Athens, Ga. – The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a unit of the University of Georgia Office of Public Service and Outreach, will hold its annual Bluestems and Bluejeans: Native Plant Sale during the first two weeks of October.
The sale will be Oct. 1-4 and 8-11. Weekday hours are 4-6 p.m. and on Saturdays Oct. 4 and 11 the sale will be from 9 a.m. until noon.
The sale will feature nearly 200 species of Georgia native plants grown from Georgia seeds and raised at the garden’s Mimsie Lanier Center for Native Plant Studies. Experts will be on site to provide information about the plants.
“Purchasing plants that were originally sourced from wild Georgia populations supports the natural rhythms and cycles of Georgia flowering plants and their pollinators,” said Jennifer Ceska, conservation coordinator at the garden.
Several species of well-known wildflowers including the drought tolerant Bee Balm, Sunflower, Beardtongue, Georgia Aster and Milkweed will be available.
The sale will also feature native trees, shrubs and grasses, which provide nesting materials, habitat and food sources for adult and baby birds.
On Oct. 4, between 10 a.m. and noon, the garden will feature children’s activities and offer instruction on school pollinator gardens.
Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful will partner with the Mimsie Lanier Center for Native Plant Studies during the sale to raise awareness of Georgia native plant teaching gardens.
State Botanical Garden of Georgia
A unit of the University of Georgia Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia provides the general public as well as UGA faculty, staff and students opportunities for recreation, events, research and learning through its natural areas, display gardens and building spaces. The State Botanical Garden is located at 2450 South Milledge Ave., Athens, one mile south of the Athens Perimeter. For more information, see botgarden.uga.edu.
