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Published on 09/11/19

UGA horticulturists to host ornamental open house at the Durham Horticulture Farm

By Chad Cain

Before they are available to the public, many new varieties of bushes and landscape plants are first planted at the University of Georgia’s Durham Horticulture Farm in Watkinsville, Georgia.

This fall, landscapers, gardeners and plant-savvy homeowners will get the first glimpse of some of these new plants at the 2019 Durham Horticulture Farm Open House. This year’s field day and open house will be Oct. 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the farm at 1221 Hog Mountain Road, just outside of Athens.

“The Durham Horticulture Farm Open House is an opportunity for both the general public and industry to visit the farm and gain a better understanding of the exciting work happening at the farm,” said Associate Professor Matthew Chappell, event coordinator and UGA Cooperative Extension coordinator for horticulture. “At any one time, there are dozens of ongoing projects, from vegetable and ornamental breeding to disease and insect trials.”

Although the farm is home to much of the vegetable research done in UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), this program will focus on ornamental and viticulture research at the horticulture farm, Chappell said.

Multiple speakers will be presenting on their research during the half-day event.

  • Woody plant and shrub breeder and Professor Donglin Zhang will present his latest varieties.
  • Viticulture Assistant Professor Cain Hickey will talk about muscadine and wine grape cultivars.
  • Chappell will discuss the partnership between CAES and the Center for Applied Nursery Research and its new varieties of gardenia, loropetalum and camellia.
  • Horticulture Associate Professor Tim Smalley will present his latest research into cultural practices that can make landscape plants more vigorous and resilient, including studies that could help boxwood shrubs survive boxwood blight.

Visit this website to register for the open house. Registration is free before 5 p.m. on Oct. 1. After Oct. 1, registration will be $15 (check or cash only) on-site the day of the tour, Oct. 4. For more information, contact Matthew Chappell at 706-542-9044.

Chad Cain is a student writer for the CAES Office of Communications and Creative Services.

Authors:
Chad Cain
Experts/Sources:
Matthew Chappell
UGA horticulture Professor Donglin Zhang shows a group around his greenhouse at the Durham Horticulture Farm in Watkinsville during a past farm tour. The 2019 Horticulture Farm Tour will be held on Oct. 4 at 1221 Hog Mountain Road.
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