Sky-High on Atlanta Botanical Garden’s New Canopy Walk

Make plans now to visit the new Canopy Walk that just opened in May and is considered on of the biggest events in Atlanta in 2010

This summer you can stroll through the tree tops, 40 feet in the air, along the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s new Canopy Walk. This 600 foot long concrete pathway will give you a birds-eye view into the branches of towering hardwood trees in one of the city’s remaining urban forests. Winding through canopies of oak, hickory and poplar trees, this reverse-suspension bridge extends the visitor’s experience by providing 15 additional acres of gardens to explore. Beneath the walkway are hundreds of new plantings, including small trees, perennials, seasonal bulbs, azaleas, camellias and hydrangeas. Seating areas are arranged along the raised pathway, so you can stop and enjoy the inspiring vistas.

Mary Pat Matheson, Executive Director of Atlanta Botanical Gardens, is excited about this unique expansion of the garden. “Because this unusual new feature will provide such a memorable adventure for visitors, we believe the Canopy Walk will become an icon for the city of Atlanta.”

As you finish your stroll on the Canopy Walk and through Storza Woods, a woodland pathway will take you to another entertaining new feature, the Cascades Garden. You’ll hear the soothing sounds of cascading water even before you see the beautiful water features and tropical gardens. This is another place to stop, relax and view over 50 varieties of tropical plants, including hardy palms, banana, canna, gingers and hibiscus.

Near the Cascades Garden you can wander through one of my favorite spots, the Southern Seasons Shade Garden. During hot summer days this shady woodland is a popular destination since it is ten degrees cooler than the rest of the grounds. On a recent trip I enjoyed hydrangeas just getting ready to bloom, along with beautiful ferns, hostas, hellebores, camellias and trilliums.

Another “must-see” is the new Edible Garden, built in what was once an abandoned parking lot. The purpose of this garden is to encourage the farm-to-table concept of growing and eating fresh and locally-grown food. An outdoor kitchen will give Atlanta’s celebrity chefs a venue for cooking demonstrations using the Edible Garden’s harvest. Garden Chef demos will be held every Saturday and Sunday, noon until 1:00, from May through October and recipes will be available so you can try the chefs’ creations at home.

Raised beds of vegetables, herbs and fruits are artfully staged to look almost like a painting, with hand-blown glass sculptures of apples, peaches and pears from the Cohn-Stone Studios in California arranged throughout the display. After viewing the plants in the Edible Garden, you will want to add fruits and vegetables to your own landscape, not only to grow healthy produce for your family but to also enjoy the beauty of these plants.

Bring your kids on your visit because the Atlanta Botanical Garden has a wonderful Children’s Garden with interactive learning experiences for all age groups. During my recent visit, I saw many moms and young children enjoying the plants and the exhibits. There are several places for kids to climb, smell and touch the plants and dip their hands in the water.

Distinguished garden collections are found at the Fuqua Orchid Center, which displays an extensive collection of orchids, and the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory that focuses on tropical and desert plants and highlights plants that are rare, threatened or endangered.

If you appreciate formal boxwood gardens, you will not want to miss the Levy Parterre between Gardenhouse and Mershon Hall. A parterre is a formal planting bed edged with tightly clipped hedges and pathways that form a symmetrical pattern. In the middle of the Levy Parterre is the spectacular fountain created by Dale Chihuly in 2004. The sparkling blue and white glass sculpture reflects the sun and mimics the shape of a water fountain. From the Levy Parterre you can explore the Rose Garden, Japanese Garden and the Aquatic Plant Pond.

Atlanta Botanical Garden hosts many events and classes throughout the summer and fall. If you’d like to learn more specifics about the garden and the plants in bloom, take one of the garden tours that are free with admission to the park. Tours begin each Tuesday and Thursday at 1:30 p.m. with experts who can answer your gardening questions.

Cocktails in the Garden is held each Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. from May to September and gives you the only opportunity to view the garden during the evening hours. Bring your dad on Father’s Day, June 20, because all dads can enjoy the garden for half-price admission. Fun activities for the whole family will take place from 1:00- 4:00 p.m. Concerts in the Garden will feature six concerts throughout the summer. Emmylou Harris is the first to perform at the June 25 concert. Tickets are on sale now for members and the general public.

The garden is open this summer, Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $12 for children ages 3 to 17. Children under 3 are free. If you purchase a yearly membership, you can visit as often as you like throughout the year. There is an additional parking fee. For more information about the Atlanta Botanical Garden, visit their website at www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

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