The Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University is a beautiful and historic piece of our community, and one of its most well-known features is currently undergoing an impressive renovation project.
The garden, located on Bland Avenue near campus, spans more than 11 acres on what was Dan and Catharine (O'Neal) Bland's early-twentieth century farm.
The Blands met at the former First District Agricultural & Mechanical School -- now Georgia Southern University -- and married in 1916. Dan Bland's father gifted them with just shy of 60 acres, which they used to build their farm.
According to Kathy Tucker, Education Coordinator at the Garden, Mr. Bland was a gifted horticulturist as well as a plant and animal lover. When Fair Road was constructed, Bland wanted their home to face this new thoroughfare, and he created the beautiful allée that still stands today as a connection between the two.
Those who have visited the garden will recognize the allée as the grass area stretching out in front of the cottage, lined on either side by towering Southern Magnolia and American Holly trees. It is also where many weddings and special events are held at the garden.
Mr. Bland planted these trees himself, even going so far as to graft female American hollies onto rootstock to ensure that all would produce red berries to attract animals to the area.
A modern problem
In recent years, though, maintaining the grass in the allée has become a challenge for the horticulture staff. Dirt patches have appeared and persisted, affecting the appearance of the allée. This is especially problematic for special events. (The garden hosted more than 40 special events in the fiscal year 2021-2022.)
Many may not realize that Georgia Avenue, which runs behind the garden, is about 11 feet higher in elevation than Fair Road. This means a significant amount of runoff flows through the garden in this area, as well.
Whether the demise of the grass was due to those drainage issues, increased shade as the trees have grown, foot traffic, or other environmental factors, the garden staff sought to not only solve the problem but also improve the garden, which is always a work in progress.
A beautiful and functional solution
The agreed upon solution was to turn the allée into a brand new shade garden, adding a permanent slate walkway and seating area for special events. The area will also include structural drainage solutions and plants with root systems that naturally assist with managing runoff.
Carolyn Altman, Director of the Garden, explained that it is always the goal of the garden to be not only beautiful but also educational.
"We try and promote sustainable gardens for people," she said. "It's an opportunity for us to add to our shade garden collection, to teach people how to grow in shade, and to show how plantings can also manage stormwater."
Almost four full weeks of foundational work have gone into the allée thus far. The layout, intricate drainage system, and drip irrigation constitute about 75 percent of the work that needed to be done.
Claude James and his team at Northside Lawn Care have been instrumental in this portion of the development. And with this phase complete, the plants and flowers will now go in.
"The foundation is laid, and now the fun part starts," Altman said.
From cocoon to butterfly
The renovated allée will feature larger shrubs and trees, such as Japanese Maples, at the end closest to Fair Road. There are also plans for an impressive variety of other plants and flowers along either side of the walkway.
Benches will be installed for the public's enjoyment of the shade, flora, and fauna.
Joshua Jones, Horticulture Manager at the Garden, looks forward to seeing the full design come to fruition soon.
"This is the cocoon," he said. "Come back in a few weeks, and it will be a butterfly."
The renovations were funded in part by student fees from Sustain Southern, the university's sustainability effort in the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement.
All is expected to be complete in the coming weeks, and both Altman and Tucker invite the public to come enjoy the beauty of the garden, especially as the weather cools into the fall.
The renovated allée, still steeped in history, will be the perfect spot to do just that.
The Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University
1503 Bland Ave.
$5 Admission (Garden members, students, and children FREE)
Open Monday-Friday 9:30am-7pm and Sunday 1-5pm
Closed all University holidays.
912-478-1149
Save the date for the Botanic Garden's popular Fall Plant Sale on October 29 and 30.
Click here to learn more about supporting the Botanic Garden financially by becoming a member or a direct contribution.
