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| The Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia is unique because it fosters Metasequoias in a relatively tropical climate in a rural area on the Georgia / Alabama border. This 13,000 acre resort and garden houses villas, cottages, an inn, and many dining arrangements, all of which are luxuriously accommodated. There is a championship golf course, a gun club, tennis center, fly fishing, bike trails, and nature trails, all within the horticultural beauty of Callaway. Founded in 1952, Callaway is nestled in the southern foothills of the Appalachians. It includes a thousand acres of preserved land west of the Gardens and features educational programs. Callaway Gardens includes the Callaway Discovery Center, a 35,000 square foot facility, a butterfly center, a horticultural center, a vegetable garden, an azalea bowl, and a memorial chapel. Located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, Callaway is in the Southern mixed forest ecosystem in the foothills of the southern Appalachians. It is on the southern fringes of Hardiness Zone 7, and the northern edge of Hardiness Zone 8. This means that Callaway is in a fairly tropical area. Winds are low, and precipitation is high. The dominant soil order is Ultisols. |
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The Metasequoias at Callaway have grown impressively considering the sub-tropical climate. The garden features twenty trees. The garden acquired five from the Tom Dodd Nursery in 1961, and they are currently growing well. Like all other trees at the Callaway, they are tall but have small bases. I have discussed this in my Research Summary page, because Metasequoias at the Huntington Gardens in L.A. and the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina share a similarity in their tropical to sub-tropical climate. It is possible that Metasequoias in the south do not develop traditional buttressed bases for certain reasons. It is an interesting phenomenon. These trees planted in 1961 are at the Meadowlark Gardens, and they are tall, ranging from 70 to 100 feet tall. Yet their bases are small, ranging from 13 to 26 inches in diameter. The largest specimen in the group is 100 feet in height with a base 26 inches in diameter. Yet no other tree in the collection has a base above 21 inches in diameter, despite most being from 50 to 80 feet tall. A group of ten was received in 1961 from the National Arboretum. Located in the nursery above the Sibley Center, they have not grown as well. Heights range from 40 to 80 feet and bases range from 7 to 20 inches in diameter. They average about 60 feet in height with bases around 15 inches in diameter. An additional five trees were received from the Tennessee Valley Nursery in 1973, and they have not grown as well either. They are located in the Meadowlark Gardens and average about 55 feet in height with bases about 9 inches in diameter. Callaway Gardens Georgia Highway 18 Pine Mountain, Georgia 31822 |
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