Coastal Georgia Master Gardeners, on behalf of Georgia Master Gardeners Association invite all gardeners, experienced or beginners, to join us for our annual conference in Savannah, Georgia at beautiful Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in the heart of downtown Savannah.
The day will be filled with Featured speakers and a Specialist Panel where expert presenters will take a few minutes to talk about their individual efforts and then take questions from the audience. Registration includes options to participate in nature, garden tours, workshops, and a tour of a local citrus orchard, Hear recognized speakers, food, fellowship and garden-themed shopping. Our event is open to GMGA members and non-members!
Tickets go on sale soon!
Friday, October 16th, features an array of tours highlighting some of Savannah’s finest horticulture features. This includes the Coastal Botanical Gardens and 1850 Farmhouse, the Green-Meldrin House, a local Citrus orchard, and a workshop demonstrating the use of technology in the garden.
Friday evening we invite you to a reception in the Pavilion in the Coastal Botanical Gardens for a dinner reception and cash bar serving beer.
On Saturday, October 17th, we will gather in the Andrews Visitor and Education Center located at the Coastal Botanical Garden located at 2 Canebrake Road in Savannah, GA, about 10 miles southwest of downtown.. No smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco is permitted indoors or outdoors at the Gardens. Our list of speakers and a specialist breakout panel will provide opportunities to increase our knowledge about plants, landscape design, wildlife and new ideas in the world of horticulture.
Historical Background
Before the Civil War, rice plantations occupied much of Chatham County near the Great Ogeechee River and Little Ogeechee River. One plantation, Villambrosa, was likely owned by Andreas E. Moynello. Around 1890, Mrs. Smith obtained three clumps of Japanese timber bamboo from Moynello, who had acquired the plants during a trip to Japan. The bamboo was planted on her 46-acre farm southwest of Savannah and flourished, reaching heights of 50–60 feet by 1915.
After Mrs. Smith became Mrs. H. L. Miller, her employee, S. B. Dayton, harvested bamboo shoots for local restaurants and sold bamboo poles throughout Georgia.
Preservation of the Bamboo Grove
Concerned that future development might destroy the unique bamboo grove, Dayton contacted renowned botanist and plant explorer David Fairchild of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. After years of correspondence and a personal visit to Washington, D.C., Dayton succeeded in gaining Fairchild's interest.
In 1915, USDA representative Peter Bisset inspected and photographed the grove. Fairchild then enlisted wealthy philanthropist Barbour Lathrop, who purchased the bamboo grove and adjacent farm from Mrs. Miller in 1919 for $5,430. Lathrop subsequently leased the property to Fairchild and the USDA for just $1, helping preserve what would become an important horticultural site.
This bamboo collection ultimately formed the foundation of the property that evolved into today's Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens.
More details coming soon!