Plantapalooza, which brings together three University of Georgia units for one big plant sale, was held April 9 at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the Trial Gardens and the UGA Horticulture Club. The event attracted thousands and raised $31,000 to be used for plant collections and horticulture supplies.
The sale offered an assortment of garden plants that thrive in the Southeast. Horticulturists, volunteers and master gardeners were on hand to help with plant selection and to answer gardening questions.
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 S. Milledge Ave., is the headquarters of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance and the Georgia Gold Medal Plant Program. A selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables and more were at this sale, held in the garden’s horticulture complex. Many Georgia native plants are grown at the garden for this sale. The garden is a unit of the UGA Office of Public Service and Outreach.
The Trial Gardens at UGA, 220 W. Green St., grow and test the newest annuals and perennials from plant breeders throughout the world. Profits from the plant sale help fund research and continued support for the garden. The Trial Gardens are part of the horticulture department in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
The UGA Horticulture Club sold garden and landscape plants near the intersection of Riverbend and College Station roads. Horticulture faculty and students were available to help with plant selection. Profits help fund horticulture club scholarships and educational activities at UGA.
Information about the event, directions to the gardens and information about participating retailers in the Athens area is available online at plantapalooza.uga.edu.