What A Great Trip

I spent the first part of the week at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain Ga. If you have never visited Callaway, you are missing a treat. The Native Azaleas are in bloom now and are truly beautiful. I spent Monday with Hank Bruno and Ernest Koone looking at the many species of Native Azaleas. I especially enjoyed listening to the two of them debate where Fred Galle obtained the different varieties. How lucky one must be to have worked with Mr. Galle! I returned with thousands of cuttings for Magnolia. I will be returning in 2 weeks to get the next batch as they become ready, and to pick up Dr. Smitherman's hybrids. As a horticulturist one soon realizes that what he does is for the next fellow. The work we do today is to give beauty to Magnolia for generations to come. I hope I never decide a garden's "value" in regards to my own , short existence.

Native Azalea collection

I will be traveling through Georgia and Alabama this next week collecting rare native azalea cuttings. These will later be added to our rapidly growing collection here at Magnolia. Thanks to Maarten van der Giessen in Mobile, We now have the collection of Dr. Aromi's Hybrids. Very soon we will have a collection of Dr. Smitherman's hybrids. He is a hybridizer in Auburn Alabama. Ernest Koone III from Pine Mountain is helping us design our native azalea garden, and I am meeting him and Hank Bruno, The Director at Callaway Gardens this week.
I will post an updated blog when I return.
Tom

Summer at Magnolia

If you are planning your trip to Charleston, stop in to see the romantic gardens here at Magnolia. There is a great breeze off the Ashley River. Plenty of ponds scattered through-out the gardens. The hydrangeas will be blooming soon as well as the Magnolia Grandiflora, The tree our plantation is named after. We have planted over 6000 annuals and perennials over the last month, with another 8000 to go. Come, visit and renew your soul-if only for a short time.