June 2009

July 15, 2009

Letter From The Executive Director

The Southeastern Horticultural Society has had exceptional events already this year, and our membership continues to grow. The 2009 Southeastern Flower Show welcomed an increased audience at the Cobb Galleria, and the 16th Legacy Garden is flourishing at Skyland Trail. On June 20th we will build a vibrant multi-use Community Learning Garden for Edgewood and surrounding neighborhoods.

Response to the 2009 Flower Show has been tremendous and we are gratified. However, admission is a small piece of the overall budget, and we have decided to produce a smaller show in 2010. Like many nonprofit institutions, the Southeastern Horticultural Society is faced with shortfalls of income received through sponsors and contributions. We have taken a number of steps to reduce expenses by redesigning the business model for the Flower Show and working in partnership with other organizations.

I would like to make a special appeal to you to make a donation to the organization and help us present the spectacular Southeastern Flower Show and continue to provide educational programming throughout the Southeast.

Kate Chura
Executive Director
Southeastern Horticultural Society

Become A Member Today!
Join the Southeastern Horticultural Society (SHS) and become a part of our growing programs. To sign up today click here.

Edgewood Community Learning Garden

The Edgewood community is about to receive some much needed beauty and at the same time will build a sense of community thanks to a $100,000 investment from Fiskars, The Home Depot and the Southeastern Horticultural Society (SHS).

Imagine if you can how much FUN a science class would be when it is taught outside in the garden.That is the exact thought behind the Edgewood Learning Garden. 

Through the Project Orange Thumb garden makeover, children and teens of the Whitefoord Elementary School, Drew Charter School and Coan Middle School will learn about organic gardening, sustainability, nutrition, and how the future of the earth depends on plants.

The Community Learning Garden will become the “science classroom” where SHS’s educators will lead hands-on programming that follows national science standards. Future workshops will take place during regular school and afterschool hours and include Saturday family sessions. Along with learning about different plants, vegetables, fruits and herbs, the children will experiment with seeds, learn about the photosynthesis process and study the origins of plants.

Along with teaching science and agriculture, the garden will also introduce the children to the importance of green jobs and careers. By organizing and managing local green markets, young people will be introduced to basic business practices. They will learn techniques to increase the “crop” each year and also increase their knowledge of plants and successful growing practices.

Become part of something that matters by volunteering with the garden installation! Come make an impact on a local community. We are looking for volunteers to help with this installation. The project begins Saturday, June 20 at 8:00 a.m. and will be completed with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:45. Please contact us at 404-351-1074 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to get involved.

Date:  Saturday, June 20, 2009
Time:  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: 
1503 Hardee Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
Major Intersection:  Hardee and Mayson

SHS 2009 Legacy Garden At Skyland Trail

Although the day was dreary and cool, the atmosphere at the newly installed Skyland Trail South Facility Legacy Garden could not have been brighter.

The Southeastern Horticultural Society’s Legacy Garden initiative began in 1994 in order to contribute valuable plants and resources to the community. The program has grown to become an ongoing partnership and passion of the organization. Countless volunteers, Flower Show exhibitors and area businesses, civic groups and garden clubs come together each year to create a lasting legacy for the community.

“The SHS Legacy Garden transformed an uninviting space into a vibrant active garden,” said Kate Chura, Executive Director of the Southeastern Horticultural Society. “We look forward to working in the garden with the Skyland Trail clients to share our passion for horticulture.”

Project Co-chairs Nan Henson, Board member of the Southeastern Horticulture Society, and Carole Weil, Skyland Trail volunteer, spent countless hours turning their vision into a beautiful creation. What was once an overgrown useless one-acre piece of land has now been transformed into a courtyard garden, a woodland garden with walking trails and a formal lawn area for meetings and lawn games.

Horticultural therapy is an integral aspect of Skyland Trail’s overall treatment philosophy. Through the horticulture program, clients nurture each of Skyland Trail’s gardens with hands-on care.

“The Legacy Garden provides our clients with a beautiful area to relax and enjoy being outside,” said Skyland Trail President Beth Finnerty. “The Southeastern Horticultural Society and all the volunteers who helped install the garden have been so gracious with their time and resources.”  Through Horticulture Therapy, residents are encouraged to use skills that will build socialization, self-esteem and creativity.

SHS Recognizes Organization for Restoration and Conservation

Downtown Greenville’s treasured Falls Park at Reedy River is the first recipient of the Southeastern Horticultural Society’s Virginia Hand Callaway Award. The award was presented during the 2009 Southeastern Flower Show in Atlanta. The 26-acre urban park is the product of decades of planning and restoration, and features natural falls, public art and the spectacular Liberty Bridge, a 355-foot pedestrian walkway overlooking the historic waterfalls nestled in the heart of downtown.

“We were so honored to be the recipient of the first Virginia Hand Callaway Award. The vision of the Falls Park was that of 30 women in a garden club 40 years ago. Over time a great assemblage of individuals, institutions and government came together to create this final product,” enthuses Anna Kate Hipp, President of the Carolina Foothills Garden Club. Falls Park has now become the center piece of downtown Greenville, and, consequently, has been an incredible boon to the businesses in that area,” she adds.

Named for noted horticulturalist Virginia Callaway, who with her husband Cason Callaway co-founded Callaway Gardens, the Virginia Hand Callaway Award recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding achievement in reclamation, restoration or conservation of our natural resources. This award is presented by the Southeastern Horticultural Society.

About the Carolina Foothills Garden Club
The Carolina Foothills Garden Club of Greenville, South Carolina, a member of The Garden Club of America, is dedicated to restore, improve and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement throughout the Upstate region.

Welcome New SHS Staff

Ashley Simpson joined the staff of the Southeastern Horticultural Society (SHS) on April 20, 2009. Serving as the organization’s Technology and Administrative Manager, Ashley brings twelve years of nonprofit experience with her. Before working with SHS, Ashley worked at Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) where she was the Clean Diesel Program Coordinator. While at SACE Ashley successfully won an appropriation with the 2008 Georgia Legislature to fund pollution control devices for school buses. She also served on the Environmental Protection Agencies’ (EPA) Southeastern Diesel Collaborative (SEDC) Strategic Planning Board, along with being an active member of the Georgia Air Coalition. Ashley received her BA degree in political science from Georgia State University.