The Gathering Garden at Lake & Local, located at 104 S. Main St., has been a unique fixture in downtown Greensboro since its installation in 1996. When owners Kelly Parham and Kirsten Thompson took over the building and garden, their first big project was restoring the garden to its full potential.
Tom McClendon, a local horticulturist, and Joe LeVert were the original designers and installers of this spectacular green space reminiscent of New Orleans or Charleston. Each plant in the garden is native to Georgia, and the soil is nutrient-rich, allowing the plants to thrive.
On Thursday, Aug. 11, from 6-8 p.m., McClendon and LeVert will lead a Tropical Garden Class for Lake & Local’s Ladies Night Out event.
“Joe and I are really looking forward to this class,” said McClendon. “We want to show folks in the Lake Country that creating a garden that looks magnificent in all four seasons is a great concept for our area. We are excited as well to give a walking tour of the Gathering Garden. And we will have plants to give away and for sale.”
McClendon has led two other gardening classes at Lake & Local so far this year, including a Camellia Class in February and a Citrus Garden Class in April, each one very well-attended. Participants in the August Tropical Garden Class on Aug. 11 will begin with a short presentation about tropical plants in the Georgia climate, then head outside to the Gathering Garden for a tour, as well as a lesson on propagating tropicals.
While Lake & Local’s monthly Ladies Night Out events are exclusively for the ladies, this particular event is open to anyone who would like to learn more about creating a tropical paradise in their own backyard. Light refreshments will be provided. The event begins at 6 p.m. and costs $20 per person. Registration is requested to ensure space for everyone and can be done online or in person.
Visit the website at lakeandlocal.com or call 706-920-1130 for more details.
-Contributed