Hart County Board of Directors and Officers
(Left to right)
Dana Scott, Jeannie Brownsberger, Jean Kidd, Woody Eakin, Luanne Burgess (President), Debie Ray, Woody Matthews, Diane Slayton, Amy Clark and Vickie Peace
September 28, 2026
On Sunday, September 27th the Hart County Botanical Garden enjoyed what Sun photographer Bill Powell said was a “Chamber of Commerce” day. The Friends of the Garden, past and present Board members and supporters came together to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Garden. With over 80 people in attendance, Luanne Burgess, current president of the Board, kicked off the event acknowledging all of the contributors for the ongoing success of the Garden. Luanne recognized the Master Gardeners who took the first steps toward ensuring the plot of land, that is now the Garden, provided by the county was well maintained and served the community.
The other presenters highlighted the major milestones achieved in the 25 years. Special attention was given to the major events for the Garden’s growth, such as the transition from the Master Gardeners to the Friend of the Garden, the construction of the walking paths, the inclusion of the very popular Children’s Garden, Amphitheater, Moon House, Pavilion, Mamaw’s House and all the individual gardens. Rounding out the day's festivities, all the guests were served a special cake and refreshments. Curators for each garden hosted the attendees and visitors. A family from Winnipeg, Canada was there on Sunday. They were in town to spend time in the Garden for a birthday since their children moved to Hartwell and spoke so highly of the overall Garden experience.
The Garden is a non-profit organization and relies upon the generosity of the community, including the city and county for support. Fundraising is a major task for all the volunteers with the annual plant sale in April and the summer concert series providing a major source of the Garden’s budget each year. Membership is available on the website. Tickets for a final Concert in the Garden featuring Lara Smith on Sunday, October 11th are available on social media.
Our Gardens - HART COUNTY BOTANICAL GARDEN
https://www.hartcogardens.com/
THE HART COUNTY BOTANICAL GARDEN IS A 501(c) 3 ORGANIZATION
Hart County Board of Directors and Officers