About Us
Mission Statement:
The Southeastern Horticultural Society formed is a membership organization dedicated to promoting the knowledge, art and enjoyment of horticulture throughout the Southeastern United States by:
- Providing year round education for all skill levels through lectures, workshops, publications and interactive communication.
- Forming and developing collaborative partnerships with other organizations seeking environmental stewardship.
- Producing and managing a variety of events, juried competitions and programs including The Southeastern Flower Show.
- Supporting programs including the expansion of the Legacy Garden projects for healing and neighborhood beautification.
- Supporting and facilitating scientific research to better understand the role plants play in our fragile environment.
Our friends and supporters share our commitment to creating sustainable communities by caring for our natural environments. We celebrate the important role of plants in our lives by working in partnership with individuals and organizations throughout the southeast to support the art and science of plants.
We are passionate in our commitment to bring horticultural, conservation, excellence, enjoyment and beauty to people's lives through educational activities.
The Southeastern Flower Show is the crown jewel event of the Southeastern Horticultural Society.
For 21 years, the Southeastern Flower Show has served as the harbinger of spring in the South occurring just weeks before Atlanta’s azaleas and dogwoods burst
into blossom.
More than 2,000 volunteers work to design, create and support this 5-day event attended by
20,000 people from across the Southeast.
The Southeastern Flower Show includes juried competition in landscape & floral design and horticulture, as well as:
- Dramatic landscape gardens featuring mature trees and majestic water features
- Internationally known speakers
- Beautiful and fragrant floral and cooking demonstrations
- Exciting musical entertainment
- Activities for children of all ages
- A marketplace offering unique gardening related art, decorative accessories, plants, supplies and services
Legacy Garden
The Legacy Garden initiative formed in 1994 in order to contribute the valuable plants and resources of the event to the community. The program has grown to become an ongoing partnership of the Southeastern Horticultural Society, the show exhibitors, Atlanta area businesses, and civic and garden clubs and symbolizes a lasting legacy for the community.
The Legacy Garden celebrates the Southeastern Horticultural Society’s commitment to our neighbors through the creation of sustainable environments that educate and engage communities that are in need of these resources.
The Southeastern Horticultural Society Legacy Garden has contributed to the following locations:
- 1994 Amberwood Village, Reynoldstown
- 1995 City Hall East
- 1996 Fourth Ward Neighborhood
- 1997 House of Love and Hope, Foster home for young children
- 1998 The Bridge, Residential treatment center for abused children
- 1999 The Lang-Carson Community Center, Reynoldstown
- 2000 The Samuel L. Jones Boys and Girls Club, Decatur
- 2001 Charles R. Drew Charter School, East Lake Neighborhood
- 2002 Cook Elementary School and C.W. Hill Elementary School, Atlanta Public Schools
- 2003 Historic Oakland Foundation, Oakland Cemetery
- 2004 Historic Oakland Foundation, Oakland Cemetery
- 2005 Emory Winship Cancer Institute, Emory Healthcare
- 2006 Horticultural Therapy Garden at Wesley Woods Hospital
- 2007 The Shepherd Spinal Center
- 2008 Piedmont Hospital's Byrd Barrier-Free Garden and Infusion Center Deck
Our 2009 Legacy Garden recipient is Skyland Trail South Residential Facility where a therapeutic greenspace and healing garden will be developed to aid in their patients’ recovery.
History of the Southeastern Flower Show
Over the years, the Southeastern Flower Show has established itself as the premier gardening and horticultural event in the Southeast, as well as an important cultural event for metropolitan Atlanta.
The Legacy Garden is a collaborative effort between the Show, its exhibitors, Atlanta area businesses, and civic and garden clubs to leave a lasting legacy to the community.
| Date | SFS Milestone |
|---|---|
| Mid 1930's | • Fourteen (14) Atlanta Garden Clubs come together to produce the original Atlanta Flower Show in the now-defunct City Auditorium. |
| 1969 | • The last of the original series of shows held at the old Lenox Square Auditorium Flower Show takes an 18-year hiatus. |
| 1987 | • Atlanta Botanical Garden and Atlanta Market Center join together to revive the show. |
| February 1988 | • The new Atlanta Flower Show is held at the AMC Inforum. |
| 1993 | • Following this year’s show, a group of six show Chairmen form a non-profit organization to benefit the Atlanta Botanical Garden. • The Atlanta Flower Show is renamed the Southeastern Flower Show. |
| 1994 | • The inaugural SFS is launched at Ponce Square. • The Legacy Garden begins as a way to use plant materials left over from the Flower Show. • Legacy Garden is awarded to Amberwood Village, Reynoldstown. |
| 1995 | • SFS moves to larger space in City Hall East. • Legacy Garden is awarded to City Hall East. |
| 1996 | • Legacy Garden is awarded to Fourth Ward Neighborhood. |
| 1997 | • Legacy Garden is awarded to House of Love and Hope, Foster home for young children. |
| 1998 | • Legacy Garden is awarded to The Bridge, Residential treatment center for abused children. |
| 1999 | • Legacy Garden is awarded to The Lang-Carson Community Center, Reynoldstown. |
| February 2000 | • SFS moves to the Atlanta Exposition Center. • Legacy Garden is awarded to The Samuel L. Jones Boys and Girls Club, Decatur. |
| 2001 | • The Legacy Garden is awarded to Charles R. Drew Charter School, East Lake Neighborhood. |
| 2002 | • Legacy Garden is awarded to Cook Elementary School and C.W. Hill Elementary School, Atlanta Public Schools. • Legacy Garden is awarded to The Samuel L. Jones Boys and Girls Club, Decatur |
| February 2003 | • SFS themed Laughter in the Garden held at GWCC. • Legacy Garden is awarded to Historic Oakland Foundation, Oakland Cemetery. |
| 2004 | • Legacy Garden is awarded to Historic Oakland Foundation, Oakland Cemetery. |
| 2005 | • Legacy Garden is awarded to Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University. |
| 2006 | • Legacy Garden is awarded to Horticultural Therapy Garden at Wesley Woods Hospital. • SFS becomes fully independent of the Atlanta Botanical Garden in November ’06. During the 13-year relationship, SFS donated over $1.3 million to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. |
| 2007 | • Legacy Garden is awarded to The Shepherd Spinal Center. |
| January 2008 | • SHS is born out of the SFS. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization planning to promote the knowledge, art and enjoyment of horticulture throughout the Southeastern U.S • Legacy Garden is awarded to Piedmont Hospital's Byrd Barrier-Free Garden and Infusion Center Deck |
| January 2009 | • SFS moves to the Cobb Galleria Centre. • Legacy Garden is awarded to Skyland Trail South Residential Facility. |
Executive Committee,
Southeastern Horticultural Society Board of Directors
|
Robert Balentine |
Andrea Strickland |
|
Ed Festa |
Marsha Webb |
|
Parker Ransom |
Vice President, Nominating and Governance |
|
Ellen Wiley |
Greg Johnson |
|
Ellen Wiley |
Candy Johnson |
|
Anna Mershon |
Kate Chura |
|
Terry Broscher |
Pat Hartrampf |
Southeastern Horticultural Society Staff
Kate Chura
Executive Director
1705 Commerce Drive, Suite 400
Atlanta, GA 30318
404-351-6051
kchura@sehort.org
Ashley Simpson
Administrative Coordinator
asimpson@sehort.org