Events of Interest
INDEX * Please visit the Other Organizations Listing to get contact information for organizations which do not have activities currently listed.
*NOTICE: The GNPS is not responsible for and has no control over the subject matter, content, information, or graphics of any outside web sites that have links here. Please contact us with any comments, concerns, or questions. This list has been compiled to make it easier for GNPS members to find events that might interest them. The listing of these events does not imply any kind of endorsement, by the GNPS, of these organizations.
GNPS meetings are held on alternate months beginning in January, and are open to the public. They are held on the Second Tuesday evening at Day Hall at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, at 1345 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA. Normal schedule: Social Hour at 6:45, Speaker at 7:30 PM. When you attend a meeting, you can request a $3 voucher off parking when you carpool - so bring a friend! If you'd like to get into a carpool, contact Susan Hanson for assistance. Be sure to include your address and your phone number (preferably cell).
To learn more about GNPS Chapter meetings and events, visit:
Cool Season Grasses and Sedges - Saturday, May 25. Walter Bland, owner of Rock Springs Farms, presents Cool Season Grasses and Sedges at The Pigeon Mountain Pocket from 10 am to 2 pm. Learn about the diversity and beauty of native grasses and sedges. All experience levels are welcome. Cost is $10; send check to GNPS PO Box 422085 Atlanta, GA 30342-2085 to reserve a space. Note that spaces go fast and are limited to 10 participants. Please contact Susan Caster at workshops@gnps.org to let her know your check is in the mail! Bring water, good walking shoes, and lunch. You may also like to bring a hand lens and notebook. Participants will be contacted to provide more details. Grasses and sedges are a wonderful addition to your native plants; this is your chance to get ideas for your garden.
Items under this heading will generally be work days for propagation and restoration projects that GNPS is participating in. Please use the contact information in the item to learn more about the activity.
Stone Mountain Propagation Project Workday - Saturday, May 25, 9AM.
For more information, please email Karen McCaustland.
DIRECTIONSStone Mountain Propagation Project Workday - Friday, May 31, 9AM.
For more information, please email Karen McCaustland.
DIRECTIONSStone Mountain Propagation Project Workday - Friday, June 7, 9AM.
For more information, please email Karen McCaustland.
DIRECTIONSHeritage Park Trail Workday - Saturday, June 8, 9am - 11am (time change due to warm weather). For more information, please email Price Crafts/Connie Ghosh.
DIRECTIONSTowhee Trail Workday - Monday, June 10, 9 am. For more information, please email Sheri George.
DIRECTIONSStone Mountain Propagation Project Workday - Thursday, June 13, 9AM.
For more information, please email Karen McCaustland.
DIRECTIONSStone Mountain Propagation Project Workday - Saturday, June 22, 9AM.
For more information, please email Karen McCaustland.
DIRECTIONSStone Mountain Propagation Project Workday - Thursday, June 27, 9AM.
For more information, please email Karen McCaustland.
DIRECTIONS
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is located at 1345 Piedmont Avenue. For more information about programs or to register, call the ABG at 404-876-5859 ext. 2555 or visit www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.
GARDEN HOURS:
Tuesday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Closed Monday
Botanical Drawing Program - Tuesday, January 1 - Saturday, December 7. Master the foundations of art in the Botanical Drawing Program (e2.ma/click/ew16q/mqezfb/ap9wtf) at the Garden. This year-long series of classes covers a variety of media with a focus on the gorgeous plants found in the Fuqua Orchid Center and the outdoor collections.
Begin the journey with an Introduction to Drawing in Black & White (e2.ma/click/ew16q/mqezfb/qhaxtf) this winter. Learn the basic drawing principles and techniques necessary for both the curious beginner and aspiring artist.
The Chattahoochee Nature Center is a 127-acre private non-profit environmental education facility located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, at 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, GA 30075. More than 100,000 people visit the center each year. Many come on the weekends to roam the forest trails, stroll the river boardwalk, participate in guided hikes, visit the animals, or attend Sunday Specials. Many visitors come to the Nature Center on school field trips, for birthday parties, scout badge programs, overnight adventures, after-school nature workshops, and adult and family programs.
The center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
The CNC offers many programs for children, adults, and families. For more information, call 770-992-2055, or visit www.chattnaturecenter.com for a full listing.
Trail Hike - Saturday, May 4 - Sunday, May 26. Every Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm a CNC docent guides you on a journey through the CNC trails using biofacts and activities to spark your "natural" curiosity.
Trail Hike - Saturday, June 1 - Sunday, June 30. Every Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm a CNC docent guides you on a journey through the CNC trails using biofacts and activities to spark your "natural" curiosity.
Nature's Healers: Medicinal Plants and Aromatherapy for Women - Sunday, June 23, 10 am - 1 pm ($20 General Public/$15 CNC Members) for ages 16 - Adult. Advance registration required by June 18, limited spaces. It will be an informative and interactive look into the amazing world of healing plants. This program focuses on herbs and oils used since antiquity to treat a variety of ailments, with an emphasis on women's needs. Class includes a hands-on presentation, crafting of flower water and teas, and a tour of healing plants which grow at CNC.
14th Annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival - Saturday, July 13 - Sunday, July 14, 10am - 3pm Saturday, Noon - 5pm Sunday. The Flying Colors Butterfly Festival fills the air with the beating wings of hundreds of beautiful butterflies as they are released during this annual family festival! This year, an expanded "Butterfly Encounter" tented exhibit allows visitors to hand-feed more than 250 free flying butterflies and gardeners can purchase pollinator and host plants too. Enjoy the show when butterflies land on flowers after the releases. Live music; photography and entomology exhibits; arts and crafts; plus face painting for lots of fun. Kids can wear their butterfly costumes and march in the butterfly parades each day. Food trucks will sell snacks and picnics. ADMISSION IS $12 VISITORS AT ENTRANCE, $8 FOR CNC MEMBERS ONLY-WHO CAN PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE STARTING JULY 1. FREE FOR CHILDREN 2 AND UNDER. Free shuttle bus from St. Francis School lot on Willeo Road, south of 120. Contact 770-992-2055 ext. 236 or visit www.chattnaturecenter.org.
Night Hike - Saturday, July 20, 8:00 - 10:00pm. Summer days in Georgia are warm, so enjoy a night hike when it's cooler. Wildlife becomes more active when the sun goes down. Join a naturalist on an adventure to explore the woodlands and wetlands, visit with a nocturnal animal up close and enjoy a summer campfire complete with marshmallow roasting. Ages 5 - adult, $10 General Public and $7 CNC Members.
The Chattahoochee Unit of The Herb Society of America ( CUHSA ) is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Meetings are held at The Atlanta Botanical Garden, from September through June. Social gathering begins at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7:00 p.m. On occasion, meeting dates are changed to accommodate special speakers or programs. For more information call 404-636-2577 or visit www.cuhsa.org.
The Chattahoochee Nature Center Club Meeting - Thursday, July 25. Geology in Georgia - 7 - 9PM, Ages 16. Join old and new friends for a potluck at 7pm. Bill Witherspoon and Dr. Pamela Gore (geology teachers) will take us on a virtual trip to visit Georgia's geological wonders, from the coast to the mountains: landscapes, rocks, minerals, fossils, and the human stories geology has shaped. Adult, $10 General Public, $5 CNC Members
The mission of UGA Cooperative Extension is to extend lifelong learning to the people of Georgia through unbiased, research-based education in agriculture, the enviornment, communities, youth and families. To learn more, visit www.caes.uga.edu/extension.
BLAIRSVILLE: Georgia Mountain Ethnobotanic Gardens and Woodland Medicine Trail - Monday, May 6 - Monday, September 30. The University of Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center will be offering self-guided tours each Monday from 9AM until 1PM. The gardens are intended to educate the public on the many uses of our native plants. The grounds also include an interpretive center, set up in the community cannery, built in 1935. For more information on guided or group tours, please contact Clare Johnston at 706-745-2655. www.caes.uga.edu/center/gmrec/commcouncil/documents/tour_booklet2012.pdf. For directions, visit: www.caes.uga.edu/center/gmrec/directions.html
The purpose of the Cullowhee Conference is to increase interest in and knowledge of propagating and preserving native southeastern plant species in the landscape. Both professionals and laypersons will gain valuable knowledge from the informative fieldtrips, lectures and workshops. Please visit www.wcu.edu/5033.asp for more information.
30th Anniversary Cullowhee Conference - Wednesday, July 17 - Saturday, July 20. The Cullowhee Conference is dedicated to the advancement of research, knowledge and sustainable practices in native plant landscaping as well as the allied fields of horticulture and K-12 environmental and science education. The conference is an informal gathering that attracts a diverse group of professionals, gardeners and students, many of whom return year after year for inspiration, knowledge and fun!
The conference is an ideal way for garden club members to take a club outing. The agenda includes field trips, workshops, sessions on landscaping with native plants and much more. You'll also have the opportunity to purchase hard-to-find native plants in the vendor section.
Register online from April 1 - July 12. To learn more, or register, please visit nativeplantconference.wcu.edu.
Dunwoody Nature Center is a non-profit organization established to develop, improve and preserve 22 acres of Dunwoody Park as a natural classroom for environmental education. Located at 5343 Roberts Drive in DeKalb County's Dunwoody Park. Call 770-394-3322 for more information or visit www.dunwoodynature.org.
Butterfly Festival - Saturday, August 17. To learn more, please visit our website.
The Environmental Education Alliance (EEA) of Georgia is non-profit professional education and networking association and state affiliate of the North American Association for Environmental Education. Its mission is to promote communication and education among professionals in the field of environmental education. Annually, EEA offers an Outdoor Classroom Symposium in the fall and Environmental Education Conference in the spring. For more information on membership, resources, events, initiatives, etc., please visit www.eealliance.org.
For additional environmental education events all across Georgia please visit the Statewide EE Calendar at eeingeorgia.org/core/event/month.aspx?s=0.0.68.4863. The Online Guide to Environmental Education in Georgia is located at www.EEinGeorgia.org.
Invite a Monarch to Lunch - Saturday, June 8, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. North Georgia College & State University, Predator Beetle Lab, Dahlonega, GA. Providing habitat for Monarch butterflies, as well as other pollinators, is critical to their survival but what are the components of this habitat? This mini-workshop will introduce you to Monarch Watch's Waystation program and to Monarchs Across Georgia's Pollinator Habitat Certification. Learn how your school, library, or other public facility can become certified and serve as an educational tool for the community. Participants will receive a seed kit to help kick start their own pollinator garden. There will also be an opportunity to tour the University's Predator Beetle Lab and Bee Hives to learn how other beneficial insects are serving the local community. Space is limited to 25 participants. The registration deadline is June 1. The registration fee for EEA members and non-members is $10.00.
For complete details and registration links, please visit www.eealliance.org/mag-events.
The Master Gardener Program in Georgia is a volunteer training program designed to help Extension agents transfer research-based information about gardening and related subjects to the public by training home gardeners. Master Gardeners currently are active in many Georgia counties. Through this program, volunteers benefit from the classes and ongoing training and the opportunity to share knowledge with others; the agents and community benefit from the service. For more information about the Master Gardener program in your area, contact the Cooperative Extension office nearest you, or visit www.hort.uga.edu/extension/mastergardener/mastgard.html.
LAWRENCEVILLE: Gwinnett County Master Gardeners Meeting - Monday, May 20, 7 PM. Master Beekeeper, Virginia Webb, will be talking about the importance of pollinators and their status in north Georgia. Virginia received her first beehive in 1964 and has been an enthusiastic beekeeper ever since. She and her husband, Carl, are full time commercial beekeepers and queen breeders. With all this knowledge and her passion for pollinators in general, this is bound to be a very informative talk. The Bethesda Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30044. 770.564.4680. The center is located at the intersection of Ronald Regan Parkway and Bethesda Church Road. Covered dish dinner at 6:30, bring a dish to share; otherwise come for the program at 7 p.m. Updates and cancellation info at www.gwinnettmastergardeners.com.
Master Gardener University - Friday, June 7 - Saturday, June 8. The Georgia Center, Athens.
There are two gardens co-located at the Georgia Perimeter College Botanical Garden: (1) the Native Plant Garden and (2) the Ferns of the World Garden. The mission of both gardens is to educate the public about US native plants and temperate ferns by providing a teaching environment.
The Botanical Garden is located in Decatur at 3251 Panthersville Road, behind the parking lot adjacent to the Occupational Education Building. For more information, call 678-891-2668 or visit gpcnativegarden.org.
Plant Sales: Decatur Campus - Friday, May 24 - Saturday, May 25, 10 am - 2 pm. Located at 3251 Panthersville Road, Decatur, GA. Phone 678-891-2668. We accept only cash or a check.
Walk and Talk - Friday, May 24. Walk 10:30 - 11:30, Talk 12:00 - 1:00. Xeric Beds Walk, led by George Sanko. Waterwise Gardening, presented by Karen Lindauer.
Plant Sales: Decatur Campus - Friday, May 31, 10 am - 2 pm. Located at 3251 Panthersville Road, Decatur, GA. Phone 678-891-2668. We accept only cash or a check.
Walk and Talk - Friday, May 31. Walk 10:30 - 11:30, Talk 12:00 - 1:00. Xeric Sand Bed & Granite Outcrop Walk, led by Karen Lindauer. Xeric Gardening: Playing in the Sand, presented by George Sanko.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Georgia Chapter, needs volunteers for restoration work at its preserves. You can learn more at their web site - nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/georgia/preserves/.
Broxton Rocks Nature Walks - Saturday, May 25. By reservation only.
Visit nature.org/georgia to register for this event. Contact Elise at 404.253.7210 or ecormier@tnc.org, if you have any questions.Black's Bluff Volunteer Day - Saturday, June 15, 10am-3pm. Protect Limerock Arrowood by removing invasives like porcelain berry, wisteria, privet and princess tree.
Visit nature.org/georgia to register for this event. Contact Elise at 404.253.7210 or ecormier@tnc.org, if you have any questions.Flat Shoals Creek Volunteer Day - Saturday, August 17, 10am-3pm. Get your feet wet as we remove invasive mimosa from creek banks.
Visit nature.org/georgia to register for this event. Contact Elise at 404.253.7210 or ecormier@tnc.org, if you have any questions.