The Red and Black

Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: News

Media Credit: FILE The Botanical Garden offers a variety of classes throughout the year to people interested in learning more about gardening and other outdoor activities. [Click to enlarge]

For those interested in learning about the outdoors, the Garden is the right place, said an official at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

Since 1984 the Botanical Garden has been offering classes to the Athens public, said Cora Keber, education coordinator at the Garden.

The classes get the most participation during the school year, but there are also summer camps that typically fill up quickly, she said.

"Our most popular series is the flower arranging series. We get as many as 20 participants in that one."

Flower arranging is part of a five-unit series and participants are awarded a Basic Design Certificate from the Garden Club of Georgia upon completion of all units.

The Botanical Garden also offers classes on beekeeping, medicinal plants and xeric plants that thrive on little rainfall. Some of the more popular classes fill up quickly, and there have been waiting lists in past years.

Classes are offered for adults on weekday evenings and weekends ranging from $17 to $45 for non-members. Fees cover materials and refreshments.

Keber said the classes are not just offered to people in Athens but are available at six locations throughout the state.

"We have a very diverse age range. The adult programs attract people anywhere from college age through seniors," she said.

Instructors for the classes come mostly from the University and the Garden Club of Georgia.

Classes are normally formed by suggestions given to the Botanical Garden by previous participants in the program.

"Our programs offer a great way to get out and explore something outside of the University and offers an opportunity to become involved in the community, be active with community members and awareness of our outside surroundings," Keber said.

The Garden is a public educational facility located about three miles south of campus. Founded in 1968, it is more than 300 acres, much of which borders the Middle Oconee River, and is used as a "living laboratory" for students and faculty.

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