Horticulture at McFarlane Nature Park

Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County began, developed and maintain a series of display gardens in the former stable area to educate visitors about native plants. Members of the Georgia Native Plant Society bring plants from rescue sites to supply a display garden of shade loving natives and to rehabitat the woods.

The local Sope Creek Garden Club established a nectar garden to highlight the bee hives kept by Jim Ovbey and Cindy Bee of the Metro Atlanta Beekeeper's Association.

The Walnut Grove at McFarlane

A wonderfully rich piece of ground was discovered beneath the former hog pen area. Despite mature walnut trees, a native shrub garden was installed beneath the large trees, to display useful Piedmont native plants. The understory is gradually being enriched with smaller rescued woodland plants and ferns. This display garden was planted and is maintained by the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County. A picnic bench welcomes visitors, although a hard hat is suggested during the fall when black walnuts fall from the trees above!

The Shade Garden

Members of the Georgia Native Plant Society and other local gardeners have created a display garden of shade loving natives which generally occur in the understory of woodlands.

shade garden Back to Top
Ed's Bed

The display gardens couldn't contain all the rescued plants that were donated, so volunteer Edmund Chaplin developed a display area around the horse stable, where polo ponies used to be boarded. This area is a mixture of trees, small shrubs and perennials.

Pumphouse Garden at McFarlane

The Pumphouse Garden

Another project of the Master Gardeners of Cobb County, the Pumphouse Garden displays sun-loving native plants.

Master Gardener volunteers at McFarlane

Several master
gardeners are
shown here
enjoying the
fruits of
their labor.

Perennial Border

The 280 foot long perennial border was built with a grant from the Georgia Perennial Plant Association. The border was built along the pasture side of the long white fence that runs the length of the entry drive. The original design incorporated only native Piedmont plants.  Birds and butterflies appreciate this expanse of nectar, as do the resident honey bees. It is currently maintained by the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County.


Back to Top