Membership Donations : 
- Individual $25; Family $40; Business/Corporate $60 
Membership is January - December 31, 2025  

Membership Benefits: 
- Access to the Members Only Plant Sale Pre-Sale
- Early access to Concert tickets; some shows sell-out before the public has access. 
- Garden news, emails, events and useful gardening & plant information 
-  Reduced rates on Pavilion chair and table rentals.  
Your donation supports our all volunteer, self-supporting, non-profit Garden! 

Here is the link to renew: 
https://secure.givelively.org/donate/hart-county-botanical-garden-inc/membership-drive-2025

​News and Frequently Asked Questions

PictureMaggie, Lauren and Jesse

News for 2025 - Note From New President Lauren Peacock
Hi Friends of Hart County Botanical Garden.
Lauren Peacock here! I hope everyone had a peaceful holiday. I'm excited to introduce three new members to our Board of Directors, including myself, each of us bringing unique expertise and a deep commitment to the mission of our garden.

​Maggie Jackson (left) - Vice President
Maggie owns and operates Big Hart Farm in Hartwell, where she, her husband and their team, farm over four acres of specialty crops. Maggie's passion for agriculture extends beyond farming; she is committed to making farming more accessible to the community and inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders.

​As a member of Leadership Hart, Maggie played an essential role in the improvements to our Children’s Garden, and her involvement with the garden reflects her vision of connecting people to the land. She believes in the power of agriculture to build stronger, more resilient communities.

Jesse Merkley (right) - Co-Director
Jesse, a landscaper and regenerative farmer, moved to Hartwell three years ago to be closer to his brother and pursue a career in sustainable farming. His background includes experience in hardscapes, erosion control, retaining walls, and more. With a focus on creating functional and beautiful outdoor spaces, Jesse’s work incorporates both landscaping and engineering principles. His business, Soul Stone Landscaping, is a reflection of his commitment to sustainable practices and designing with the environment in mind.

Jesse also has a diverse professional background, with over 10 years experience in construction and engineering. His passion for landscaping and gardening has been a lifelong pursuit, and he has found fulfillment in regenerative farming since moving to Hartwell.
Jesse was introduced to the Garden by Woody Eakin, and he is excited to contribute his skills and experience to our mission. His vision of creating beautiful, functional spaces aligns perfectly with the Garden’s goals, and we look forward to his contributions as a Co-Director.

Lauren Peacock (center) - President
While I've met many of you already, you might know me best for my work on 2024's Plant Sale team with Vickie Peace. I have a deep-rooted passion for native plants and landscape design. I also helped design and co-curate the new entrance pollinator garden using plants that support our local ecosystems. I'm beyond excited to continue this work and serve this special community of fellow plant lovers! 

Maggie and I would also like to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to Lorin Sinn-Clark for her incredible leadership as President during her tenure. When Lorin began her work with the Garden in 2020, the board was just completing the Conifer Walk. Since then, under her guidance, the Garden has flourished with numerous improvements, from the Conifer Walk, Chainsaw Sculptures, the new pavilion and rebuilding of the garden benches and stage, the concert series which netted over $12,000 in 2024 for the Garden, the revitalization of the Children's garden, and most recently, the new entrance garden, new signage, as well as the Jerry Turner Concrete Path.

​These are just a few of the many accomplishments made possible by Lorin’s leadership, vision, and dedication. We owe her a tremendous thank you for all she has done to help Hart County Botanical Garden grow into the beautiful community space it is today. We have big shoes to fill, but are aiming for the smoothest transition possible with Lorin's guidance.

We are excited about the future of the Garden with our new Board members, and we look forward to continuing to serve our community together. Thank you for your ongoing support!

I'd also like to take a second to remind everyone of our next Friends meeting on January 21 at 5pm. Additionally, please stay tuned for updates on new classes; both Maggie and I are excited to revitalize our educational programs and can't wait to share these with you!

Sincerely,
Lauren Peacock, President
Hart County Botanical Garden

WHAT ARE YOUR HOURS? 
​The Gardens are open from dawn to dusk daily, free of charge.  
CAN I BRING MY PETS?
Leashed pets and service animals are welcome.  A waste bag station can be found at the entrance. Please grab one on your way in just in case!
ARE THE GARDENS HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE?
Yes.  We are pleased to have created a more wheelchair accessible path throughout the Garden.  We enthusiastically thank the Turner Concrete organization, Kathy Turner, Steven Banks and many other Garden Friends who made very generous donations to create a very comfortable, smooth walking path around the major areas of the Garden.  The Garden still has  some dirt, mulched and gravel pathways meandering throughout.  The Children's Garden is handicap accessible.
ARE THERE RESTROOMS IN THE GARDEN?
Public restrooms are available at the recreation center concession stand at the ball fields near the Garden and at the playground near the football fields.
HOW CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN IS THE GARDEN?
The Garden is conveniently located just outside of Downtown Hartwell, we are approximately five minutes from shopping and dining opportunities.
HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE GARDEN?
Supporting the gardens is a wonderful way to be involved.  Consider becoming a "Friend of the Garden".  Host an event in our Pavilion areas.  Or purchase a tree, brick, or bench for honoring a loved one or a special event.
WHERE ARE THE HCBG BY-LAWS LOCATED?
The HCBG By-Laws can be located on the About Us/History page on this website.  The link below will take you right to the page.  The By-Laws are at the bottom of the page.

DOWNLOAD AND ENJOY OUR LATEST GARDEN BROCHURE

hcbg_brochure_022025.pdf
File Size: 14164 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
1277 Elberton Hwy (Hwy 77 South) Hartwell, GA 30643
(706) 436-1557
[email protected]


Copyright Reserved, 2024
1277 Elberton Hwy (Hwy 77 South) Hartwell, GA 30643
(706) 436-1557
[email protected]

Copyright Reserved, 2025