Download North Fulton Masters Gardeners

April 1, 2014
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Lynn McIntyre
Director of Community Relations
Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willed Road, Roswell, GA 30075
www.chattnaturecenter.org
770-992-2055 x 224 (office) or 770-883-8215 (cell)
Fulton County Cooperative Extension Announces New Partnership with
North Fulton Master Gardeners and Extension Volunteers and the
Chattahoochee Nature Center
[Roswell] “Georgia's Living Wetland Exhibit is fragile and it takes a fundamental
understanding of botany to properly maintain the unique plant specimens that make up
this outdoor classroom seen by visitors at the Chattahoochee Nature Center visitors
daily. That is why we are delighted to announce that through a new partnership
recently initiated with Rolando Orellana, the Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension Agent for Fulton County Cooperative Extension, the North Fulton Master
Gardeners and Extension Volunteers have now adopted this project that requires their
expertise; where rare and wild plants exist to tell a story like no other”, said Chris
Nelson, CNC’s new Executive Director.
The Georgia Living Wetlands Exhibit area has now been officially adopted by members
of the North Fulton Extension Volunteers. This wetland mitigation project, built in 2001
with funding from Isakson-Barnhart, a local developer, preserves endangered habitats.
It is used to educate visitors on the importance of protecting a vital part of the
watershed, our wetlands. ‘Georgia’s Wetland Exhibit’ features five types of wetlands
found in Georgia: the Mountain Bog; the Piedmont Flood Plain; the Okefenokee Swamp;
the Pitcher Plant Bog; and a Longleaf Pine and Wiregrass Community. The challenge has
always been maintaining it year round. Now, thanks to the assist of these dedicated
volunteers, there will be an on-going education project with local Master Gardeners and
extension volunteers who will be caring for these unique plants; including more than
200 species of native plants and trees from bogs to wiregrass habitats. Gardeners have
already started working weekly on their project.
Visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center where ‘Nature' is open daily! Like our FACEBOOK page for updates. Open Monday through
Saturday from 10-5 pm & noon to 5pm Sunday. www.chattnaturecenter.org. Admission: $6 for Child/$10 Adult/$7 Seniors 65+/$7
Students 13-18/Free CNC Members & Kids 2 & under. The Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell has 127 acres of native plants
and gardens. It’s River Boardwalk, Discovery Center and woodland trails feature 30 species of wildlife. Educational programs focus
on the ecosystem of the Chattahoochee River Watershed and help to expand the awareness of the natural world.
April 1, 2014
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Lynn McIntyre
Director of Community Relations
Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willed Road, Roswell, GA 30075
www.chattnaturecenter.org
770-992-2055 x 224 (office) or 770-883-8215 (cell)
Henning von Schmeling, the Director of Operations at the Chattahoochee Nature
Center, who has been working on this project for years, said, “A wetland serves many
valuable functions for people, wildlife and plant life. Acting as a natural water
purification system, it filters and absorbs pollutants. Wetlands control floods, slowly
releasing rain water into streams and rivers without causing erosion or other damage.
These wetland gardens serve as teaching sites for students, scouts and the general
public, as well as for the adult population of lawyers, realtors, contractors, appraisers,
engineers, developers and conservationists. Having the North Fulton Extension
Volunteers help us with these delicate eco-gardens is wonderful!”
Eve Neumeister, a North Fulton Extension Volunteer and Master Gardener, said, ‘one of
the most endangered plants in Georgia, the white top pitcher plant, is protected here.
The North Fulton Extension Volunteers will assist the CNC horticulture team to help
communicate important lessons to the public about saving these rare plants. Because
of their spectacular floral displays, pitcher plant bogs are one of South Georgia's most
beautiful environments. Several other species of pitcher plants are found here too including hooded, trumpet, purple, and parrot varieties. Other plants that can be found
in the bogs are slash and longleaf pines, wax myrtle, gall berry and dwarfed red maple.
We are delighted that our volunteer hours will count now.
Pat Price, another North Fulton Extension Volunteer and Master Gardener said,
“Imagine how enriching it is for students who are studying science (and being tested
about Georgia’s Eco-Regions) to have a place to actually see these diverse habitats. This
is great; certainly students can learn more in this natural setting than they can from text
books or the internet, right here, without having to travel to remote places in Georgia to
see these rare habitats.”
Visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center where ‘Nature' is open daily! Like our FACEBOOK page for updates. Open Monday through
Saturday from 10-5 pm & noon to 5pm Sunday. www.chattnaturecenter.org. Admission: $6 for Child/$10 Adult/$7 Seniors 65+/$7
Students 13-18/Free CNC Members & Kids 2 & under. The Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell has 127 acres of native plants
and gardens. It’s River Boardwalk, Discovery Center and woodland trails feature 30 species of wildlife. Educational programs focus
on the ecosystem of the Chattahoochee River Watershed and help to expand the awareness of the natural world.