Rosalynn Carter

Butterfly Symposium

Friday, 2 May 2025

Plains, Georgia

This event was Co-sponsored by the following:

• The Garden Clubs of Georgia, Inc.
• Magnolia District of the Garden Clubs of Georgia, Inc.
• Cafe Campesino
• Lazy K Nursery

Attendees were Welcomed by

Annette Wise

Rosalynn Butterfly Trail

Willie Maxwell

Welcomed the

Attendees

Garden Clubs of Georgia, Inc.

The above two pictures display the

information on the

Bee Boxes which were

on some of the Tables

Amy Heidt of the

Coastal Plain

Native Plant Society

spoke on 

"Native Plants for Your Garden"

Highlights of Her Talk included:

The Right Plant at the Right Place!

Start Small!

Check out the Website that list

the Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year!!

"If You Plant They Will Come"

The Next Presentation was by

Dorian Owens of the

Georgia Department of Transportation

He Spoke of the

"Georgia Roadside Wildflower Project"

The goal is to have at least 

25 acres of Roadside Flowers

in each of the Seven Districts

of Georgia in Bloom 

each year!

These Roadside Flower Gardens

are funded by

"Georgia Tag Sales"

You can find these Roadside 

Gardens on the 

Interstate and also the 

Georgia Highways of Georgia!!

Melissa Mongomery -

Former First Lady Rosalynn

Carter's Personal Assistant

1985-2023 spoke of

"Rosalynn Carter: Her

Great Love for Nature"

"Flowers Make People Happy"

"Plants Tell History!"

She related several interesting 

facts about the Carter's 

during their time at the

Georgia Capitol and

also while at the

White House!!

Mr. Michael Cherokas, a State of Georgia 

Representative

 on Behalf of the State of Georgia

Presented a Resolution Honoring

Melissa Montgomery!

Dr. Jaap de Roode - 

Emory University presented a program

entitled

"Migration, parasites and how to

protect Monarchs"

He stressed:

The Carter's were down to earth

Citizens.

The Monarch Butterfly 

population is at risk versus

"endangered!"

"Pollinator Gardens are

critical for our Food!"

The Afternoon Presentation 

was by

Dr. Allan Armitage -

Emeritus Professor of

Horticulture, University

of Georgia

His topic was:

"From Chaos to Contentment!"

He provided a very informative 

Handout listing the Plants 

appropriate for a Georgia

Garden. 

His discussion focused on

downsizing from a Large Home 

to a much smaller Home!

Making a Yard into a Garden!!

Starting with an Ugly downsized Cottage

to a Beautiful Home!!!

His talk included Humor and included 

such Wisdom as

"You Can Not Get Old If 

You Are a Gardener 

Because You Are Looking

Forward to the Future!"

Summary by the Editor of

this Blog - An Informative event

which included wonderful

Fellowship with

Like Minded Gardeners!!!