AMBER LANIER NAGLE COURTESY COLUMBUS BOTANICAL GARDEN JENNIFER ELHARDT Contents JUNE 2022 * VOL. 78, NO. 6 10 24 28 16 Paddle on! 20 24 See a different side of Georgia while exploring its waterways. See a different side of Georgia while exploring its waterways. By Pamela A. Keene Venturing way off the beaten path Extra Miler Club members embrace a very organized form of wanderlust. By Jim Winnerman The shape of things The art of bonsai thrives in Georgia. By Amber Lanier Nagle On the cover Kayakers gather at Rocky Bend Flint River Retreat near Newton during the Georgia River Network's 2019 Fall Float on the Flint. (Photo by Joe Cook.) 35 4 MAILBOX 6 PICTURE THIS? 8 GEORGIA NEWS 9 TRIVIA CONTEST 10 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 14 CURRENTS 19 CURIOUS GEORGIA Georgia's ties to three U.S. presidents 23 GEORGIANS AT WORK Meet Tony Owens, Dahlonega candymaker 28 AROUND GEORGIA Top shops for homemade ice cream 35 GEORGIA GARDENS Gardens after hours 38 GEORGIA COOKS Cooking with okra 42 HOMETOWN HEROES Ellie Loudermilk brings history to life www.georgiamagazine.org 3 D E S I / K C O T O . K O C M O K Shttp://www.georgiamagazine.org