My PowerPoint-illustrated talk reviews the important historic English gardens and landscapes that will be visited by OLLI members participating in the OLLI tour of gardens in May 2025. A brief outline of English garden history will explain the background of each of the places to be visited.

This class will describe practical and effective methods for removing privet and other harmful invasive plants to create better environments for pollinators, birds and other wildlife. Privet is just one of the many non-native invasive plants that are quickly overwhelming many properties by overtaking our native plants at the tree, shrub and groundcover levels Participants will learn how to identify the "Top Ten" worst invasive plants in the Georgia Piedmont and how they disrupt natural ecosystems. Invasive plant management strategies and specialized tools will be discussed.

Visit and tour the production greenhouses at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Jason Young, Director of Horticulture and Grounds, will talk about the growth of plants for the gardens, native plants for natural lands restoration, and propagation for our spring/fall plant sales.

Our tour includes one acre of garden and greenhouse areas. The Trial Gardens at the University of Georgia evaluate the newest ornamental plants from top breeding companies located around the world. We are the “go-to” garden in the arena of testing plants for adaptability to heat and humidity. Tucked away on UGA's South Campus, our garden is a perfect place to escape and take a breather from the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life. We have shaded benches and a gazebo in the center of the garden.