Peach State Paradise: A Guide to the Gardens and Natural Areas of Georgia

Gardens and natural areas are becoming more and more important as they assume the role of surrogate backyards for many individuals. These green spaces have universal appeal for gardeners, nature lovers, or anyone interested in either the cultivated curves of a well-executed landscape plan or the natural tangle of a wild, protected space. As the largest state east of the Mississippi River, Georgia can boast of a wide variety of public gardens and natural areas. This book features 45 of these areas with landscapes that vary from mountainous terrain to coastal environments, from urban areas to rural countryside, from plantation gardens to formal settings behind urban townhouses. Accompanying Al Spicer's color photographs are brief histories of each garden along with information on hours and/or season of operation, facilities available, points of interest, tips for successful touring, directions, and associated day trips. Georgia gardens are part of a rich southern horticultural heritage that traces its evolution from the first settlement in Savannah to the fertile ground of the New South. Whether you are an amateur or professional photographer, a plant connoisseur, a wildflower lover, a home gardener, a nature enthusiast, a traveler looking for unique experiences, or simply a lover of bygone days, Peach State Paradise will offer endless pleasures.