chamber Opera in 2 Acts) Music by Jonathan Dove Libretto by Alasdair Middleton Based on the novel by Jane Austen Presented under license from Edition Peters, copyright owners.

Flower Garden Lawn, 2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA, 30605, United States

Spring Wildflowers of the Granite Outcrops of Georgia

Register OnlineGeorgia is home to 90% of the Southeastern Piedmont’s granite outcrops, one of the most endangered and botanically interesting natural communities in the U.S. Students will be introduced to the ecology, habitats and plant communities of the granite outcro......More

Register OnlineGeorgia is home to 90% of the Southeastern Piedmont’s granite outcrops, one of the most endangered and botanically interesting natural communities in the U.S. Students will be introduced to the ecology, habitats and plant communities of the granite outcrop ecosystem during an interpretive hike. As the mountain wakes up from a long, cold winter, we will celebrate spring wildflowers on the outcrop and learn more about their life histories, adaptations and resiliency as they survive and thrive in this challenging yet beautiful place. This will be an entirely field-based course on a multi-hour hike. Please note that this course is located outside of the Athens area.

Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, 3787 Klondike Rd, Stonecrest, Georgia, 30038

UGA Opera in Bloom: Mansfield Park

Purchase TicketsPre-sale tickets are sold out for March 31, and inventory is low for April 1. Please check back the week of March 30, as more tickets may become available. This April, Jane Austen’s world bursts into life with Mansfield Park, Jonathan Dove’s witty, roman......More

Purchase TicketsPre-sale tickets are sold out for March 31, and inventory is low for April 1. Please check back the week of March 30, as more tickets may become available. This April, Jane Austen’s world bursts into life with Mansfield Park, Jonathan Dove’s witty, romantic chamber opera. In celebration of Austen’s 250th birthday, we have partnered with the UGA Opera Theatre and the Hugh Hodgson School of Music to present this event under the open sky in our very own flower garden.   Follow the quietly brilliant Fanny Price as she navigates a tangle of romance, loyalty and mischief in this sparkling adaptation of Austen’s beloved novel. With Dove’s elegant four-hand piano score, an immersive, site-specific experience and the golden glow of a spring sunset, this will be Austen as you’ve never heard—or seen—before. Don’t miss this enchanting springtime journey—where music and nature intersect!    Mansfield Park (Chamber Opera in 2 Acts) Music by Jonathan Dove Libretto by Alasdair Middleton Based on the novel by Jane Austen Presented under license from Edition Peters, copyright owners.

Flower Garden Lawn, 2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA, 30605, United States

April Full Moon Hike

Register OnlineSee the garden come alive at night! Join our monthly Full Moon Hikes to enjoy the State Botanical Garden after hours and hear discussions on nocturnal plants and animals, the changing seasons and moon folklore. Be prepared to hike up to two miles on our w......More

Register OnlineSee the garden come alive at night! Join our monthly Full Moon Hikes to enjoy the State Botanical Garden after hours and hear discussions on nocturnal plants and animals, the changing seasons and moon folklore. Be prepared to hike up to two miles on our wooded trails and in the garden, where visibility may be low at times. If you have young children or infants, a backpack carrier is suggested. Pre-registration is required.

Visitor Center Front Fountain, 2450 S Milledge Ave, Athens, 30605

Nature Ramblers

Free Leaders rotate among a group of local naturalists and biologists, featuring guest guides. Meet at children’s garden arbor. Join the Nature Ramblers to learn more about the natural areas, flora and fauna of the State Botanical Garden while making new friends and enj......More

Free Leaders rotate among a group of local naturalists and biologists, featuring guest guides. Meet at children’s garden arbor. Join the Nature Ramblers to learn more about the natural areas, flora and fauna of the State Botanical Garden while making new friends and enjoying the fresh air. Rambles start with an inspirational reading by a nature writer such as Annie Dillard, John Muir or Janisse Ray. Ramblers are encouraged to bring their own nature writings or favorite poems and essays to share with the group. This is a ramble, not a hike stopping to view interesting plants, insects, butterflies and mushrooms, etc., along the way is part of the experience each week. You can join for just one or all sessions. These informal rambles are free, but donations are accepted in the garden’s donation box in the lobby of the visitor’s center. To get a feel for what these rambles are like, visit http://naturerambling.blogspot.com.

Shade Garden Arbor, 2450 S. Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA, 30605, United States

Sweet Pea Club

Ages: 3-5 | $3 per class Register OnlineThe State Botanical Garden of Georgia education team offers Sweet Pea Club at the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden every Thursday morning from 10:15-11 a.m. Families join one another for a program of engaging activities in the ......More

Ages: 3-5 | $3 per class Register OnlineThe State Botanical Garden of Georgia education team offers Sweet Pea Club at the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden every Thursday morning from 10:15-11 a.m. Families join one another for a program of engaging activities in the garden, which can include songs, puppets, stories, hikes and games. Each week focuses on a different theme, such as busy bees, pollination, decomposers, all about animals, plants we eat and more. The Sweet Pea Club program is an informal way to give young naturalists a better understanding of the importance of our shared earth. This program is designed for children ages 3-5. Please note that this program typically takes place outdoors, and the location may change depending on the weather conditions. Registration is required for each participating child. 

Alice H. Richards Childrens Garden, 2450 S. Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA, 30605, United States

April Friends First Friday Composting: Turning waste into resource

$12 general admission | $10 for members Register OnlineJoin Suki Janssen, director of the Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department, for a brief presentation on how composting transforms organic material into a valuable soil amendment that supports healthy gardens and......More

$12 general admission | $10 for members Register OnlineJoin Suki Janssen, director of the Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department, for a brief presentation on how composting transforms organic material into a valuable soil amendment that supports healthy gardens and sustainable communities. Learn about local composting efforts, best practices for starting your own compost system, and how diverting food scraps and yard debris helps reduce landfill use and greenhouse gas emissions. Janssen has served as the director of the ACC Solid Waste Department for over 20 years, leading innovative waste reduction and sustainability initiatives. Her proudest achievement is bringing Georgia’s first Center for Hard to Recycle Materials to Athens. A longtime leader in the field, she is a past president of the Georgia Recycling Coalition, serves on the SWANA Georgia Chapter’s International Advisory Council, and chairs its Road-E-O and Safety Committees. An environmental educator at heart, she also authored the children’s book “There Goes the Neighborhood,” which celebrates nature’s best recycler—the vulture. The registration deadline is noon on March 27.

Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum – Classroom, 2450 S. Milledge Ave., Athens, Georgia, 30605, United States