Georgia Magazine - May 2018 - 38

Along the
garden trail

ast year, the Georgia Department of
Economic Development launched
a new tourism initiative-one that
would allow visitors to travel to
world-class gardens or visit historic
estates without leaving North Georgia. The new North Georgia Garden
Trail showcases 26 elegant, natural
and historic garden destinations that
capture the heritage and beauty of
the area.
Many gardens and landscapes
on the trail have their roots in
history. Others owe their existence
to community collaboration or the
dedication of visionary gardening
enthusiasts.
Here are just a few examples of
the horticultural treasures to be found
along the garden trail.

Rose Lawn Museum
More than 200 heritage and antique roses grace the grounds of the
Victorian Rose Lawn Museum in Cartersville, at one time the home of nationally known evangelist Samuel
Porter Jones and his wife, Laura McElwain Jones.
"What Rev. Jones did was an architectural marvel of the day and
made the home a true showplace of
the Victorian age," says Jane Drew,
executive director of the museum.
"Mrs. Jones planted more than
200 roses here and lived in the home
until 1926, but over the years the
roses declined, and the house was
vacant for a time."
38

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the
home was purchased
by Bartow County in
1978 and was opened
as a museum. However,
the grounds were relatively untouched until
2003, when Drew became executive director.
"One of the first projects was revitalizing the
grounds and re-establishing the roses," she Top: The gardens at Rose Lawn Museum in Cartersville,
says.
restored to their original plantings, showcase more than 200
That goal has been heritage and antique roses. Above: A cascade of pink climbachieved with the help ing roses blooms throughout the summer on the museum's
of Georgia rosarian smokehouse.
Bruce Gillette and volunteer Master Gardeners who sur- lived here," Drew says. "And we've
veyed the gardens and identified the done that."
remaining bushes.
"A few of the roses were passed Mauldin House and Garden
down from generation to generation,
Tucked away in Clarkesville, at
and now they've returned to Rose the corner of East Waters and JefferLawn," she says. "Our prize rose, 'Ma- son streets, the Mauldin House and
demoiselle Cecile Brunning', had Garden showcases the historic Mauldbeen nurtured by the Jones family, in family farmstead and grounds.
and Sam Jones' great-grandchildren
"It's really an in-town park with
brought the plant, still growing on its an emphasis on native plants and a
original root ball, back to the home." great deal of color," says Sarah SamDrew says she feels a strong sel, city of Clarkesville gardens and
sense of accomplishment with the grounds coordinator. "The gardens
restoration of the gardens. "We want- are filled with azaleas, beautyberry
ed the grounds to match the beauty bushes, mountain laurel and wildof the house, and to bring Rose Lawn flowers such as trout lilies, trillium
back to the period when the Joneses and Jack in the pulpit."
BRIAN LITTLE

BY PAMELA A. KEENE

BRIAN LITTLE

Horticultural treasures
abound in North
Georgia

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - May 2018