This hand-colored copperplate engraving of a sunflower by Basilius Besler was published in his seminal work, Hortus Eystettensis, in 1613. One of few crops species that originated in North America, the name sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) comes from the Greek “helios” (sun) and “Anthos” (flower). Historically and today, sunflowers were grown for food, seeds, and oil. A sunflower head can produce up to 1,000 seeds!
Interested in gardening, landscape design, garden history, horticulture, floral design, botanical art, cultural landscapes, natural landscapes, and plant ecology?
Come see over 33,000 books, photographs, manuscripts, seed catalogs, and landscape drawings included in the Cherokee Garden Library collection.
These rare and valuable resources tell the story of horticulture and botanical history in the Southeastern United States and areas of influence throughout the world.
Upcoming Events
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Cherokee Garden Library
Cherokee Garden Library Spring Talk: Rolf Diamant
Olmsted and Yosemite: Civil War, Abolition, and the National Park IdeaWednesday, Apr 6, 2022 @ 7:00 pm -
Garden Citings Publication
Explore stories from the Cherokee Garden Library collection, including collection acquisitions, collection highlights, book conservation projects, garden history narratives, historic landscape documentation, programs, donor recognition, and more.
Past Virtual Talks. Watch Now.
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Cherokee Garden Library and Wing Haven Virtual Talk: Elizabeth Lawrence
The Illumination of A Garden Writer -
Cherokee Garden Library Talk: Dr. Carolyn Roberts
Author of To Heal and to Harm: Medicine, Knowledge, and Power in the Atlantic Slave Trade -
Cherokee Garden Library Talk: Jennifer Jewell
Author of The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants -
Cherokee Garden Library Talk: Douglas W. Tallamy
Author of: Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard
Our. Founding.
Founded by the Cherokee Garden Club in 1975, the Cherokee Garden Library is a member of the Southern Garden History Society and The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries.
Learn more about the founding of the Cherokee Garden Library.
For even more information about the Cherokee Garden Library, please contact Garden Library Director, Staci Catron, at 404.814.4046 or scatron@atlantahistorycenter.com.
Chair
Melissa Furniss Wright
Advisory Board
Duncan Beard
Elaine Hazleton Bolton
Helen Mattox Bost
Sharon Jones Cole
Jennifer Cruse-Sanders
Elise Blitch Drake
Laura Rains Draper
Ginger Dixon Fasy
Kinsey Appleby Harper
May B. Hollis
Dale M. Jaeger
Harriet Kirkpatrick
James H. Landon
Richard H. Lee
Wright Marshall
Tavia C. McCuean
Raymond McIntyre
Ann James Offen
Caye Johnson Oglesby
Blair Culbertson Robbins
Betsy Wilkins Robinson
Claire McCants Schwahn
Charlie Sears
Blake Segars
Alex Smith
Melissa Stahel
Margaret D. Stickney
Martha Tate
Jane Robinson Whitaker
Melissa Furniss Wright
Cherokee Garden Library Chairman for GCG
Elaine Hazleton Bolton
Azalea District
Elaine Clark Smith
Camellia District
Julie Groce
Dogwood District
Lee C. Dunn
Laurel District
Linda Hardie
Magnolia District
Joyce Carreker
Oleander District
Hilda Rushing
Redbud District
Bonnie Pennington
Explore. More.
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Exhibition
Cherokee Garden Library Collection Highlight
Founded by the Cherokee Garden Club of Atlanta in 1975, the Cherokee Garden Library is named for the state floral emblem of Georgia, the Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata) and is one of the special collection libraries of the Kenan Research Center.
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Exhibition
Seeking Eden
Through photographs, postcards, landscape plans, and manuscripts, Seeking Eden highlights the importance of historic gardens in Georgia.
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Buildings & Grounds
Goizueta Gardens
Explore highlights of Southeastern horticultural history by taking in 33 acres of enchanting gardens, woodlands, and trails.
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Learning & Research
Search the Collections
Researchers can explore much of Atlanta History Center’s museum, archival, and oral history collections online.