Tons of concrete are being upcycled to form a Crevice Garden at Kennesaw’s Smith-Gilbert Gardens that will open on Dec. 8.
The Crevice Garden has been funded with grants from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust and American Conifer Society and completed by volunteers who have contributed more than 400 hours of service. SGG Garden Manager Lisa Bartlett said the Crevice Garden will be the largest and first of its kind in Georgia.
“Using concrete that was once the sidewalk around City Hall in Kennesaw, we were able to keep tons of debris out of the landfill,” Bartlett said. “It will be filled with rare and unusual dwarf-growing plants to mimic the harsh climate of an alpine mountain side.”
SGG Executive Director Ann Parsons added, “The volunteers were an integral part of this renovation. In addition to garden volunteers and Master Gardeners, we had wonderful corporate support from Georgia Power and Citrix.”
Renowned plant expert Ozzie Johnson served as a consultant for the project, helping to source hundreds of plants that are now part of the collection, Bartlett noted. “From the hundreds of bulbs and spring flowering plants to the rare dwarf conifers that will give evergreen structure in winter, there will be four seasons of interest when completed,” Bartlett said.
Smith-Gilbert Gardens, 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw, houses more than 3,000 species of plants on 16 acres, including the Bonsai Exhibit, Paladino Camellia Garden, Dale Gillett Rose Garden and American Conifer Society Reference Garden.
Admission is $7 for adults; $6 for seniors, military and Kennesaw State University students; $5 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for SGG members and children ages 5 and under with a parent or grandparent.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Information: SmithGilbertGardens.com.
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