University of Georgia to hold Trial Gardens Open House

The Trial Gardens at Univ. of Ga. in Athens, will hold an Industry Open House on June 15 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. A Public Open House will be held on June 25 from 8 a.m-3p.m.
The gardens at Athens were started in 1982 by horticulture professors Allan Armitage and Michael Dirr along with some of their students. The trials include plants or seeds from almost all the breeding companies in the world, along with material from perennial plant nurseries, individual growers and gardeners, as well as material professor Armitage brings back from his travels.
The primary functions of the garden have always been research, teaching and new crop introduction. The trials are planted in April and May and consist of major and minor bedding classes, tropicals, vines, specialty annuals, over 150 free-standing containers and three large perennial beds. The other major function of the garden is the evaluation and subsequent introduction of new crops for the greenhouse and landscape industries.