Trees Atlanta Sheep Eat Kudzu in Perkerson Park | Trees Atlanta

Trees Atlanta Sheep Eat Kudzu in Perkerson Park

MEDIA ADVISORY

“Meet the Sheep” will take place on Wednesday September 17^th, 2013

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

WHAT: The sheep are coming, and invasive plants are on the menu! Local non-profit Trees Atlanta has hired a herd of more than 100 hungry sheep to tackle acres of kudzu, English ivy, Chinese privet, and more, which grow in many of Atlanta’s greenspaces.

The sheep have moved to Perkerson Park, where they are eating invasive plants. On Tuesday, September 17^th, the Atlanta public is invited to the event, “Meet the Sheep”. At this event, families, friends, and neighbors can come take pictures and feed the sheep plants, while learning more about why invasive plant removal is vital to a healthy urban forest.

Trees Atlanta’s forest restoration program treats 500 acres of invasive species annually and is continually looking for low-impact methods to improve the health of the urban forest. In this way, Trees Atlanta can plant more native trees, which have many, many benefits for our city. Learn more here: https://treesatlanta.org/our-programs/forest-restoration.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 17^th, 2013, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

WHERE: Perkerson Park, 770 Deckner Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30310.

COST: Free

Trees Atlanta is a nationally-recognized citizens group that protects and improves Atlanta’s urban forest by planting, conserving, and educating. Since 1985, Trees Atlanta has planted and distributed more than 96,000 trees. Trees Atlanta has an active volunteer corps of 4,500 citizens.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Bethany Clark

Trees Atlanta

404-681-4892

Bethany@treesatlanta.org

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1. Magnolia Collection

Magnolias are part of an ancient lineage of flowering plants dating back approximately 95 million years. The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum is home to 18 types of magnolias from evergreen to flowering. Two magnolias in particular have witnessed history as they were planted just beyond the outfield wall for the former Ponce de Leon Park, where the Atlanta Crackers played baseball. Babe Ruth and Eddie Matthews both hit home runs that were caught in the canopy of one of these magnolia trees. As part of Arboretum experimentation, we have taken cuttings from these historic magnolias and grown them into new trees so that this piece of history can live on the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum and in new parks and baseball fields around Atlanta.

2. 33 Oaks

The oak trees on this slope and throughout the Arboretum represent many ecosystems in Georgia, from bottomland hardwood swamps to granite outcrops. Of the approximately 90 species of oaks native to the United States, 33 are native to Georgia. All 33 oaks are growing on this slope and between them dance 33 stainless steel leaf sculptures – one for each tree.

These metal oaks were designed and crafted by David Landis of Landis Sculpture Studio. Learn more about David’s work here. For more information about the individual oaks featured, see our fact sheet here.

To learn more general information about our Georgia oaks, check out this video here.

3. Beech Circle

Among the stateliest of our native trees, beeches are indicative of a mature forest. Though they can take around 40 years to produce a large quantity of nuts, beech trees are critical for wildlife. Beeches provide food and shelter for all kinds of birds and mammals, such as the red-headed woodpecker. Dubbed the fairy ring, the circle of beech trees here surrounds a granite outdoor classroom and gathering place where you can contemplate how the beech trees will look in 3, 5, and 10 years!

4. Eastside Azalea Collection

Despite the native azalea holding the title of Georgia’s State Wildflower, it is underused in the landscape. The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum is now home to the largest public native azalea collection in the Atlanta Area with over 300 azaleas on display. The collection highlights over 25 species, cultivars, and varieties, and is home to all 13 azaleas native to the state of Georgia. This collection focuses on named cultivars (varieties that have been selected for depending on color, size, bloom time, etc.) within two series called the Georgia Moon Series and the Sunrise to Sunset Series. The Georgia Moon Series will have fragrant white-blooming Georgia native species, and the Sunrise to Sunset Series will be comprised of Georgia native species in warm orange, reds, and soft yellows blooming from March – July.

5. Stumpery Garden

The Stumpery Garden is a horticultural oddity, serving as a public place for learning and exploration and demonstrating how trees can be utilized in a beautiful way. Stumpery gardens utilize dead, fallen, and storm-damaged trees as an asset to the garden – providing critical habitat for beetles, frogs, birds, and small mammals such as chipmunks. Whole logs are placed upside down to display their root structure, and logs, branches, and pieces of bark are arranged to form walls and archways. Plants such as ferns, lichen, mosses, soft grasses, and trailing plants are encouraged to grow on and around them.

Take a virtual tour of the Stumpery Garden here.

6. Westside Azalea Collection

Different from the Eastside collection, the Westside collection has all straight species and natural varieties that encourage free hybridization. These azaleas are all grown from seed so there are many variations in the hues even between the same species.

7. Persimmon Woods

Home to the largest American persimmon tree in the state of Georgia, this remnant old growth forest on 1.3 acres provides habitat to a variety of deep forest flora. Walking through a nature trail and over a few bridges will bring you up close and personal with woodland groundcovers, rare spring ephemerals (plants with a short life cycle) such as trillium, and a large collection of native woody species. Enjoy the seasonal blooms, learn from plant identification signs, and get hands-on with volunteer opportunities to plant, divide woodland perennials, and collect seed.

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