By Jenny Burdette
Ready to break out of winter isolation and celebrate the arrival of spring? Join GNPA members on an upcoming field trip to Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, GA, to photograph the largest daffodil display in the nation! The Gwinnett Chapter of GNPA is hosting the trip on March 3, with a subsequent trip in the works for later in March and several additional trips throughout the remainder of the year.
Gibbs Gardens is an official American Daffodil Society Display Garden, one of only 25 such gardens in the United States. Jim Gibbs’ daffodil garden features over 20 million daffodils (yes, that’s 20,000,000!!) – representing over 200 varieties – and covers 50 acres of hillside and valley. We will stroll along paths and wander through the woods to experience this awesome adventure.
The daffodils are the centerpiece of Gibbs early March garden, but with over 220 acres of gardens, plus a forest area, streams, and ponds, our early March trip participants may also find a variety of forsythia, quince, and spiraea in bloom. The gardens also feature more than 30,000 tulips, crocus, hyacinth, and wood hyacinth to augment the spring bloom season.
After the early March daffodil blooms fade, other varieties take the show, with blooms continuing through mid-April. The daffodils at Gibbs Gardens have staggered bloom times to ensure 6 weeks of blooms. By mid-late March, we can also expect to see hundreds of cherry trees in bloom, and thousands of dogwoods will blossom as soon as early April. And, of course, the daffodils, blooming in colors of yellow, pink, orange, and white, will bloom through mid-April. Keep checking the Gwinnett Chapter Meetup site for a second group trip.
Participants will have the option of lunch or a snack at the Arbor Café, located within the gardens. The café takes cash or credit cards.
Because of the current pandemic and social distancing requirements, the tram that normally escorts visitors around the property is not running, meaning walking is the only option.
To register for the March 3 trip, go to the Gwinnett Chapter Meetup site, https://www.meetup.com/Gwinnett-GNPA-Chapter/ and scroll through Upcoming Events. All participants must be current GNPA members. There is no cost to attend, other than the entrance fee for the gardens, but tickets must be purchased online prior to the event unless you have a season pass. More information on ticketing and on the gardens in general can be found at www.gibbsgardens.com.
Interested in being a trip leader for a future trip? Contact Jenny Burdette at jennyburdette@bellsouth.net to volunteer. We will write the trip up, post it for you, and manage the attendees list, just tell us where and when you would like to go!