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.
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! 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. 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.
Another project of the Master Gardeners of Cobb County,
the Pumphouse Garden displays sun-loving native plants.
Several master
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
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 Walnut Grove at McFarlane
The Shade Garden
Back to Top Ed's Bed
The Pumphouse Garden
gardeners are
shown here
enjoying
the
fruits of
their labor.
Perennial Border