If you’re a plant person and in the Atlanta area, consider joining the Georgia Perennial Plant Association. GPPA is a group of enthusiastic plant people who share their knowledge and have fun along the way.
Like many volunteer run organizations, GPPA is rebooting post-pandemic. The team has assembled a top-notch lineup of speakers and programming.
A mini-symposium in April featured speakers Dr. Allan Armitage, University of Georgia professor emeritus, and Dan Benarcik of Chanticleer. Plus a fun and friendly plant silent auction. You know plants people can be pretty competitive when it comes to their favorites, be it bear paws or Indian pink. I didn’t get too carried away with the bidding, but managed to leave with a few very special plants for my garden.
In May, I attended a plant swap at the Midtown Atlanta home of Kathleen Dumitrescu. I brought variegated Solomon’s seal, cuttings of American euonymus (hearts-a-bustin’) and small pots of fish scale sedum. I came home with stems of black & blue salvia, obedient plant and rudbeckia. My garden gobbled up the new perennials like a carb-loading marathon runner and I can’t wait for the next swap meet.
Mark your calendar for the next meeting of Georgia Perennial — Monday, Sept. 18, 2023 at 7:30 pm. The speaker will be Scott Beuerlein, Manager of Botanical Garden Outreach at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Scott will talk about “Making Landscapes that Matter.”
There’s plenty more reasons to join GPPA. Field trips, nursery discounts, and access to member gardens, for starters. Check out the GPPA website for more info. Individual memberships start at $35 annually.
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I’ve got Atlanta area fall plant sales all in one place just for you. Check out my list of fall plant sales and mark your calendar and buy more plants.
Need a primer on fall gardening? Read about why fall is the best time to plant in my guide to fall gardening.
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