On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA August-September 2016 | Page 9

POST-CONFERENCE TOUR
HEADS TO ATHENS
BY SANDY STEVENS
Conference attendees
have the option to stay
an additional day for a
special visit to Athens,
Georgia. Located just an
hour northeast of Atlanta, Athens is unique
with its southern historic attractions, and it will
provide visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience
that reflects the town’s creative energy.
Participants will start off at the private gardens of Ann and Joe Frierson and Coach Vince
and Barbara Dooley. Highlights of the Frierson
garden are inspired by the couple’s many visits
to Cortona, Italy, while participating in the University of Georgia’s study abroad program. The
gardens are park-like—a people space. They
teach children that vegetables, herbs, flowers
and fruit don’t come from the grocery store.
Participants are in for a real treat!
Highlights of the Dooley garden include
his collections of Japanese maples, redbuds,
camellias, hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla
‘Dooley’), azaleas and more. The miniature
Japanese garden and teahouse, a stream and
water features, statues and the Weepers’ Corner—a collection of weeping trees—are other
outstanding features.

P H O T O C O U R T E S Y S TAT E B O TA N I C A L G A R D E N O F G E O R G I A

LUNCH AT GEORGIA BOTANICAL
GARDEN
Director Wilf Nicholls will speak to the group
during lunch at the State Botanical Garden of
Georgia at the University of Georgia (thank you
Friends of