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Callaway
Gardens
By Jack
Kean
Callaway Gardens, located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, about an hour south of Atlanta, is a great destination for nature lovers of all ages. Whether you enjoy nature from the comfort of your car or want to get up close by walking or riding your bike, Callaway Gardens is the place to be. At the entrance gates, you will be given a map of Callaway Gardens listing attractions, dining, recreation, walking trails and accommodations. This is an essential item for first time visitors.
There are miles of walking and bike paths that give you the opportunity to view an amazing variety of flowering plants. If you feel more comfortable in you car, even driving through Callaway Gardens is worth the trip. While some of the venues require a bit of walking, most, if not all, of Callaway Gardens is very wheelchair friendly. I saw people in wheelchairs and power chairs enjoying themselves. It’s also a wonderful destination for groups.
We visited during late March, but throughout the year Callaway Gardens offers a variety of flowers to appreciate. A few examples include: azaleas and dogwoods in April; rhododendron in May; blueberries in June; and sunflowers in July. Rest assured that there will be acres and acres of flowers.
A good place to start your visit to Callaway Gardens is the Callaway Discovery Center where you can orient yourself to the wide variety of entertainment possibilities. Behind the Discovery Center there is a free tram that will take you to the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl and the Day Butterfly Center. The trams run at least every 30 minutes, and you might need more than that at either destination. We used the tram with no problem. There is also a tram offering a two and one-half hour guided tour for $5.35.
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A resident of the
Day Butterfly Center. |
The Day Butterfly Center is a completely climate-controlled building growing numerous plants known to be favorites of butterflies. And of course with such a perfect environment, the butterflies thrive. When walking through the center you will be surrounded by a wide variety of butterflies. Stand still for a minute, and one just might land on your shoulder. Now that is a neat experience. In addition to watching them, it’s also a great place to photograph butterflies.
Also in the Butterfly Center are several bird cages housing an array of exotic birds. When we were there, a handler took the birds out of their cages while telling her small audience about the different types of birds. You can get as close to them as they allow and maybe even have a short conversation. It’s not often you can talk to a bird and have it talk back.
As for the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl, when the Azaleas are in bloom you will be encircled by their colors. Lush plants in white, pink, red and beautiful mixed colors are seemingly everywhere. The trail leads you down to Lower Creek Falls Lake and over a bridge then back to the entrance. It is easy to navigate, and you won’t mind the walk.
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Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden |
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Mr. Cason’s Vegetable Garden is another venue we enjoyed. Though it was early in the season, you could tell the garden would soon be bursting with most any vegetable that can be grown in Georgia. At times during the peak growing season, you can even buy vegetables at the Vegetable Garden Shop. Six employees work full-time keeping the garden in pristine condition.
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Mr. Cason's Garden |
We finally took time for lunch and found The Plant Room located at The Mountain Creek Inn. This restaurant specializes in buffet style food, though you may also order from a limited menu. The Plant Room is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My wife and I enjoyed a lunch buffet that included turnip greens, fried okra and several types of meat, salad, sandwiches, soup and desert. Food options at Callaway Gardens include most everything from burgers to more upscale dining. A few of your choices include the Piedmont Dining Room, Country Kitchen, and Discovery Café.
The Sibley Horticulture Center is another must see at Callaway Gardens. Among many other plants, we saw orchids, sedum, papaya, banana trees, and an amazing array of tropical plants. Rows of hydrangeas, white, pink, and blue and many other manicured displays are there for your enjoyment.
There are seven walking trails that range from about one-half mile at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail to the 2.1 mile Overlook Garden trail. Only one trail, Laurel Springs Trail is rated a moderate. All the others are rated easy, and based on our experience, almost anyone in good health would have no problem navigating these trails.
To get to Callaway from Atlanta (70 miles), take Interstate 85 South to Interstate 185 South (exit 21). From Interstate 185, exit at U.S. Hwy. 27 (exit 42). Follow Hwy. 27 South to Pine Mountain. In Pine Mountain, turn right onto Hwy. 354 West. Proceed to Ga. Hwy. 18 and turn left into Callaway Gardens.
I haven’t even mentioned the beach, the birds of prey show, bike rentals, or lodging, so for more information call: 1-800-225-5292 or check the Internet at http://www.callawaygardens.com.
At Callaway Gardens the admission gate opens daily at 9:00 a.m. Closing times are:
Jan. 1 to Mar. 18: 5 p.m. Mar. 19 through Sunday preceding Labor Day: 6 p.m.
Labor Day through Dec. 31: 5 p.m.
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