Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens

Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens is developing into a sizable, interesting place to visit, about 20 minutes’ drive from historic Savannah. Before Christmas, I posted some photos of the many orchids and camellias at the gardens; this post explores the rest of the gardens.

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There’s a welcome center at the gardens now (decorated for Christmas at the time).

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Nearby are the White Garden and Formal Garden – not much was blooming in late December.

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The Shade Garden is alongside the pond, and beyond that are pick-your-own berry fields, in season.

foxtail ferns
foxtail ferns
Farfugium japonica - Giant leopard plant
Farfugium japonica – Giant leopard plant
view of visitors center from Shade garden, with loblolly pines
view of visitors center from Shade garden, with loblolly pines

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I spent a lot of time at the Water Garden.

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Zamia Floridana - Coontie seeds
Zamia Floridana – Coontie seeds
Weeping Bald Cypress
Weeping Bald Cypress

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Around the Great Lawn (or what will be the Great Lawn) from the water garden was the Edible Garden (and the future Idea Garden, future Butterfly Garden, and future Children’s Garden). Cotton, castor beans, olives, figs, radishes, and all kinds of interesting shrubs, trees, and annual veggies were growing here.

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cotton bud
cotton bud
cotton flower
cotton flower
cotton!
cotton!
cotton plant with foliage
cotton plant with foliage

(I had never seen cotton growing up close and was quite taken with it!)

large radish
large radish

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olive tree
olive tree
olive tree leaves against sky
olive tree leaves against sky
fig
fig
mulberry tree
mulberry tree
Palma Christi - Castor bean plant
Palma Christi – Castor bean plant

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The Crapemyrtle Allee, Rose Garden, and Iris Collection were not doing much blooming in December (just a few roses), but I bet that crapemyrtle allee is amazing in June!

crapemyrtle with Spanish moss
crapemyrtle with Spanish moss

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I’ve covered the Camellia Trail in another post; besides the flowers, which were at the height of their bloom in December, the pathways and companion plants are lovely, too.

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Fringeflower shrub
Fringeflower shrub

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gecko with odd skin on Camellia Trail sign
gecko with odd skin on Camellia Trail sign

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I’m excited to see the Tea Garden and Native Plant Trail when I return next; both are just getting going right now, as is the Bamboo Maze, which should be a hoot!

bamboo maze from viewing platform
bamboo maze from viewing platform
bamboo maze from viewing platform
bamboo maze from viewing platform
viewing platform over Bamboo Maze (so parents can find their lost children?)
viewing platform over Bamboo Maze (so parents can find their lost children?)

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The Gardens used to consist mainly of the area by what is now the Administrative Cottage and the Conference Center. There now, besides those buildings, are the orchid greenhouse (see previous post), a Xeriscape Garden, a Mediterranean Garden, a Cottage Garden, and a number of roaming cats. I’m not exactly sure which of these photos belongs to which garden, but they were all taken in that area.

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Mexican bush sage fruit
Mexican bush sage fruit
Xeriscape Garden sign
Xeriscape Garden sign
aloe plant near covered porch
aloe plant near covered porch
blue lights in trees along pathway
blue lights in trees along pathway
Thomasville citrangquat - sort of a kumquat-lime-lemon
Thomasville citrangquat – sort of a kumquat-lime-lemon
Mahonia 'Soft Caress' - narrowleaf grape holly
Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ – narrowleaf grape holly
gulf fritillary butterfly on pine needles
gulf fritillary butterfly on pine needles

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The place used to be a Bamboo farm, and bamboo is everywhere, including in a bamboo grove, a stand of historic Japanese timber bamboo, a shade bamboo garden, and of course, the new bamboo maze.

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Finally, a few photos from various places, exact locations lost now to the mists of my memory.

I think these are Ilex rotunda - Lord's Holly trees.
I think these are Ilex rotunda – Lord’s Holly trees.
something tropical looking in a field
something tropical looking in a field
monarch butterfly
monarch butterfly

 

mockingbird
mockingbird

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The signage is quite attractive and obvious.

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I’m looking forward to the next trip already. In fact, I tried to return on New Year’s Eve but, sadly, the gardens were closed the whole week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Perhaps I’ll be there in spring or summer next time. Visit if you’re in the area.

 

 

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