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Planter of flowers in garden

Filed Under: Garden, Travel Tagged With: GardenTrippers

A Visit to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia

July 10, 2022 By Lucy Mercer Leave a Comment

I visited the State Botanical Garden in Athens in early June, on a hellaciously hot day perfect for viewing the full sun plantings. And when I stepped into shade, the cool verdant plants there took the edge off the heat stress.

Following are pictures and notes from my visit.

Gloriosa Climbing Lily

Red flower in the garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Gloriosa lily, also called flame lily, is a climbing lily at the State Botanical Garden in Athens, Georgia. June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/ A Cook and Her Books.

Athens is the home of my alma mater, the University of Georgia. I don’t get back to Athens nearly enough. In fact, I visited last in February 2022, before the world shut down and “due to COVID” became a tragic catchphrase.

This garden visit was just a pop-in. I toured the trial gardens on the UGA campus earlier in the day and had an hour gap before my daughter and I met for a late lunch. I’m grateful I got to check in on the garden in early summer. Like they say, there’s always something blooming in the garden.

Stokesia (Stokes’ Aster)

Yellow flowers in garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Yellow stokesia at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Blue stokesia in the garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Blue Stokes’ Aster at the State Botanical Garden in Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books.

The blue Stokes’ aster is a favorite perennial that appears in my full sun flower bed at home. The yellow stokesia nearby in the state garden offers contrast to the blue and accents the soothing color palette.

Lilies

Lilies in the garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Crinum “Pink Perfection” lilies in the State Botanical Garden, Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Red daylilies in the garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Daylily in the State Botanical Garden in Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

These lilies, along with the climbing flame lily (at top), really stood out in the garden. Note to self: plant more lilies. Note how daylilies play nicely with rudbeckia, below.

Full Sun Perennials

Red yarrow in the garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Yarrow in the State Botanical Garden in Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books.
Brown eyed Susans in the garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Brown eyed Susan, the common name for rudbeckia, with daylilies in the State Botanical Garden in Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books.
Rudbeckia in the garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Brown eyed Susan in State Botanical Garden in Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

The State Botanical Garden emphasizes pollinator plants. The Brown eyed Susan and yarrow both attract bees and butterflies to the garden.

Now, for the part sun/shade part of the garden ~ it was a good day for hydrangeas.

Hydrangeas

Pink lacecap hydrangea | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Pink lacecap hydrangea in the State Botanical Garden in Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer
Hydrangea shrub in the garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Lacecap hydrangea, Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Oakleaf hydrangea in the garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Oakleaf hydrangea in the garden, Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books.

Tropical Conservatory

The conservatory features lovely orchids, but these plants caught my eye ~ the angel’s trumpet (brugmansia) towering overhead, and clerodendrum, the tropical bleeding heart.

Brugmansia in the garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Brugmansia, commonly called Angels’ Trumpet, growing in the conservatory in Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books.
Tropical bleeding hearts in garden | Photo by Lucy Mercer/ A Cook and Her Books
Clerodendrum, tropical bleeding hearts, at the State Botanical Garden in Athens, June 2022. Photo by Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books.

Next time you’re in Athens, make plans to visit the garden, for an hour or a day. There’s lots more to see, including a Children’s Garden. Admission and parking are free.

More Garden Stories

A Visit to the UGA Trial Gardens
Historic Oakland Cemetery in Spring

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