2014 Garden Show

A colorful fixture on Atlanta’s annual social calendar since 1988, the Southeastern Flower Show, hosted by the Southeastern Horticultural Society (SHS), is returning to its roots this year with a more intimate incarnation—the 2014 Garden Show. “This year’s abbreviated show will set the stage for the 2015 Southeastern Flower Show, as we take steps to reconnect and engage with the local community,” explains Kate Chura, executive director of SHS.

The centerpiece of this year’s show lies in the foundation’s partnership with Buckhead CID and Livable Buckhead in the transformation of Charlie Loudermilk Park, a triangle of land located at the intersection of Peachtree Road, Roswell Road and Sardis Way. As part of the park’s redesign—slated for completion in July—SHS will design multiple gardens throughout the course of the park’s development. “A key initiative was creating a gathering place in the heart of Buckhead, a legacy so to speak,” says Chura. “And hosting the Garden Show at the Buckhead Theatre, directly across from the park, provides an ideal setting to promote this mission and contribute to the neighborhood.”

The change in venue from traditional grand exhibition halls such as Cobb Galleria to the more quaint Buckhead Theatre is also part of SHS’s effort to reengage with the community. Next year, the Southeastern Flower Show will return to Ponce City Market, a historic reuse development that played host to the event several times in the mid-90s.

Although a juried flower show won’t be a part of this year’s schedule (look for it in 2015), the Garden Show is still lining up to be the season’s premier experience for horticultural enthusiasts. Highlights include a garden and floral marketplace, artistic flower displays, garden equipment demos, a competitive photography exhibition and guest lectures from noted plant speakers and accomplished chefs.