Trees & Landscaping - Pendleton King Park

Lanscaping Old Towne Augusta
Trees & Landscaping

The Sunken Blue Garden

The Blue Garden was originally developed by John Pendleton King, II (Pendleton), the grandson of Senator John Pendleton King. A writer and poet, Pendleton also enjoyed establishing plant material which bloomed in blue. The garden has been restored with shrubs and flowers that display various hues of blue. The Green Court Garden Club has adopted this special garden and perpetuates King's love for the color blue in the landscape. The formal garden has an ornate urn which is planted with seasonal blue flowers which serves as an attractive focal point. Mrs. Eugenia Lehmann, cousin of Pendleton King, tells of afternoon teas with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Elizabeth King. After a round golf on the plantations nine hole course, Uncle Henry would dress in a tuxedo for dinner. Henry donated the property in his honor as a bird sanctuary after Pendleton died at the age of 30 from a brain aneurysm.

Blue Garden

The Touch and Smell Garden

The Touch and Smell Garden was constructed in the early 70's with the assistance of the Sandhills Garden Club to serve as an outdoor classroom to learn and study herbs through sensory perceptions by touching and smelling the actual established plant material. To differentiate between plant varieties, visitors could wash their hands in the fountain pool to eliminate fragrance prior to touching another herb for identification. The garden houses a beautiful fountain and the four seasons statues. The emphasis of this garden is fragrance and accessibility for our disabled visitors. It is a favorite place for weddings and receptions.

Fountain

The Azalea Walk

Take a walk to the arboretum and camellia garden through a path of azalea species from native deciduous varieties to kurumes and indicas.

Azalea Garden Walk

Azalea Garden

The Camellia Garden

Follow the right path to two camellia gardens that contain a large variety of camellias. Several of the camellias were developed by the famous Fruitland Nursery, now home to the Augusta National Golf Course. The Walter Wilson Camellia garden was Dedicated October 16, 1991. Walter was a charter member of the American Camellia Society. He originated and titled over twenty-five camellias, placed many in the Wilson Garden and registered nearly all of them. Naming his camellias for family and friends. he left to our community a legacy of beauty which continues to evolve and be revered. A new garden was dedicated in 2003 to another Augusta camellia expert, Jim Stutts. Jim, a long-time volunteer and Pendleton King Park Foundation member, was instrumental in propagating and maintaining the camellias in the new garden. Many of the camellias seen in the Augusta area were gifts to individuals from Mr. Stutts.

Camellia

Camellia Garden

The Arboretum

The right left path from the Azalea Walk leads to a lovely gazebo overlooking a panorama of trees labeled for identification. The arboretum features trees that can be grown in the Augusta area. This first arboretum in Augusta was established in 1987. In the future, phase II development will be in the wetland site. All trees in the Arboretum were donated in honor or in memory of someone by organizations or individuals. An expanse of lawn was seeded to give the arboretum an Old English theme. Barbara Botts established the attractive gazebo overlooking the arboretum in memory of her husband, Bert Botts. Mr. Botts was a long time PKP commission member and was responsible for much of the early work in the park. The Pendleton King Park Foundation together with the City of Augusta have a working partnership that has repeatedly broken new ground in the advancement of urban forestry in Augusta. The arboretum, camellia garden and azalea walk have greatly added to the educational attributes of the park.

Arboretum Sign

Gazebo in Arboretum

The Hydrangea Garden

In 2004, a group of volunteer gardeners initiated construction of an extensive new hydrangea garden. Working with Augusta Public Services, Trees and Landscaping Department, a plan was created and the hydrangea garden began to take form. For three years, the volunteers raised funds, dug up hydrangeas donated by Augustans, solicited hydrangeas from local nurseries and learned all they could about raising hydrangeas. Additional volunteers continued to join the group, and the hydrangea garden was offered to the community with a hydrangea festival including speakers, exhibits and tours. Since then, a more formal upper garden with several hardscape structures has been added. The pergola and swing structure were built by skilled volunteers, and hydrangea paniculatas and complimentary plantings were added. Over 250 hydrangeas of more than 70 varieties make up the garden which is at its splendor in June and July. The upper, more formal part of the garden contains a pergola which may be used for programs, concerts and weddings. The lower garden displays macrophylla (mophead and lacecap) and oak leaf hydrangeas, while the upper garden contains paniculata (sun-loving) hydrangeas and comes into full bloom in July and August. The hard working volunteers continue to maintain the garden.

Hydrangea Sign

Hydrangea

Statue

The Children's Sculpture Garden

In 2007, The Art Factory sponsored fourth and fifth graders at Monte Sano school in designing, building and installing the first Augusta children’s sculpture garden. Under the direction of Atlanta artist Jeff Mather, the students used Native American Indian bird related symbols in designing their works of art reflecting the bird sanctuary designation of the park. The entire school celebrated their achievement at a gala garden opening April 20, 2007. Choreographed dances and speeches presented by the students entertained teachers, parents and community leaders.

Sculpture

Sculpture with Children