Science and Horticulture

Although it may seem there is little to see in a winter garden, Olguita’s Garden will show you otherwise.

A short walk around the woods on the History Center grounds will reveal many large loblolly pines with their tops above the surrounding deciduous trees. These pines reveal that the land preserved within Goizueta Gardens began to reforest shortly after the end of the American Civil War, between 1862 and 1872. The forest that covers much of the campus today is the forest that began to grow at that time.

There is always something new to discover in this garden of flowers and fragrance, just behind the museum. To achieve year-round bloom, Goizueta Gardens staff carefully select seasonal plants to incorporate into the beds and borders that complement the permanent collections.

The diverse botanical landscapes and healthy forests of the Goizueta Gardens are perfect for producing insects and caterpillars and are perfect for summer birds. These are just a few of the birds that are found here in spring and summertime; take a moment in the gardens and you may hear or see them yourself.

As February rolls into March, the weather begins to warm and the first of the new year’s spring wildflowers begin to push their fresh growth through last autumn’s leaves. In our Goizueta Gardens, southeastern native plants are a central part of our living collections—spring ephemerals included. They are making their spectacular appearance now, and a few are highlighted here.

Many North American bird species migrate to the Caribbean or Central and South America for the winter, but several species do not travel as far, choosing instead to winter in the relatively mild climate of the American Southeast. Let us introduce you to a few of these Georgia winter residents, all recently spotted in Goizueta Gardens.

The magic of the holidays is in full bloom at Atlanta History Center. Explore our 33 acres of Goizueta Gardens and enjoy these native plant species known for spreading holiday cheer. 

The Cherokee Garden Library continuingly works to build a book collection that enhances our understanding of the gardening traditions of African American, Native American, and Latinx communities of the Southeastern United States. Explore our new titles that highlight these areas of focus.

Atlanta History Center is home to four honey bee colonies named after real-life women who created a lot of buzz in Atlanta history—Selena Sloan Butler, Frances Newman, Shirley Franklin, and Coretta Scott King

Atlanta History Center is thrilled to highlight Goizueta Gardens and associated offerings May 6–15, 2022, in support of Go Public Gardens.

Explore Seeking Eden which bring awareness and appreciation to Georgia’s rich garden history.

Take a closer look at the remarkable gems of the Cherokee Garden Library.

The Mary Howard Gilbert Memorial Quarry Garden brims with Georgia’s native flora due to the careful consideration of Mr. Cline.

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.