Formerly a USDA Plant Introduction Station, it was known locally as The Bamboo Farm. For more than 60 years, plant materials gathered by plant explorers from all parts of the world were planted and evaluated at the facility to determine growth and potential use in the sandy soils and humid climate of coastal Georgia. Today, the facility houses an internationally known collection of oriental bamboo as well as many rare and historic plants and trees. In addition to historical plants and trees, visitors will see seasonal displays of native and regionally adapted plants recommended for the coastal region. Many of the plants are one-of-a-kind specimens in North America. Others are some of the oldest and best specimens in the United States. Plant collections include bamboo, magnolia, crape myrtle, loropetalum, holly, daylilies and ornamental grasses. Display gardens include culinary herbs, perennials, annuals, ginger lilies and ferns. Demonstration plots include turf grasses, fruits and vegetables. The Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens is a unit of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and is managed by the Coastal Plains Experiment Station. A USDA special grant provides for a number of research projects related to growing plants in this coastal area. Conference facilities available for public and group use include an educational building with a demonstration kitchen seating 100 people, an open-air pavilion that accomodates 400 people, and an educational classroom for school groups. Two ponds on the property are used for special fishing events. You are welcome to visit any of several gardens and plant collections or you can just walk around and enjoy the green space. Many of the mature trees were planted in the 1930’s by USDA plant collectors. Dogs on a leash are welcome. There are picnic tables scattered around the grounds which you may use, or simply spread your blanket in the shade and have lunch.