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It's the perfect garden because something's always in bloom at the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center. This one-of-a-kind garden/greenhouse encompasses five acres of native and exotic plants within its tropical conservatory, sub-Mediterranean Conservatory, sculpture garden containing "Dove of Peace" Carrata Marble Sculpture, fern grotto, main conservatory and outdoor garden. An exhilarating 22-foot indoor waterfall, "Partners in Time" bronze sculpture and spectacular seasonal displays make any visit special. Sibley Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary It’s hard to believe that 25 years have passed since that bright March 22, 1984, day when the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center first opened to the public. At the time of its design and construction, this innovative indoor-outdoor garden complex was a venture in new technology for the gardening/horticulture world. Unlike most building projects, the principal architect for the Sibley Center was a landscape architect. The late Robert Marvin of Walterboro, South Carolina, was known for his pioneering environmental design concepts that provided maximum energy conservation. The building’s southern orientation combines with strategically placed landscape berms and deciduous plantings to help provide passive climate control, allowing for solar gain in winter and ventilation during summer. Regardless of what season you visit the Sibley Center, there is always something colorful and beautiful as the indoor displays change at least eight times per year and the outdoor displays change a minimum of five times per year complementing the permanent foundation plantings. Guests expect to see cymbidium orchids in the Spring, topiaries in the Summer, chrysanthemums in the Fall and poinsettias during Winter. The indoor and outdoor gardens flow together as a seamless landscape separated only seasonally by 26 folding glass doors. Measuring 24 feet high and each weighing 1,600 pounds, the unique design of these massive doors allows them to be opened and closed manually by the Sibley Center horticultural staff. Due to the moderate Pine Mountain, Georgia, climate, the doors are able to remain open more than closed during a year’s time. Many visitors are interested in the red-brown color of Sibley’s steel structure. The product, Cor-ten steel, was selected because of its natural finish. "Cor" stands for corrosion resistant. "Ten" stands for high tensile strength (which means resistance to lengthwise stress). The Cor-ten steel alloy oxidizes and rusts only to a predictable depth, making it ideal for use in outdoor construction. Low maintenance Cor-ten will last for years without additional maintenance to its surface. A note of interest, Gardens founder Cason Callaway was on the board for the U. S. Steel Company in Pittsburgh, PA. This product was developed by U.S. Steel around 1940. On March 23, 1984, the day following the grand opening of the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center, Callaway Gardens’ team members dedicated a bald cypress tree, to honor Gardens co-founder Virginia Hand Callaway. The idea and donations for the tree came exclusively from team members who collected over $1,500 for this effort. The 35 foot, eight-ton tree was planted on Arbor Day in 1984. A bald cypress tree was chosen for this endearing tribute because of Mrs. Callaway's commitment to the planting of many bald cypress trees throughout the Gardens. The bald cypress, (Taxodium distichum), is native to the coastal plain of the southeastern U.S. In 2003 landscape designer W. Gary Smith spearheaded renovation of the Sibley Center. At this time the Rock Wall Garden area was turned into a Mediterranean Garden. Plants native to Mediterranean climates are able to withstand extensive, hot summers with prolonged periods of drought. The survival strategies these plants have adapted could make them interesting garden plants for our changing climate. Callaway Gardens and the Sibley Center have set a tradition of having whimsical topiaries to complement many of the floral displays. In keeping with this tradition, a historical photo exhibit featuring the beautiful topiary and floral displays showcased at the Sibley Center through the past 25 years is on display. With a great deal of thought, the horticulture staff commissioned the creation of special topiary picture frames for the display and planted them with succulents, ivy, and/or tillandsia. The Sibley Horticultural Center continues to be an expression of man working in harmony with nature while addressing the needs and wants of both plants and people. Please visit Callaway Gardens in 2009 and join in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center.
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