The Trial Gardens at UGA, Athens, GA

Connie Cottingham • August 6, 2020

The Trial Gardens at UGA is open 24/7 on the campus of the University of Georgia. My favorite time to visit, besides the open house days, is on a Sunday morning, when the campus is quiet and I can roam with my camera in the early morning light. Annuals and perennials are trialed en masse , allowing you to compare plants side by side. Recently I have enjoyed the abundance of vivid caladiums and David Austin English Roses. The perennial borders around the edge are great inspiration and the gazebo in the center can be a quiet refuge surrounded by a riot of blooms and butterflies.

These photos were taken in mid-October. One of my favorite discoveries was the Echenbeckia, a cross between Echinacea and Rudbeckia.

Trial Gardens at UGA is not only a destination, but it also hosts plant sales and has a wealth of information on the website about the plants that perform the best there – great information about plants for the Southeastern U.S.

The UGA campus in Athens, Georgia, is also the home of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia , the Founders Garden and Ethnobotanical Garden – a great opportunity to tour four very distinct gardens in one visit.

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