If you’re a hydrangea enthusiast and in the Atlanta area, consider joining the American Hydrangea Society. Its speaker lineup includes horticulturists and bestselling authors, and its spring garden tour is one of my favorites.
Meetings are slated for October 2023, and February and April 2024. The annual tour of gardens will take place June 8, 2024.
Penny McHenry founded The American Hydrangea Society in 1994 in Atlanta. The society is for people who love hydrangeas and want to “study and learn about the genus Hydrangea, its species and cultivars, as well as its culture, habits, hardiness, and performance.”
Speakers for 2023-2024
Monday, October 23, 2023
Speakers: Ryan McEnaney and plant breeder, David Roberts from Bailey Nurseries
Ryan is the author of “Field Guide to Outside Style: Design and Plant Your Perfect Outdoor Space” (Cool Springs Press, 2022)
Monday, February 26, 2024
Speaker: Ted Stephens, owner of Nurseries Caroliniana
Monday, April 22, 2024
Speaker: Brie Arthur, bestselling author and horticulturist
Brie is the author of many books including “Gardening with Grains: Bring the Versatile Beauty of Grains to Your Edible Landscape” (St. Lynn’s Press, 2019)
Saturday, June 8, 2024
AHS Annual Garden Tour
9am – 5pm, rain or shine
All Hydrangea Society meetings will be in the Woodruff Auditorium in McElreath Hall at the Atlanta History Center
• 7:00 pm Social
• 7:30 pm Meeting
• Plant Raffle (following program)
AHS membership is a bargain. Individual memberships are $35 for one year. That includes one garden tour ticket. Household memberships for two adults living at the same address is $50 and includes two garden tour tickets. Hope to see you at a Hydrangea Society event this year!
Join Georgia Perennial Plant Association
Another great group of gardeners, the Georgia Perennial Plant Association puts on fun, informative events, too. Learn more about GPPA.
Georgia Master Gardener Conference
Georgia Master Gardeners will hold their conference in Gainesville in October. Check out the details here.
Join the Conversation
Join A Cook and Her Books on Instagram to talk about gardening and all good things from the kitchen and garden. Facebook is family, too. Would love to hear from you.
Check out my book Shrubs & Hedges which has six pages of charts on hydrangeas – their bloom times, sizes, color of blooms, seasons of interest, lighting, and reblooming types.