Columbus Botanical Garden

 
 
 

Experience the Beauty of Fall at Columbus Botanical Garden!

As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to paint the landscape with vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold, there’s no better time to visit the Columbus Botanical Garden than in the enchanting season of fall! Take a stroll through our lush gardens and embrace the serene ambiance as you wander our picturesque JoAnn Holt Walking Trail with the soothing sounds of nature all around. Don’t forget to walk through the Ginkgo Shade Garden as the Ginkgo Tree’s leaves are beginning to change to their striking shade of yellow!

 

We have a calendar filled with exciting fall events for all ages this month! From our BOOtanical Halloween celebration to the GROOVEtanical benefit concert, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Come create lasting memories with your loved ones at Columbus Botanical Garden.

 

NEWSLETTER PREVIEW:

BOOtanical Halloween Celebration

GROOVEtanical Benefit Concert

GALA in the GARDEN Recap

Saturday Activity Under the Oak

NEW – Seedling Storytime

Volunteer of the Month

SHINE
and MORE!

 

Keep up with ALL upcoming events here:

Upcoming Events
 

Open EVERY DAY
9am-5pm, last entrance time at 4pm

 

BOOtanical Hours, Sunday, October 29th:

Garden general admission is closed. // Gates open for BOOtanical at 12:30pm

 

GROOVEtanical Concert, Friday, October 27th:

Garden closing at 2:00pm // Gates open for GROOVEtanical at 5:30pm

Members and nonmembers, please check in at admission kiosk before entering the Garden.
As always, thank you for your membership!

Use your CBG membership to receive discounts on the many upcoming events and visit the Garden as many times as you want throughout the year for free!

Garden Admission: $10 adults // $5 ages 4-17 // Free 0-3
Free entry for CBG Members

Learn More About Memberships

 

WEBSITE UPDATE: All memberships are added to the new website. If you haven’t logged into your new account yet:

Go to LOG IN using the email associated with your membership and select “forgot password”. Check your spam for your “reset password” email and follow the instructions.

Please email columbusbotanical@gmail.com or call our office for assistance.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Get ready for our 2nd annual BOOtanical Garden Not-So-Scary Halloween event!

We had an incredible turnout at our first BOOtanical last year and can’t wait to do it all again this year! Families will traverse the Garden and participate in FUN games and crafts. Upon finishing activities, kids will receive CANDY! We will also have face painting, story-time, and a LIVE BAT education program with A-Z Animals every hour! Concessions will be available for purchase.

Activities are geared toward ages 12 and under.

Come Trick-or-Treat in a safe environment surrounded by the beauty of nature!

Purchase Tickets Here

Kick-off Halloween weekend at GROOVEtanical on Friday, October 27th, 6:00-8:30pm!

Bring a lawn chair to the Garden for a fall benefit concert featuring The Band Silhouette from Auburn, AL. Craft beer will be provided by Scofflaw Brewing and we will have concessions available for purchase.

$20  Nonmembers // $10 CBG Member

Kids are welcome, please pay $5 at the door (Ages 0-3 free.)

 

Ticket purchase includes one FREE drink from Scofflaw Brewing Co!

Purchase Tickets Here!

Little Sprouts

Tuesday, October 3rd, 10-11am

 Little Sprouts will learn what makes a habitat and then explore the different habitats found within the garden and examine the critters that live in each!

$5 members / $7 nonmembers (per child), free entry for 1 caretaker

Register Here
 

Budding Naturalist

Thursday, October 12th, 10-11am

Naturalists will learn what makes a habitat and then explore the different habitats found within the garden and examine the critters that live in each!

$5 members / $7 nonmembers (per child), free entry for 1 caretaker

Register Here

Lunch & Learn

Wednesday, October 18th, 12:00-1:00pm

Ashley Desensi from the local non-profit, Native Plant Coalition will be back at the Garden discussing native plants! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about native plants in our area.

FREE for CBG members // $10 for nonmembers

Register Here
 

We hope you have taken advantage of this fun opportunity every Saturday from 9-11am! Activity Under the Oak features nature-themed activities that’ll teach kids all about things like bird beak adaptations, identifying leaves, animal habitats, and more! Stop by the Big Oak on Saturday mornings between 9:00-11:00 AM from September 9th through November 18th and participate in a fun educational activity! 

Activities are geared towards elementary-aged children but are fun for the whole family.

 

FREE for members / Regular admission for nonmembers / 0-3 free

No pre-registration necessary

Learn More

Seedling Storytime is a fun, interactive experience for kids aged 0-2. Children will get to experience a fun storytime, sensory activities, a song and dance, and more! This program will be held on the 3rd Monday of every month.

Monday, October 16th, 10-11am
Topic: Habitats!

Nonmembers: $7, Members: $5, (per child), 1 free caretaker

Activities will be held in the Adams Farmhouse.

Register Here
 

****For ALL events, CBG members MUST create/log in to your account & add a ticket to your cart to automatically receive your member discounts on the new website. Please email or call for questions.

 

GALA in the GARDEN

GALA in the GARDEN

 

2023 Gala in the Garden was our most successful gala yet at Columbus Botanical Garden! Thank you to EVERYONE who made this event so special, beautiful, and possible – especially our Gala committee, including co-chairs Cally Dixon & Caroline Kennon, our generous corporate and patron sponsors, our Board of Directors, the gala dinner auction hosts, staff, volunteers and so many more!

 

See our full list of sponsors HERE.

 

Thursday evening, we had a delicious southern dinner by 11th and Bay Southern Table and drinks and danced the night away with live music by the talented, recently signed in Nashville sister trio, The Castellows!

 

GARDEN LUNCHEON

The Garden Luncheon this year was a REAL TREAT as we got to hear from THE James Farmer, bestselling author, interior designer, and gardener! Special thank you to Magnolia & Moonshine for sponsoring the Garden Luncheon.

We started with mimosas and a delightful lunch by Kimble’s. Everyone was all smiles (& laughs) as James shared his knowledge of creating beautiful southern homes and gardens as well as many great stories of his experiences along the way!

 

We were honored to present the Sally Foley Award this year to Betsy Leebern. This award is given to a board member with grateful appreciation and to honor their dedicated service to the Garden.

 

Our Volunteer(s) of the Year award was presented to Mark  Eckelkamp and Beth France. We appreciate the amount of time and dedication they have given and continue to give to maintain the beauty of the Garden!

THANK YOU!

 

Thank you to ALL of our guests who came out to enjoy these wonderful events to benefit CBG! We couldn’t be more grateful for the amount of support we have received from our community as a garden for all.

 

Photos by Morgan Duke Photography

 

What’s Happening at CBG?

 

Pollinator Pals School Garden Program

Pollinator Field Day!

sponsored by AFLAC

 

Find STEVE the SKELETON throughout the Garden in October!

 

Bones will be hidden throughout the Garden during the whole month of October. Can you find them all to make Steve a whole skeleton again? Make sure to stop by Visitor Services to grab your skeleton scavenger hunt! Upon finishing, show it to the VS team to receive CANDY!

 
 
 

A Message from Executive Director,

Adriana Quiñones

 

First, I want to thank everyone who was a part of our record-setting Gala in the Garden! From our staff and volunteers to the incredible Gala committee, to the exceptional board, everyone pulled together to present the best Gala for a cause! I am so proud of the teamwork and commitment that everyone had. Despite the rain that muddied up our newly laid sod, everyone enjoyed the evening with the incredible rising stars, The Castellows, and an entertaining and heartwarming lunch with Mr. James Farmer. The most special thanks go to our patrons and sponsors, who invested into the Garden’s future by supporting us at the highest levels. My gratitude knows no limits and all of us here at the Garden feel the support of our community. Thank you!

 

Fall has officially arrived and I am looking forward to some relief from the heat wave. The Garden does not slow down so get ready to hear more about BOOtanical and our new event: GROOVEtanical. We are excited to keep presenting activities and events for the whole family and welcoming everyone to the Garden. And remember, the best way to enjoy all the garden offers is to become a member. Your support means so much to us and we could not do it all without you. Now go find your “not-so-scary” Halloween costume and we will see you in the Garden soon!

 

With Gratitude,

Adriana

 

Coming up at CBG!

🌟 Join us for our annual dazzling holiday light display, SHINE at Columbus Botanical Garden! 🌟

Get ready to embark on a journey of twinkling lights, festive fun, and heartwarming memories that will leave you in awe at SHINE, a Celebration of Nature and Wonder! Santa Claus will make a special appearance each night to spread holiday cheer so bring the kids to share their Christmas wishes and the perfect photo op. Let your children’s creativity shine at our holiday-themed craft stations and make some delicious s’mores by a fire. And finally, be mesmerized by our breathtaking Walk of Stars, a path of illuminated Shine Stars honoring and remembering loved ones.

Festive concessions will be available for purchase and live music or performances to get you in the holiday spirit!

 

Mark your calendar for the following dates.
December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29

We will have a special “Member Night” on November 29th, where CBG members experience Shine for FREE. For all other nights, members will receive discounts on tickets.

Tickets will be on sale in November.

Corporate Sponsorship opportunities are available! Please email vjohnsoncbg@gmail.com for more information.

Shine Stars will be on sale soon.

We will have special nights for Cookies and Cocoa with Santa, which kids LOVE!

 
 
 
 
 

Volunteer of the Month, Mary Claire Streat!

 

Mary Claire has been a dedicated Environmental Education intern, volunteering her time in CBG’s Environmental Education Department since February 2023. Mary Claire has been an invaluable asset in planning and executing our adult and children’s programs and events. She assists Lauren Moore, Environmental Education Coordinator in writing and teaching curriculum for field trips and various programs, along with the many tasks for crafts and activities for kids. She has also begun helping plan CBG’s 2024 summer camp activities.

Mary Claire is currently a student at Columbus State University pursuing a degree in Environmental Science.

We asked Mary Claire what her favorite part of volunteering at the Garden is:

“My favorite part about volunteering at the Garden is experiencing the dynamic community that Columbus has, I am not from here so it’s been really interesting getting to see that aspect.”

 

We are incredibly grateful for the work Mary Claire does for our education programs!

 
BOOtanical & GROOVEtanical Volunteer Sign up!
Become a CBG Volunteer Here
 

Become a CBG Member!

Benefits include:

  • Free admission to Columbus Botanical Garden

  • Reciprocal benefits with 345+ gardens, arboreta, and conservatories – including free entry into the Atlanta Botanical Garden

  • Monthly Growing Garden email newsletter

  • Invitations to members-only events

  • Member’s discount ticket pricing on programs and most public events

For more information on CBG Memberships, contact Veronica Johnson at vjohnsoncbg@gmail.com.

Learn More about Memberships
 
 

Thank you for helping our garden grow! We hope to see you at Columbus Botanical Garden this month!

 

Augusta Museum of History

October-December 2023 – Fourth Quarter

Museum Home
Education
Plan Your Visit
Collections
Exhibitions
Event Rentals
Museum Shop

IN THIS ISSUE


From the Director


Events

  • Dia De Los Meurtos Celebration
  • Holiday Gingerbread Village
  • Museum Express
  • 2024 Jimmie Dyess Symposium


News from Collections

  • So Much More to Discover
  • Wilkinson Collection
  • Fitz-Symms Collection
  • Exhibit Update
  • New Acquisitions
  • Collection Care Tip
  • County Corner
  • NAGPRA Update


Welcome New Staff


Education Programs

  • Primary Source Workshop
  • 2023 Brown Bag History Lecture Series
  • 2024 Brown Bag History Lecture Series
  • Time Detectives
  • Voices of the Past
  • Schedule A Tour


MARK YOUR CALENDAR


Brown Bag History Series

October 11, 2023

Augusta & Public Art

Pax Bobrow


Dia De Los Meurtos Celebration

October 25-29, 2023


Movies At The Museum

October 29, 2023 2:00pm

Disney Pixar’s Coco


Brown Bag History Series

November 8, 2023

From the AMH Collection

Alena Rensch, AMH Registrar


Holiday Gingerbread Village

Open Every Day (except Thanksgiving)

November 16-26, 2023


AMH & EHH Closed

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Thanksgiving Day


Museum Express

December 3rd & 10th

(11am, 1pm & 3pm Each Sunday)


AMH & EHH Closed

Sunday, December 24, 2023

& Sunday, December 31, 2023

For the Holidays


Voices of the Past

1st Saturday: The Other Tubmans

2nd Saturday: Petersburg Boat Pilot

3rd Saturday: Civil Rights Activist

Our Voices Matter:

Deciding What Goes Into Textbooks

From Executive Director: Nancy Glaser


Recently a large committee of teachers, administrators and some stakeholders gathered to begin the process of selecting Social Studies/History textbooks that will be used in Richmond County Schools fourth through high school. The Augusta Museum of History staff is proud and honored to be part of this committee and the process.

 

Based on state of Georgia standards we will hear presentations from the leading publishers of textbooks in the United States. Each will be evaluated and eventually the committee will make recommendations to the Richmond County Board of Education.

 

It is critical in clarifying what is, and what is not being taught. On the one hand, teachers at all levels have the daunting task of covering more than 200 years of American history, World history, civics, and regional, and local events. On the other hand, they must balance these subjects with all the other subjects (math, science, languages, literature) and standards that must be presented to school systems searching for possible solutions.

 

Museums have a message for classroom educators: You do not have to face this struggle alone. When museum and classroom educators work in tandem, students undertake a sophisticated investigation into both the breadth and depth of history. Teachers provide the historical context, secondary sources and some primary texts needed to understand the material. Supported by this wide-ranging backdrop, museum educators can focus on individual figures’ personal narratives, specific oral histories and artistic creations. Classroom educators set the stage, and museums use artifacts to bring history to life.

 

Having been a teacher and now working in museums for over thirty years, I have witnessed these kinds of partnerships, working partnerships, with schools that have the capability to open an abundance of possibilities for each other and have a profound impact on students.

Dia De Los Meurtos Celebration

October 26th-29th

The Augusta Museum of History in collaboration with the Asociación Hispanoamericana Del CSRA is proud to present the Dia De Los Meurtos Celebration October 26th-29th. Dia De Los Meurtos, or Day Of The Dead, is a two day Mexican holiday that reunites the living with their dead loved ones. During Dia De Los Meurtos families create ofrendas (altars) to honor their family members that have passed. This fall the Museum will set up an ofrenda in our Garden City Room that will be open to viewing & free to the general public October 26th-29th. Look for more ways to get involved and celebrate this beautiful holiday at the Augusta Museum of History through our Facebook Page or Website.

Movies At The Museum

Disney Pixar’s COCO

Movies at the Museum returns with Disney Pixar’s COCO on Sunday October 29th at 2:00pm in the AMH History Theater. Admission to the movie is free with general admission to the Museum. (Adult $5.00, Senior $4.00, Child 6-18 $3.00, Children 6 & under Free) Seating is limited to 75 so please reserve your tickets with the button below. (Please arrive by 1:45pm for the movie so we can know if we have extra ticket to for walk-ins) We appreciate Movement Mortgage for sponsoring this event.

Reserve COCO Tickets

Holiday Gingerbread Village

November 16th-26th, 2023


The Augusta Museum of History is proud to present the Annual Holiday Gingerbread Village! We will be open every day November 16th-26th. (except Thanksgiving Day) The intricate buildings are constructed by local artists and bakers. They represent historic landmarks and structures in Georgia and South Carolina. Visitors are invited to bid on the gingerbread houses and to cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award.

All Aboard The Museum Express!

Sundays, December 3rd & 10th

11:00am, 1:00pm & 3:00pm

Tickets Go Live On Monday October 2 at 12:00pm

Join us for a magical ride to the North Pole on the Museum Express! This is event is appropriate for children ages 2-12. There are three performances per date at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm on the passenger car in the Museum’s Transportation exhibit area.


We are only selling 25 tickets per session to allow for social distancing. All passengers must have a “Golden Ticket” to board the train. Golden tickets will be distributed on the day of the event during check in. We recommend arriving a little early (10-15 minutes), the 302 Train and Conductor are always on time!


Golden tickets can be purchased ($10) at the Augusta Museum of History administrative offices via cash, check or credit card Monday through Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. We also have an online booking & payment for Museum Express that will be listed on our Website and Facebook Page. ***You must pay for the tickets in advance to reserve your spots.*** Limit (3) tickets per adult.


Hot chocolate, cookies, and a special visitor from the North Pole will be waiting at the end of the journey, and children are encouraged to wear their pajamas!

A big “THANK YOU” to all our members, patrons, & supporters, you made 2023 Spectacular! Here’s to an even better & brighter 2024!

Jimmie Dyess Symposium

January 11, 2024

Each year the Augusta Museum of History selects Americans who have outstanding records of service to their fellow citizens, their communities, and their country to receive the Distinguished American Award at the Jimmie Dyess Symposium. Save the date, January 11, 2024 and plan to join us for this annual event.

2023 Medal of Honor Recipient Gary Michael Rose with Eagle Scout Ben Olmo.

2024 Distinguished American Honorees

Mrs. Nancy Hussey

Mr. Clint Bryant

Medal of Honor recipient, James C. McCloughlan

SO MUCH MORE TO DISCOVER

Microscope. ca. 1940’s

Donated by Dr. Jon Phinizy

Take a close look at our medical exhibit to find this microscope owned by Dr. John Phinizy. Microscopes first enabled doctors to identify the germs and bacteria that cause illness. This microscope was made by Spencer of Buffalo, New York. It has five different lens settings to adjust how much a sample is magnified.

Springfield Baptist Church Sconce ca. 19th Century

On Loan From Springfield Baptist Church

This beautiful glass, metal, and lacquer gas wall sconce once helped to light the original Springfield Baptist Church. The church, located in Augusta, GA was founded by African Americans in 1787 and is the oldest Black church in the United States. The church also played an important role in the organization of the Civil Rights Movement, the Morehouse College, and the Georgia Republican Party.

NEW DISCOVERIES

Wilkinson Photography Collection

The Wilkinson Photography Studio collection has over 250,000 negatives documenting the CSRA’s past. Robert Wilkinson Jr. was a prominent photographer in the Augusta area active from the 1940s-1980s. Donated by Wilkinson family members Linda Askey and Charles M. Askey, Jr., the collection is digitized and cared for through the Photography Collections Internship Program. The following are a few interesting discoveries made during the collection care process.

 

The Augusta Museum of History wishes to thank the Community Foundation of the CSRA for the generous grant to support the Wilkinson intern for 2023.

Ray Wallace Abear lounges poolside during his wedding reception

at the Old Richmond Hotel in Augusta, Georgia 1975.

Loved ones and guests bid farewell to newlyweds Larry & Sylvia Alexander, née Bartlett. The couple shared their vows on March 14, 1964 at Second Baptist Church. 

This storefront photo of Simkins Seed Company was taken in 1950. At the time, the store was located at 987 Broad Street in Augusta, GA. The company would eventually move to 1129 Broad Street in 1963.

Fitz-Symms Collection

Donated by Kirk and Lora Baxley in memory of Robert Symms, the photographic collection of Fitz-Symms Photography captures the history of the Augusta region between the 1940’s and the 1980’s. To preserve this history, the Photography Collections Internship Program at the Augusta Museum of History processes this collection by scanning and rehousing its 800,000 photographic negatives. The following images represent just a fraction of the negatives which thus far have been processed.

Knox Terrace Motel, 1961

Located in Thomson, GA, The Knox Terrace Motel was owned and managed by relatives of Peter Seymour Knox, Sr. The Motel was an extension of the original Knox Hotel which was founded as a place of reprieve for soldiers and their horses during the civil war.

Knox Brothers Lumber Company, 1962

A man and woman stand outside a model home created by the Knox Brothers Lumber company. The company began in 1932 and was one of the first in the area to build prefabricated homes.

Knox Brothers Lumber Company, 1962

This interior photograph was taken inside the structural home seen in the previous image. The living room is decorated with mid-century modern furniture and accents that popular at the time.

EXHIBIT UPDATE

Wells Fargo Textile Case, 2023

Seasons: A Year in Augusta’s Fashions


The Wells Fargo Textile Case now features Summer fashions, installed on July 13th. The second installment in the 2023 Seasons series highlights baseball, sundresses, and swimwear. The exhibit will be on view through October 1st, after which the case will be celebrating Autumn!

New Acquisitions Case


This silk and wool evening cape that belonged to Bessie Grace Whitney Shipe (1899-1975) of Augusta is embellished with intricate goldwork embroidery. Goldwork is a style of embroidery that uses metal threads and produces a ‘glittering’ effect under light. The style of the cape is similar to pieces made in France in the early 1900s.

Women’s Evening Cape

ca. early 1900s

Donated in Memory of Ruth Whitney Shipe Monk, by Her Children

2023.013.001 

Collection Care Tip

Protecting Your Family Photographs

Photographs are one of the best ways to preserve the memory of and connect with our ancestors. 19th century photographs, especially those with the image on metal or glass (daguerreotypes, tintypes, and ambrotypes) are extremely susceptible to damage and deterioration. The materials used to produce these images are prone to tarnishing, but the surface of such photographs should never be cleaned. Even touching with bare hands can cause permanent damage to the image.


To prevent this, museums take extra care when handling and storing historical photographs. If an image is still in the original case provided by the photographer, it is always stored in the case and laid flat in a drawer. Very delicate photographs are stored so that nothing touches the image surface, and tintypes are stored in acid-free or polyester folders.


*Tintype pictured above is part of the AMH Permanent Collection

Object ID: 8893.069 Donated By: Martha L. Sturman

County Corner: Aiken County, South Carolina

With school back in session across the region, we look back to the Eustis Park School Cafeteria as photographed by Fitz-Symms Distinctive Photography in September of 1952.


In this photograph a cafeteria employee stands at a large stove, and trays are stacked waiting for students on the lunch counter. Eustis Park School was among several public schools in Aiken County, SC that helped to serve the needs of the many families brought to the area by the Savannah River Site in the 1950s.

 

 

 

ENOPION Theater Company

Dear Diary

Greetings all,
 
So sorry it’s been so long since we updated you on the progress of the building. So let’s catch you up….

See Video – Click Here

Augusta Good News
Our good friend Charmaine Bracket, publisher of Augusta Good News, came out for a visit to chat about all the plans for Flowing Wells Theatre.
We can’t wait to Welcome you through the Doors of the
Flowing Wells Theatre … We have the lights on for you!
ENOPION Theatre Company  PO Box 6177, Augusta, GA 30916