Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens (52 acres) is an experimental research station and botanical garden located at 2 Canebrake Road, Savannah, Georgia. The gardens are open daily, except holidays, without charge.
The garden's collections began in 1890 when Mrs. H. B. Miller planted three giant Japanese bamboo plants. By 1915 they had formed a bamboo grove, which drew the attention of noted botanist and plant explorer David Fairchild. In 1919 Barbour Lathrop, a friend of Fairchild's, purchased the site and leased it to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for $1. Lathrop traveled extensively throughout China and Japan collecting specimens for the garden; the USDA also collected and planted specimens. In 1979 the USDA closed the site. It was deeded to the University of Georgia in 1983 and now forms part of its College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Today the gardens contain more than 140 bamboo varieties, said to be the largest bamboo collection open to the public in North America. Most specimens were planted in the 1920s. It also contains 35 palm species in an effort begun in 1998 by the Southeastern Palm and Exotic Plant Society, as well as collections of vines and daylilies. There are two display gardens:
Currently, the Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens is run by David Linvill, part of the UGA Cooperative Extension.
The Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm (52 acres) is an experimental research station and botanical garden located at 2 Canebrake Road, Savannah, Georgia. The gardens are open daily, except holidays.
The garden's collections began in 1890 when Mrs. H. B. Miller planted three giant Japanese bamboo plants. By 1915 they had formed a bamboo grove, which drew the attention of noted botanist and plant explorer David Fairchild. In 1919 Barbour Lathrop, a friend of Fairchild's, purchased the site and leased it to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for $1. Lathrop traveled extensively throughout China and Japan collecting specimens for the garden; the USDA also collected and planted specimens. In 1979 the USDA closed the site. It was deeded to the University of Georgia in 1983 and now forms part of its College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Today the gardens contain over 100 bamboo varieties, said to be the largest bamboo collection open to the public in North America. Most specimens were planted in the 1920s. It also contains 35 palm species in an effort begun in 1998 by the Southeastern Palm and Exotic Plant Society. A master plan has been drawn to convert the farm into a full scale botanical garden with several display beds and features including a Cottage Garden - a trial garden where perennials, annuals, and bulbs are evaluated, and a Xeriscaping Garden - which demonstrates low-water landscaping. There are also beds showcasing roses, daylilies, camellias, annuals and perennials. Plans for a children's garden, visitor center and gift shop have been included in the master plan.
The garden sells a variety of bamboo and garden plants and has various events and gardening classes throughout the year. There are also pick-your-own beds including strawberries, blackberries and pumpkins. See website below for more information. http://www.bamboo.caes.uga.edu/
The Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm is part of the University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Program.
[edit] See also
Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens