A large white house with a porch and balcony.
Fair Oaks, built in 1850, is the home of the Marietta Educational Garden Center.
A path in the middle of a garden filled with pink flowers.
Just a quick view of the hundreds of camellias on show at Massee Lane Gardens, site of the 2023 Historic Landscape Preservation fundraiser.
A trail sign in the middle of a forest.
Walking trail through the Lockerly Arboretum at Rose Hall

Historic Landscape Preservation and Programs

I. Historic Landscape Preservation and Programs

The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. launched the Historic Landscape Preservation Fundraiser in 1996 to support a matching grant for the restoration of historic, non-profit, public gardens and landscapes across Georgia.

Since its inception, the program has awarded over $250,000 in matching grants. Fundraisers rotate annually among GCG districts, each showcasing impressive historic garden sites in the state.

Upcoming Fundraiser

2026 - Camellia District - Irish Ramble on Bellevue in Dublin, GA

Recent Fundraisers

  • 2024 – Laurel District at Fair Oaks (Marietta)

Hosted at Fair Oaks, home of the Marietta Educational Garden Center, the event included speakers, exhibits, and tours of the antebellum home, Founder’s Garden, and First Lady Camellias.

  • 2023 – Magnolia District at Massee Lane Gardens (Fort Valley)

Held at Massee Lane Gardens, home to one of the world’s finest camellia collections. Originally a private garden by David C. Strother in the 1930s, the site became the American Camellia Society headquarters in 1966.

Guests toured Rose Hill, the antebellum home on site, and gardens featuring rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, conifers, irises, and daylilies. Lunch was provided by Comfort Farms, along with a lecture on heirloom seeds.

The event featured home and garden tours, a lecture on “Heirloom Plants for Garden Fragrance” by the head horticulturist, and a boxed lunch.

II. Georgia Historic Landscape Initiative (GHLI)

Since the 1930s, GCG has been dedicated to preserving Georgia’s landscape history. One of its signature efforts is the Georgia Historic Landscape Initiative (GHLI), a partnership with the Cherokee Garden Library, Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center and the University of Georgia’s College of Environment + Design.

GHLI’s goal is to create a statewide inventory of Georgia’s historic gardens and landscapes. The program is currently under evaluation by GCG, with updates to come.

III. Historic Landscape Grant Program

The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. offers 50/50 matching grants up to $3,000 to support restoration projects. Grants are awarded for a one-year period. For details on the application process, click here.

  • 2024 Grant Recipients
  • 2023 Grant Recipients

 IV. Ways of Becoming Preservation Partners

GCG welcomes donations to support historic preservation.

  • Partner of Preservation: $25+ donation from clubs - Use the official GCG Donation form and make checks payable to GCG. Mail to the GCG Treasurer.
  • Patron of Preservation: $100+ donations from individuals or organizations - Use the official GCG Donation form and make checks payable to GCG. Mail to the GCG Treasurer.
  • James R. Cothran Historic Landscape Preservation Endowment Fund: This endowment honors James R. Cothran, founder of the Historic Landscape Preservation Fundraiser, Grant Fund, and the Georgia Historic Landscape Initiative. Monies donated to this fund will be used as a permanent capital fund solely for the purpose of financing the Historic Landscape Preservation grants within the state of Georgia. Anyone wishing to support historic preservation and/or to honor Cothran’s outstanding contributions to historic landscape preservation may make a tax-deductible donation using the designated [Endowment Contribution Form] or the standard GCG Donation Form.