Susan Varlamoff
SEPTEMBER
Date: September 27, 2024
Time: Meeting Sign-in at 9:15 a.m. Program begins at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Dunwoody Annex
Program: Sustainable Gardening for the Southeast
Speaker: Susan Varlamoff is a biologist, author, lecturer, mother and grandmother who has worked 40 years protecting the environment. She recently retired as the Director of the Office of Environmental Sciences for the University of Georgia’s College of Environmental Sciences. She will speak to us about restoring soil fertility, eliminating pesticides, growing native plants, removing invasive plants, and planting trees. She has written three books including Sustainable Gardening for the Southeast and has been a Gwinnett County Master Gardener since 2000. We will learn not only what to do, but why and how to safeguard Mother Nature for future generations.
OCTOBER
Anne Spafford, MLA
Date: October 25, 2024
Time: Meeting Sign-in at 9:15 a.m. Program begins at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Dunwoody Annex
Program: Creating Buzzworthy Gardens: Best Landscape Design, Implementation and Management Strategies for High Performing Gardens
Speaker: Anne Spafford, MLA is a professor and Head of the Landscape Architecture Department at Mississippi State University. She is the author of Rain Gardening in the South and Pollinator Gardening for the South: Creating Sustainable Habitats. Anne will share readily accessible landscape design guidelines that enable pollinator enthusiasts to tackle their home and community gardens through strategies that will help them support pollinators. This will be a Zoom program, location to be announced.
NOVEMBER
Carol Barton and Ann Veal
Date: November 15, 2024
Time: Meeting Sign-in at 9:15 a.m. Program begins at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Dunwoody Annex
Program: Holidays With Your Garden
Speaker: SGC is fortunate to have our own Carol Barton and Ann Veal sharing their creativity in floral design. When these two get together, they share what is in their mind’s eye, feeding off each other’s artistic gifts. The result is truly a work of horticultural art, inspired by nature. We will learn how to put together fresh floral cuttings that look exceptional but are indeed uncomplicated. This program is just in time for the holidays when fresh ideas are needed, and time is of the essence.
DECEMBER
Christmas Luncheon
Date: December 6, 2024
Time: 11:30am
Location: Dunwoody Country Club
JANUARY
Helesia carolina commonly called Carolina Silverbell
Date: January 24, 2025
Time: Meeting Sign-in at 9:15 a.m. Program begins at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Dunwoody Annex
Program: Native Woody Plants
Speaker: Jim Mynes has a PhD in entomology and Plant Pathology, as well as bachelor’s degrees in Botany and Horticulture, all from the University of Tennessee where he also played football. His personal research focused on Black Spot resistance in roses. He did pathological research for UT as well as the USDA for over 12 years. Jim says this about his program: “There are many types of woody plants native to the greater Atlanta area other than Dogwoods and Redbuds so let’s learn about them and diversify our gardens. From the criminally underused Carolina Silverbell (pictured above) to the beautiful and delicate Spicebush, let’s talk about the weird stuff.”
FEBRUARY
Date: February 28, 2025
Time: 11:30a.m.
Location: TBA
Program: Luncheon and Installation of 2025-27 Officers
Installing Officer: TBA
MARCH
Date: March 28, 2025
Time: Meeting Sign-in at 9:15a.m. Program begins at 11:00a.m.
Location: Dunwoody Annex
Program: Ask The Expert
Speaker: If you were fortunate enough to attend our January program featuring Jim Mynes, you won’t want to miss this one where you can bring your questions to “Ask The Expert!” With a PhD in Entomology and Plant Pathology from UT, not to mention degrees in Botany and Horticulture, Jim is eager to answer any questions you’ve been wondering about. If you bring one question with you to the program, hopefully Jim will be able to get to all SGC’s 40 plus questions. To quote Jim: “speaking of talk about weird stuff (January’s program) let’s bring out the seriously bizarre and learn the answers to all the questions you were afraid to ask in an environment where we can laugh and learn together.”
APRIL
Jacqueline McRae
Date: April 25, 2025
Time: Meeting Sign-in at 9:15 a.m. Program begins at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Dunwoody Annex
Program: You Too Can Be Wild With Your Garden-Small Actions With Massive Impact!
Speaker: Jacqueline McRae leads the Horticulture Team at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, where gardening with nature is top of the mind every day! Hailing from a conservation-minded family in England, Jacqueline is a Master Naturalist, graduate of the State Botanical Garden Certificate in Native Plants and past president of the Georgia Native Plant Society. She will inspire us to break old gardening habits and make our own gardens more wildlife friendly.
MAY
State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Athens
Date: May 14, 2025
Time: TBA
Location: State Botanical Garden of Georgia
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is a 313 acre campus that is home to numerous themed display gardens including the Flower Garden, International Garden, Heritage Garden, Shade Garden, Children’s Garden and more. Five miles of nature trails extend into nature areas. The Visitor Center and Conservatory contain a collection of tropical and semi-tropical plants. The State Botanical Garden serves as the headquarters of The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. The newest attraction at the Garden is the Porcelain and Decorative Arts Museum, a blend of conservation, botanicals, and art. The museum holds the personal porcelain and decorative arts collection of Deen Day Sanders (longtime supporter of the State Botanical Garden and former president of The Garden Club of Georgia and National Garden Clubs). Lunch following the visit will be planned as the date approaches.