GA State Univ. Botanical Garden Walk & Talk featuring Native Plants of GA and celebrating the life of founder George Sanko

IN A NUTSHELL:  Hope you can plan to join us for this leisurely "Walk & Talk combo" at the amazing GA State University Perimeter College Botanical Garden.  Each spring and fall the garden sponsors these free weekly Friday sessions hosted by expert naturalists, and we AOCers have greatly enjoyed attending a dozen or more of them over the past few years.  On display at the garden are hundreds of species of beautiful trees, wildflowers, shrubs, vines, ferns and other fascinating plants.  Their "Ferns of the World" exhibit is said to have perhaps more different species of ferns than any other garden in the United States!

EVENT DETAILS:  Our Atlanta Outdoor Club "subgroup" will gather a few minutes before 9:30 AM at the garden entrance - see detailed directions & GPS info below.  After introducing one another we'll first explore the greenhouse area near the entrance where a variety of potted native plants are offered for sale at reasonable prices.  We'll also walk together through the adjoining botanical garden with special attention to the species that are sporting colorful blossoms, foliage or berries at this time of year. 
  At about 10:00 AM we'll continue our walk in the company of other visitors and garden volunteers who have come for a very special event.  We'll be celebrating the life and numerous contributions of George Sanko, the beloved GA Perimeter College Botany instructor who founded the Garden in ~1990 and prior to his recent death had been its primary "driving force."  Our main host, guide and speaker will be George's long-time friend and disciple, Rick Barnes, a well-known Atlanta-area horticulturist and native plants expert.  Rick and dozens of other dedicated volunteers have helped make George's dreams a reality over the years by working closely with him to maintain, enhance and expand the GPC Garden and to promote the appreciation and preservation of Georgia's native plants. They now happily continue to do so in his memory.
  If you can join us only a portion of the event, no problem.  Feel free to arrive and depart as your schedule permits.  For the "Talk" portion of the Walk & Talk we'll likely re-gather in a nearby indoor classroom -  Bldg "SC," Rm 1100 - for a formal presentation by Mr. Barnes, which in fact is scheduled to end at 1:00 PM.  Hope you can plan to stay with us until then!
  Feel free to bring a picnic lunch (or snacks) and a drink to enjoy with us either outdoors or indoors as the situation and weather permit.
  

FOR MORE about the GSU BOTANICAL GARDEN and some lovely photos click the following link:  http://sites.gsu.edu/pcnativegarden/our-garden/
For a complete schedule of the Garden's "Seminar Series" this season (and their specific topics) click http://sites.gsu.edu/pcnativegarden/lunch-and-wildflower-series/
For a fascinating 2013 article about founder George Sanko, click:  http://lighthost.gsu.edu/gpcthechroniclearchive/2013/04/10/georges-garden/

DIRECTIONS to our AOC GATHERING SPOT from I-285/ I-85 "SPAGHETTI JCN" INTERCHANGE in NE METRO ATLANTA:
GPS and Maps.Google.com users:  Feel free to augment the following step-by-step directions by entering as your destination "address" the following concise Lat/Lon address of our gathering spot near the Garden entrance (being sure to include the comma & minus sign):  33.6871, -84.2741

1.  From the I-285/ I-85 Interchange (near Doraville) take I-285 southward about 15 miles and get off at the "Flat Shoals Rd" exit (I-285 exit #48 which is 2 mi south of the big east-side I-285/ I-20 interchange).
2. Turn Right onto Flat Shoals Road and go just 0.2 mile (northwestward) to the traffic light at Panthersville Rd.
3. Turn Left onto Panthersville Rd and continue straight ahead for about 1 mile (southward). After passing through the traffic light at Clifton Springs Rd get in the rightmost lane of traffic.
4. About 0.1 mile beyond the traffic light look for a small "Botanical Garden" sign and turn Right into the large free parking lot.
5. Meet me and our AOC "subgroup" on the far right side of this parking lot just above the Garden's entrance steps.  (If you arrive early feel free to explore the greenhouse vicinity of the garden on your own before you meet us.  Conversely if you have to be late, no problem!  - just look for our slow-moving group in the greenhouse vicinity or along the nearby outdoor pathways.)

For a zoomable Map or satellite view of our above AOC gathering spot click the rectangular blue & green "Event Location" icon near the top of this article.

Approximate Street Address of the GSU-PC Native Plant Garden (for alternate GPS purposes):  3333 Panthersville Rd, Decatur, GA 30034

FREE Event with free Parking and never a Garden Entrance Fee!