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Botanical Garden Walk & Talk featuring Gardening with Native Plants




The Basics:
Event Type:Learn
Event Location: East metro Atlanta near I-285/ I-20 interchange   Learn: Botanical Garden Walk & Talk featuring Gardening with Native Plants  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Fri, May 13 2016  10:00 am >> Fri, May 13 2016 1:00 pm
Registration Opens: Wed, May 11 2016 9:00 am
Registration Cut Off: Fri, May 13 2016 9:00 am
Event Duration:3 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D1: Easy
Distance:2 Miles
Pace:Leisurely
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:2
Number Registered So Far: 5 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

IN A NUTSHELL:  Hope you can join us Friday morning for this free 3-hour event at GA State University's beautiful Native Plant Botanical Garden in SE Metro Atlanta.  Each spring and fall the Garden sponsors these weekly "Friday open-house walk & talk" events hosted by expert naturalists.  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 at 10:00 AM at the garden entrance - see detailed directions & GPS info below.  After introducing one another we'll walk in together and first explore the greenhouse area where a variety of potted native plants are offered for sale to garden guests at reasonable prices.
  At 10:30 AM we'll join beekeeper Eddi Minche for a leisurely guided walk through the garden focusing on the Plant Pollinators that are so critical to the reproduction and fruiting of plants.  Then at 12:00 Noon we'll regroup in a nearby classroom for an indoor presentation by native plants expert Jim Rodgers entitled "Benefits of Gardening with Native Plants" that are naturally adapted to Georgia's climate and soil conditions.
  Bring a picnic lunch if you like, and we can enjoy our lunches and share extra items both before and during the classroom talk.
  If you can join us only for the Walk, or the Talk, but not both - no problem.  Feel free to arrive and depart as your schedule permits.  

FOR MORE about GSU's BOTANICAL GARDEN and lots of lovely photos click on the following link:  http://gpcnativegarden.org/index.html
Note that the garden's location was formerly called the "GA Perimeter College Decatur Campus."  For a complete schedule of their free "Friday open-house walks & talks" this season (and their specific topics) click on "Plant Talks and Garden Walks" on the left side of the Home Page.


Required Items to Bring:


- Wear comfortable Clothing & Walking Shoes.
- Consider bringing a little Water and/or hydrate well before the event.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.


- A light Daypack or Fanny Pack for carrying your personal items.
- A Picnic Lunch & Beverage. We can take the time to have lunch together just after the guided walk and/or during the talk.
- A Pen or Pencil and small Notebook in case you'd like to take notes.
- Your Camera! The GPC Garden is a very photogenic place and your shots can remind you of new plant species you've learned, etc.
- Some Cash and/or your Checkbook in case you'd like to purchase some of the nice potted native plants for your own garden or as gifts for friends.
- A compact Umbrella or other light raingear, esp. if there's a likelihood of showers in the forecast.


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

DIRECTIONS from I-285/ I-85 "SPAGHETTI JCN" INTERCHANGE in NE METRO ATLANTA:
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 stay on Panthersville Rd but 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 parking lot.
5. Meet me and our AOC "subgroup" at 10:00 AM in the far side of the parking lot near the garden entrance path. (If you arrive early feel free to explore 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 garden or along its adjoining wooded pathways.)

For a zoomable map or satellite view of our meetup spot near the garden entrance click on the rectangular blue & green "Event Location" icon near the top of this article.

You GPS Users may wish to augment the above directions by entering the following Lat/Lon coordinates of our meetup spot as your destination: 33.68706,-84.27415

The street address & phone number of GSU's "Native Plant Botanical Garden" are:
3251 Panthersville Rd, Decatur, GA
   678-891-2668


Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

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


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.