Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia has long been on my wish list. I thought the name Callaway was associated with the well-known brand of golf clubs (what do I know? I don’t golf much), but when I finally visited, I was surprised to find that there no connection to the makers of golf clubs (though there is a golf course there). This little factoid made my trip no less interesting.
Callaway Gardens is an enormous property consisting of thousands of acres of woodland with 40 acres alone devoted to the world’s largest collection of azaleas (they bloom in the spring), a resort hotel, a lake and nature preserve, display gardens and more.
My favourite spot was in and around the 5-acre John A. Sibley Horticultural Center, a one-of-a-kind garden glass house, filled to brimming with both native and exotic plants. I visited during the Chrysanthemum Festival in November when this lovely flower (affectionately known by garden gurus as a mum) is ‘queen of the autumn show’. Throughout the gardens, more than 10,000 of these floral beauties are planted to welcome the season that takes place from mid-September into November.
What caught my eye and fascinated me were the cascading mum displays. Getting a mum to do this does not just happen. Getting mums to cascade is a painstaking process that takes months. It starts by pinching off all side branches to leave a single stalk. Once the plant reaches the desired height, you attach the stalk to a wire frame with twist ties. Then, allow the side branches to fill in, pinching several times over the summer to adjust the form. When buds form in the fall, it’s time to stop pruning and wait for the show.
But there are lots of other horticultural wonders to please visitors. Throughout the gardens touches of whimsy add interest to the mum displays like the “dragon” topiary that is a magnet for kids of any age. Just outside the conservatory a reflecting pool enhances the form and colour of a lovely display of bright, butter yellow cascading mums. “Lollipop” trees fashioned out of the same yellow mums make a statement near the pergola. And, inside the conservatory a gorgeous swirl of mums suspended above a reflecting pool illustrates what you can do with a few hanging baskets (and a whole lot of talent).
I left Callaway Gardens resolving to create my own cascading mum display one day. Now, that may or may not happen. But, one thing is sure, I left feeling relaxed and de-stressed. Gardens, no matter where they are in the world, have that effect on not only me, but pretty much anyone who takes the time to seek them out when they travel.