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.

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I spent a lot of time at the Water Garden.

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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.

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

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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!

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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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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!

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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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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.

 

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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.