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- Woodmanston in Bloom
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- Bog Garden Spider Lilies
News and Special Events
The LeConte-Woodmanston Plantation and Botanical Garden National Historic
Site is open daily to the public for hiking, picnicking and self-guided
garden tours. Guided
tours are available by appointment only. No motorized vehicles are allowed on trails.
The gates are intended to protect this historic site with its fragile system
of earthen dikes by excluding vehicles. Pedestrians are invited to explore.
Enjoy a stroll through the formal gardens or a hike along
the trails and into the
swamp. Restroom facilities and picnic areas
are always open to the public and are handicapped accessible. Check this
page frequently for current site conditions or go to the
Plan Your Visit page. For more information or to schedule a tour
please
contact us .
Only with your support,
will we be able to continue our
restoration and preservation efforts.
Recent Happenings and Upcoming Events:
Plans are underway to erect a deer fence at Woodmanston and a pedestrian
gate at the Avenue of Oaks entrance. Funds from the Liberty County grant
will be used for the project as well as funds from other recently received
grants.
In March 2014 the Southern Garden Historic
Society held its
annual conference in the Savannah area.
Members of the society visited LeConte-Woodmanston as part of their “Day on Rice Plantations”.
Read more about the Southern
Garden History Society.
The McIntosh County Shouters entertained with traditional Geechee-Gullah
ring shouts.
Board members and volunteers remain actively involved in maintaining
and improving the garden area. Recent plantings included bulbs that Louis
LeConte had in his garden including Hippeastrum x johnsonii, Zephranthes
atamasco, Zephranthes candida, Lillium superbum, Amaryllis belladonna,
Crocus Sativus, Sternbergia and
Sprekelia formosissima. A donor from the Atlanta area provided 100
Pseudonarcissus bulbs and 75 Spanish Spanish Bluebell bulbs. 90 roses and a variety of camellias were also
planted. A new garden fence was installed to further enhance the area.
Benches were installed in the garden area and shrubbery was planted by
the garden gates. New bridges were built and old bridges repaired to
facilitate hiking along the nature trail.
Recent grants included a Garden Club of Georgia’s Historic Preservation
Grant and a Liberty County Historic Preservation ESPLOST Grant. A matching
grant was provided by the
Garden Club of Georgia
for new signage. The Liberty County grant was used for bridge repair. The
Oleander District of the Garden Club of Georgia also made a recent donation.
A prevous grant from
The Garden Club of Georgia Historic Landscape and Garden Grant Committee was used to expand the garden, repair the
irrigation system, purchase additional Camellias for the camellia area
and initiate improved weed control through professional herbicide spraying.
Camellias were a significant part of LeConte-Woodmanston’s history.
Louis LeConte introduced the Camellia to Georgia.
One of our dedicated
board members succeeded in locating a variety of historical Camellias and headed up the effort
to plant 906 historic bulbs in two 16 foot square beds. Some of the
bulbs planted date from 1810-1813. Spartina Garden Club members also
assisted in the bulb planting as did some of our wonderful
volunteers and board members.
If you would like to donate a Camellia or a plant please check our
Camellia Wish List or
Plant Wish List.
Another board member has put much effort into doing historical research and
was able to provide
additional information
concerning the
LeConte family as well as the relationship between Joseph LeConte and
John Muir. Check out our history section including a
picture of Jane LeConte and a
chapter from the book “Reminiscences of Famous Georgians” –
John and Joseph LeConte: The Gemini of
the Scientific Heavens.
Plans for the future include continued expansion
of Louis LeConte’s world famous 19th century gardens by including more
historic camellias, bulbs and pre-1840 variety roses and maintenance of
garden, nature trail and swamp areas already established. Garden Clubs
in the area are considering the possibility of adopting and maintaining
some of our garden plots. SCAD
students are also looking for ways to enhance the site with art forms and are
also willing to do work concerning a “Praise House.” The previous Children’s Garden area will continue, for the
present time, as a demonstration plot but may in the future transition
into an area for native plants. One of our long range goals includes using the nursery to
propagate historic Camellias.
Are you considering volunteering at LeConte-Woodmanston? A variety of
opportunities are available. For
volunteer opportunities check the
Get Involved page. If you
are interested in participating please contact us.
Are you considering foundation membership? If so please check our
membership page.