This garden book that spans centuries is unexpectedly absorbing. Far from being a book about plants, it’s a story of the people and culture of Georgia and the landscapes they developed.
The book, published in 1933, is divided into three parts. Part One is “Georgia’s Early Gardens”, a comprehensive record from the early beginnings of the Georgia Colony ending two centuries later. This section is divided alphabetically by counties with various gardens of each explored.
Gardens came from necessity and early settlers had to figure out what plants would grow well in the Southern climate as well as discerning what is good for cooking and which plants had medicinal value. By the early nineteenth century, Georgia gardens began reflecting financial status and personal taste. Early gardens of this time were heavily influenced by Europe as seen in the new symmetrical and aesthetic designs, albeit with native plants.
Part Two, “Modern Gardens” is divided alphabetically by cities with formal and rural gardens of each city highlighted. Each section contained black and white photos of the gardens mentioned. While the photos would certainly “pop” more in color; the drawings of the garden plots are so interesting and detailed one might spend more time engaged with them.
The last section, Part 3, “Garden Club Projects, Institutional Gardens, School Gardens and Campuses,” includes larger, more public gardens such as Atlanta’s West View Cemetery and gardens from our state’s universities and colleges.
This illustrated volume also contains a genealogy of Georgia gardens and a summary of historic plants and planting styles. Part One includes a bibliography.
Interested in these titles or have other questions about Special Collections, please come visit or reach out to us by phone or email: 404-613-0254, Library.SpecColl@fultoncountyga.gov
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