Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University
Please see the Garden’s Facebook or Instagram for the most up-to-date information.
GARDEN EVENT RENTALS
If you are interested in renting the Botanic Garden for a wedding, reception, rehearsal dinner, or other event, please contact our Facility Rental Coordinator at ktucker@georgiasouthern.edu.
FOR A VIRTUAL, VIDEO TOUR OF THE GARDEN, CLICK HERE.
Current & Holiday Hours
Come and Visit
Monday-Friday 9 AM – 5 PM
Saturdays 9 AM – 2 PM
Sunday 1 PM – 5 PM
The Garden is closed on all University holidays.
Phone: 912-478-1149
The Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University participates
in the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program.
Garden Memberships at the Sustainer-level and above are granted this benefit at participating Gardens.
Click Here to join or upgrade your membership.
About the Garden
Embark on a journey of discovery at the Botanic Garden, where 11 acres of vibrant gardens unfold across the historic farmstead of Dan and Catharine Bland. Wander winding trails and hidden courtyards, immersing yourself in the natural and cultural wonders of the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Here, generations of ingenuity and respect for the land have woven a tapestry of beauty. Discover a haven for native and heritage plants, including rare and protected species. Marvel at the towering longleaf pines, and breathe in the intoxicating fragrance of Confederate jasmine. Connect with the past as you trace the lines of an antique plow or glimpse the 1929 Georgia Magazine cover featuring the Bland’s inspiring farm. The Botanic Garden is a place to enjoy the past, be present in the moment, and cultivate a deeper understanding of our connection to the natural world.
Discover a world of natural wonders and cultural treasures at the Botanic Garden. Explore peaceful woodland trails, vibrant displays of coastal plain flora, and a captivating collection of native azaleas. Stroll through the historic arboretum, delight in the children’s garden, and step back in time at the early 20th-century farm complex and Rural Life Museum. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Whelchel Camellia Garden, wander through serene wetland gardens, and learn in the inspiring Kennedy Outdoor Classroom. The Garden fosters a deeper understanding of the natural world through research and education, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, hands-on projects, internships, and continuing education for the community.
Mission
The Botanic Garden at Georgia Southern University is a living laboratory and public garden connecting people with plants while inspiring environmental stewardship.
Our collections, displays, and programs foster knowledge and appreciation of the Southeastern Coastal Plain’s native flora and fauna, preserving the natural legacy of our region for future generations.
History
Daniel and Catharine Bland met in 1916 at the First District Agricultural and Mechanical School, now Georgia Southern University. Their lives tell the story of rural farm life on the southeastern coastal plain.
Mr. Dan and Miss Catharine worked hard to coax a living out of the sandy coastal plain soil. They ran a small dairy, raised livestock, and grew pecans, pears and row crops, winning accolades as a model farm from Georgia Magazine in 1929.
Mr. Dan was a self-taught naturalist with a keen interest in the plants and animals from this region. These native plants, along with other classic favorites, have blossomed into the landscape found at the Garden.
For more about the Garden’s history and the history of the Southeastern Coastal Plain, visit
Weathervane Barn & Rural Life Exhibit
Oak Grove One Room Schoolhouse
Click Here for an accessible pdf version of images of Dan & Catherine Bland.
Click here for the Finding Aid for the Daniel Edgar Bland Papers Collection, housed in the Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections
Ties to the Community
The Botanic Garden’s story intertwines beautifully with that of Clifford “Mr. Cliff” Bradley, whose determination to pursue education at Georgia Southern exemplifies the transformative power of learning that continues to inspire the Garden’s educational mission today.
For information about “Mr. Cliff” Bradley (Bradley and Cone Seed and Feed) check out these wonderful photographs and newspaper article about life at Georgia Southern in the early 1900s – during the early days of Dan Bland. And here’s an interview with Cliff, housed in the Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections.
Photos:
Here’s a fantastic image of “Mr. Cliff” sitting in front of his store, Bradley and Cone Seed and Feed, reading the paper as he did every weekday morning
Cliff and Wildred Bradley
Click to read further: The Bradley-Darby Legacy
Garden Staff
Dr. Todd Beasley, Garden Director
tmbeasley@georgiasouthern.edu
(912) 478-1149
Bob Randolph, Collections Manager
rrandolph@georgiasouthern.edu
(912) 478-1149
Becki Akins, Business Manager
bakins@georgiasouthern.edu
(912) 478-1149
Kathy Tucker, Education & Event Coordinator
ktucker@georgiasouthern.edu
(912) 478-1507
Joshua Jones, Garden Manager
jdjones@georgiasouthern.edu
(912) 478-1149
Aaron Cohen, Design & Communication Coordinator
aaroncohen@georgiasouthern.edu
(912) 478-1149
John Page, Groundskeeper
jpage@georgiasouthern.edu
(912) 478-1149
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