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UT Institute of Agriculture > The University of Tennessee Gardens, Knoxville > North_Georgia_Garden_Tour

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North Georgia Autumn Garden Tour Adventure

Friday and Saturday, October 25-26, 2019

 

We have only 10 spots left on this trip. We would love for you to join us. If interested, please contact Faye

 at 865-789-7817 to reserve your spot prior to sending in your registration form and payment.

Japanese-Gardens-Nov.-17-2013-001-463x300.jpg

 

The UT Gardens, Knoxville is pleased to announce a two-day autumn garden tour lead by Gardens’ Director, Dr. Sue Hamilton along with UT Gardens’ horticulturist Holly Jones and Gardens’ Friends, Michelle Reimert and Faye Beck to three beautiful botanical gardens, a private garden, and two garden centers in the Atlanta and north Georgia area.
 
Join us on October 25th & 26th as we visit Gibbs Gardens to celebrate Mother Nature’s artwork as she paints the Gardens in brilliant reds, burgundies, yellows, golds, oranges and the Japanese Maples are the stars. Gibbs has over 3000 Japanese maples and 200 varieties planted throughout their gardens so fall color is everywhere. We will also visit the Cox Arboretum, a private garden located north of Atlanta. The arboretum has an extensive collection of conifers, ginkgos, and Japanese maples which will all be strutting their fall colors as well. You can’t miss seeing the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to enjoy the exhibition of giant topiary-like plant sculptures featuring characters from the imaginary world of Alice in Wonderland. A visit to the often-overlooked Smith Gilbert Botanical Gardens in Kennesaw will not disappoint. A private garden now open to the public, it has 16 acres featuring a variety of sculptures throughout the special garden areas which include a bonsai exhibit, camellia garden, tea house and waterfall area, rose garden, and conifer display. And no garden trip can skip some good plant and garden shopping. A visit to Scottsdale Farms and The Barn garden centers will provide ample opportunities to satisfy your urge to add a special plant or garden accent piece to your garden.  
 
The trip includes hotel, lunch on Friday, Friday evening happy hour with complimentary cocktails and snacks, Saturday cooked-to-order breakfast, and all entrance fees. Friday dinner and Saturday lunch are on your own. We will travel by motor coach and spend the night in the Alpharetta Embassy Suites. UT Gardens’ members have a special rate of $260; non-members $295. The tour is limited to 48 people so register soon.
 
 
Registration deadline is September 2, 2019
Trip fee is $260 per person for Gardens members; $295 per person for nonmembers (double occupancy).  A single room supplement is available for $90. To minimize trip expenses, we will be accepting payment in the form of cash or check only.
Boarding the bus:  We will board the bus starting at 6:40 a.m. on Friday, October 25, at Central Baptist Church in Bearden located at 6300 Deane Hill Dr, Knoxville, TN 37919. We have permission to park in their lot located furthest behind the church. Bus will depart at 7:00 a.m. sharp.
2019_North_GA_Trip_Registration_Form.pdf

 
 
Day 1 - Friday, October 25
 
Stop 1   Lunch and Smith Gilbert Botanical Gardens, 2382 Pine Mountain Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30152            
At the center of Smith-Gilbert Gardens is the historic Hiram Butler House, dating back over 150 years. A Confederate railroad man, Hiram Butler worked the lines most of his life and was present during the “Great Locomotive Chase.” In 1970, Richard Smith and Robert Gilbert bought the Hiram Butler House and surrounding acreage in Kennesaw, Georgia. Over the following 35 years, they realized their dream of developing the house and grounds, with an emphasis on unique plantings and thoughtfully positioned sculpture.
 
 
Stop 2 Atlanta Botanical Gardens, 1345 Piedmont Avenue, GA 30309
Renowned plant collections, beautiful displays and spectacular exhibitions make the Atlanta Botanical Garden a plant-lover’s destination. An urban oasis in the heart of Midtown, the Garden includes 30 acres of outdoor gardens, an award-winning Children’s Garden, the serene Storza Woods highlighted by a unique Canopy Walk, and the picturesque Skyline Garden. The current exhibition of giant topiary-like plant sculptures featuring characters from the imaginary world of Alice in Wonderland will not disappoint.
 
Stop 3 Scottsdale Farms, 15639 Birmingham Hwy. Milton, GA, 30022
Scottsdale Farms Garden Center is stocked full of plants and accent pieces to enhance your home’s exterior and interior. The 65 acre farm includes a plant nursery; a 12,000 sq. ft. timber frame barn with an ever-changing selection of furniture, home decor and gifts from local and international artisans, along with seasonal clothing and a jewelry boutique. The Café serves breakfast and lunch dishes, desserts, coffee, and specialty drinks.
 
 
 
Stop 4 Embassy Suites Hotel, 5955 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, Georgia 30022 
Fully appointed two-room suites, complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast, complimentary Happy Hour 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., and the hotel Cascades Restaurant. Dinner is on your own.
 
Day 2 - Saturday, October 26
 
Stop 1 Cox Arboretum & Gardens, 1621 N. Lake Drive, Canton, GA 30115
 
Cox Arboretum & Gardens were founded in 1990 by Tom and Evelyn Cox and are part of their private estate. Numbering over 4,000 living specimens, the plantings display one of the largest private collections of temperate flora in the United States. With an elevation of 1200 feet and containing several lakes and streams, the gardens are able to grow a wide variety of plants in their winter hardiness zone 7B climate. The property is also bounded by several large wetland habitats where many migratory and native fowl make their home. It is situated on 13 acres in the middle of an old-growth southern deciduous hardwood forest, containing many large Oaks, Hickory, Poplar and Sweetgum – some of which are over 100 years old.
 
 
 
 
 
Stop 2 Lunch and Gibbs Gardens, 1987 Gibbs Dr., Ball Ground, GA 30107
 
Gibbs Garden, a beautiful public garden just an hour north of Atlanta founded by Jim Gibbs. After traveling for 15 years covering the nation and the world viewing gardens of every style, Mr. Gibbs decided that he wanted to design and build a world class garden. He spent six years looking for a suitable site with a strong source of water and beautiful mature trees covering a rolling topography. It was truly “a dream come true” when he found what he considers the most beautiful site in the nation to construct the garden. The property is 292 acres and the house and gardens include 220 acres, making it one of the nation’s largest residential estate gardens. We are purposely visiting Gibbs in late October to experience the height of the autumn season but especially the fall foliage show of the over 3000 Japanese maples planted throughout the gardens. Enjoy all of this among the designed 24 ponds, 32 bridge crossings and 19 waterfalls. The numerous garden rooms are planted with hundreds of varieties of plants and are carved into pockets surrounded by acres of deciduous trees that provide spectacular Fall color. If you feel you'd like to enjoy the gardens without having to be on your feet, they offer a tram rotating to different stops every 30 minutes (included with your admission).
 
 
 
 
Stop 3 The Barn Nursery and Garden Center, 1801 East 24th Street Place I-24 @ the 4th Avenue Exit, Chattanooga, TN 37404
 
We will stop for restrooms and a quick shopping spree at this wonderful garden center. Great plants and selection along with garden accent pieces for inside and out. What could be better?!
 
 
 
 
Stop 4 Knoxville
 
We will arrive in Knoxville about 7:30 pm.   
 
*Bus Departure Location & Parking Instructions: Meet at Central Baptist Church in Bearden located at 6300 Deane Hill Dr, Knoxville, TN 37919. We have permission to park in their lot located furthest behind the church. This parking lot is behind Anderson avenue which runs behind the church. You will easily see the bus coach which will be there ready for loading at 6:30 am. Bus will leave promptly at 7:00 am. 
 

 
Register Now! Don’t Miss This Carefully Planned, Exciting Trip Focused on Plants and Gardens with Other Plant Passionate People!
Deadline to register is September 2, 2019.
Trip fee is $260 per person for Gardens members; $295 per person for nonmembers (double occupancy).  A single room supplement is available for $90. 
To minimize trip expenses, we will be accepting payment in the form of cash or check only.
2019_North_GA_Trip_Registration_Form.pdf


 

 

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