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When Dr. Chester Morse of Massachusetts and Eugenia Slack Morse of Decatur first moved to this wooded land in 1946, Scott Boulevard was a dirt road and their property, an old farm site, was a honeysuckle jungle. Chet and Gene added to their original small parcel to create the 7-acre tract that is now Woodlands Garden. In 2002, Chet and Gene Morse arranged to have their Decatur home and its surrounding seven acres permanently preserved from development, so future generations could experience and enjoy their wooded estate. They understood the importance of tempering Decatur’s rapid urbanization (projected 29 percent growth in 20 years) and turned down large offers from developers.
Since 2002 the family and community have created a remarkable collaboration. Woodlands Garden is now a 501c3 nonprofit with a dedicated Board of Directors who honor the Morse Family vision to open the garden to the community. Now the property serves as a unique showcase for plants and trees native to the north Georgia Piedmont. The Board of Directors pursues a Strategic Plan to achieve the mission of Woodlands Garden:
Preserving a woodland garden as an urban sanctuary to educate and engage the community in the natural world.

Watercolor class

50% off Discount Day

Fall Plant Sale

Paint a Pot

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Fairies in the Garden

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Julia Bryant

Kelley Hanada

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Fothergilla on Friday! This native shrub is a showstopper in fall!

Loving this landscape at @olmstedlinearpark !!!

Saturday, October 24 - Say Farewell to Fairies until they come back next year! Come dressed in your fairy finest and explore the trails one last time. 🧚✨🌿 Thank you for joining us during the most magical time of the year!

Lost and Found… come claim your cute belongings?

Thank you @cityofdecaturga for incorporating our sponsorship appreciation article in the recent Decatur Focus publication! The community supporting Woodlands is so generous including these businesses: Fall Plant Sale- @humbleharvestatlanta @daveytree @gilltreecare @taichi4lifecoop NealScape @glenncrestatdecatur @lawrencesharp1 Fairies in the Garden- @asturnerandsons @sarahclawrence HLM Financial Services @glidepizza @jessica.lily11 @glenncrestatdecatur @smarties_academy_

Nothing like a sweet thank you note from second graders who came to Woodlands to give back from @intownschool ! Thank you, Mrs. Pierce’s students and the incredibly prepared parent chaperones!

Fairy Playtime! Come color, create a wand, and blow bubbles today until 3pm!

Fairies in the Garden is on display until October 24th—- come find the magic!!

Fairy magic at Woodlands…. Come explore!

Due to inclement weather, the Fairies Opening Celebration on October 10 has been cancelled. We look forward to celebrating this magical time with you for the remainder of the two week exhibit! Stay tuned for more information on upcoming programs!

The magic returns thanks to amazing partners: @hillsideatl & @skylandtrail

Check out these generous sponsors of Fairies in the Garden who help this magical event happen! @asturnerandsons @sarahclawrence @decaturcitylifestyle HLM Financial Group @glenncrestatdecatur @glidepizza @jessica.lily11 @smarties_academy_

Did you get a copy? Thank you @decaturcitylifestyle for helping your readers learn about Fairies in the Garden at Woodlands and the incredible partnership with @skylandtrail and @hillsideatl ! #decaturga

Thank you @farmburgerdecatur for helping g to spread some fairy magic!

On Friday September 18th we welcomed friends of the Garden to help us cut the smilax ribbon as we celebrated the completion of our latest project—the Storage Shed and Volunteer Workspace! Join an upcoming volunteer project to help us break it in! Thank you for your help with the garden shears: @commissionermichellelongspears Mayor Tony Powers @cherylfordecatur @dekalbchampnews @dekalbkdb @cityofdecaturga

Join us on Sunday to kick off the fall season of Music in the Garden! 9/27 A Songwriter round with Paul Pendery, Cyndi Craven, Tony Bolin and Chuck Henderson. Sponsored by Leita Financial

Wrapping up Fall Plant Sale 2026! Thank you for making it a great success!!

Great native especially Goldenron 50% off!

Final Fall Plant Sale 50% off Discount Day Wednesday, September 23 9am-12pm Many great plants still available-come shop!

Weee all set up- come paint a pot with us today 9/20 during the Fall Plant Sale from 9am-2pm!

Visit the Plant Sale today and drop by the free Paint a Pot! Materials will be provided!

Fall Plant Sale Sept 19 & 20 9am-2pm Walk Ins encouraged One more day to get these great plants home to your garden! ALL are welcome to come shop and please spread the word! Thank you to our sponsors: @humbleharvestatlanta @arborguardtreeexperts @gilltreecare @taichi4lifecoop @glenncrestatdecatur @lawrencesharp1 Nealscape Landscape Design Photo by @betsmcpherson

Thank you @sarah_donuts for fueling staff and volunteers during the Fall Plant Sale!

Native trees and shrubs Shop Sun Sept 20 from 9am to 2pm

Goldenrods galore! Don’t miss tomorrow Fall Plant Sale walk ins welcome from 9am to 2pm

Who needs a tabletop hydroponic growing system? Originally $125—yours for $50 OBO!

Many great plants to shop today and tomorrow 9am-2pm! Kelley suggests Little Joe Pye Weed!

Georgia Calamint! Karen knows you won’t find this at big box stores!

So many great plants to shop! Swamp milkweed for sure!

Shoppers checking in! Walk ins are welcome!

Recommendation by Karen to come grab Solidago caesia, Blue Stem Goldenrod!

Plant Sale is open and we have more than plants… garden decor, tools, ceramic pots. Priced to sell!!!

We are ready to share these plants with you! A rainbow of Native Azaleas! 19 new varieties of Piedmont Natives! 9 types of Solidago, Goldenrod…. Houseplants! https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/fall-plant-sale/

You know what they say? Can’t have a Donor Preview of the Fall Plant Sale without lemonade from our gentrified at @communityqbbq !!! Thank you!

We had a UNIque visitor today. Luckily we were told he does not eat plants. 🪴

Will planting this bring on lower temps? ❄️ we think so! Snowflake Oakleaf Hydrangea Fall Plant Sale https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/fall-plant-sale/

Lovely fragrance for this Native Azalea! Common Name: Swamp Azalea Botanical Name: Rhododendron viscosum Fall Plant Sale https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/fall-plant-sale/

Amazing structure on this native perennial! Common Name: Culver’s Root Botanical Name: Veronicastrum virginicum Fall Plant Sale https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/fall-plant-sale/

Come get your native grasses! Meadow Sedge Carex flaccosperma Fall Plant Sale https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/fall-plant-sale/

Our native Azalea selection will be on 🔥 especially with this Flame azalea! Fall Plant Sale Sept 19 & 20 Availability list and details here: https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/fall-plant-sale/ #decaturga #flameazalea #nativeazalea #rhododendron

Awesome volunteers help set up for Fall Plant Sale from Druid Hills High School National Honor Society! Thank you @druid_hills_high @druidhillsdevils.nhs !!!

Thank you to our Fall Plant Sale Sponsors! We are so excited to have you involved and supporting Woodlands Garden! @humbleharvestatlanta @arborguard @gilltreecare @taichi4lifecoop @lawrencesharp1 NealScape Landscape Design @glenncrestatdecatur

Don’t miss tomorrow 9/12 at 10am! Steve Sanchez, Principal with @hgor_atl and native plant guru, leads a Plant Walk featuring natives available firing Woodlands Fall Plant Sale! Walk ins welcome! #planteducation #nativeplants #publicgarden #decaturga

Something’s brewing at Woodlands—a plant sale or a storm?!?! 🪴☔️

A little cooler morning for volunteer project!!!

Starting Friday, Sept. 11 from 10:00-11:00 AM through Oct. 30, join us for beginner-friendly Tai Chi in the Garden. Register by visiting the Woodlands Events Calendar. Over eight weeks, explore the first half of the Yang Style 24 Form through gentle movement, intentional breathing, and mindful awareness. Each class begins with a Qigong warm-up and concludes with standing meditation. Registration here: https://taichi4lifecoop.org/event-6818416 @taichi4lifecoop

Great day to share about Garden volunteer opportunities with students at @agnesscottcollege !

What’s that Wednesday? We had a visitor!

We’re getting excited! Save the dates and come shop!

We are excited to host two awesome upcoming Guided Walks in preparation for our annual Fall Plant Sale! 🌿 Join us for one or both of these great opportunities! Each walk will highlight plants that will be for sale at Woodlands during our upcoming plant sale. Both walks are free and open to the public - no registration required! Find the plant availability list and more details on our website at the link in our bio.

Come shop our annual friend-raiser featuring 19 new varieties of hard-to-find Piedmont native plants! 🪴Fall Plant Sale🪴 🍂Sept 19 & 20🍂 🌼9am-2pm🌼 *Discounts on Sunday🪴 Thank you to support from Business Sponsors! 🌸Piedmont Azalea level: @humbleharvestatlanta 🍃Oakleaf Hydrangea level: Arborguard Tree Specialists, @gilltreecare @taichi4lifecoop 🪻American Beautyberry level: NealScape Landscape Design, @lawrencesharp1 https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/fall-plant-sale/ #fallplantsale #nativeplants #piedmontplants #publicgarden #decaturga

Amazing turnout at today’s Volunteer Project to prep for the Fall Plant Sale on Sept 19 & 20… more details here: https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/fall-plant-sale/ #fallplantsale #nativeplants #decaturga

Weekend updates! Join us today and tomorrow for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census! Materials and instructions are provided for you to participate in this awesome self-guided citizen science opportunity. As a reminder, poetry with Stephen Wing has been postponed! Stay tuned for more details!

Join in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census! #pollinatorcensus2026 Aug 21 & 22

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