This spring’s long-awaited
addition of a Children’s Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden,
Gainesville, will provide an exciting opportunity for play and learning
in a botanical-rich setting.
Capping the Gainesville garden’s
five-year anniversary, the grand opening for the new Ada Mae Pass
Ivester Children’s Garden will be held on March 21. Perched on the
highest point of the property, the 2 ½-acre garden is planted with
trees, flowering shrubs, and perennials, an estimated 95% of
which were grown on site, some for at least seven years from seeds or
cuttings. Designed by Spurlock Landscape Architects, the garden
features hands-on exploration, opportunities for adventure, and water
play and free play elements.
But the new space, named in honor of an
avid gardener and community supporter, is not just about plants;
programming is an important component as well. Children may explore the
world of carnivorous plants in the bog bowls, listen to a story by the
pond, discover fun facts about nature at a Discovery Station, or make a
craft to take home. The Build-a-Fort will provide an opportunity for
budding architects and engineers to create the building of their
dreams. And the Lawn Labyrinth, Treehouse and Rock Climb will provide
for free play and exercise in a vibrant, beautiful setting.
“The sounds of laughter and squeals of
delight will waft over the entire garden as children check out this
wonderful new setting,” said Mary Pat Matheson, the Garden’s President
& CEO. “Families are just going to love this new addition."
The winding walkway to the top of the
hill is an adventure itself, with shrub tunnels serving as hideouts for
miniature fairies and dragons. A balance beam dragon guards the
entrance to the garden; its flames of fire lead to the Labyrinth Lawn
and water play area.
A boardwalk winds through tall grasses
to the Fairy Forest, home to fairy houses, enchanted tree stumps, and a
castle and fairy rings connected by the Train Garden. This garden
features a trolley connecting two fairy villages with fairy houses made
of natural materials such as bark, pine cones, acorns, sticks, and
gourds. The villages are watched over by Desmond the Dragon, a friendly
creature hidden behind the pond. And everyone’s favorite giant
frog plant sculptures accent the two sides of the pond, with the
smaller frog spitting at the larger.
“Having watched the development and
evolution of the Children’s Garden at our Atlanta location, I look
forward to the new dynamic of kids engaged in a new garden space –
playing, laughing, and learning in a beautiful setting with friends,
parents, and grandparents,” said Mildred Fockele, director of the
Gainesville Garden since its 2015 opening.
Garden members
are invited to an exclusive preview of the children’s garden on Friday,
March 20 from 3 – 6 p.m., with a public grand opening celebration on
Saturday, March 21 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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