With the advantage of one of the most beautiful pieces of undeveloped property remaining in Athens, The Seasons is more than just an environmentally-sensitive development. Townhomes were designed to minimize disruption of the natural setting. The Georgia Native Plant Society conducted a plant rescue before the first shovel was turned.
Each townhome enjoys a unique view of nature. Windows open to woodlands, some overlooking the brook that runs through the property. Each townhome features natural materials that are not only in harmony with the setting, but that ensure lasting beauty and value. There are only a few townhomes at The Seasons and they won’t last long. Schedule your tour now.
Many of the plants from The Seasons site were rescued and successfully relocated to David C. Barrow Elementary Children's Learning Garden (Athens, Georgia) by the Georgia Native Plant Society "Plant Rescuers." Any additional rescued plants were taken to other sites and replanted by the rescuers themselves.
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Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
A member of the lily family, this plant is now a favorite of shade gardeners. The Cherokee used a poultice made from the root to treat skin problems. We've read that people used to eat the shoots like asparagus and made flour from the root. This species was formerly divided into two species: smooth Solomon's-seal and great Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum canaliculatum). Great Solomon's seal is the larger form. Another plant, hairy Solomon's seal looks very similar, but its leaves are slightly fuzzy on the underside. This plant is part of the Lily family and can grow from one to six feet with flowers up to 1“ long. Flowers are usually a yellow-green and flower between May and June.
Hearts-a-Burstin or Strawberry Bush (Euonymus Americana)
The blooms that appear in late spring aren't much, but the berries that follow are quite showy. Although Native Americans may have used it to treat stomach problems, the plant is now deemed poisonous. This plant is part of the Celastraceae family and is a native perennial shrub 2-6 feet high. The leaves are egg-shaped to broadly lance-shaped, usually pointed at the base and sharply pointed at the tip, finely and sharply toothed on the margin, bright green and smooth on top, slightly paler and smooth beneath, 1 to 3.5 inches long, and almost stalkless. The flowers are yellowish green or greenish purple, borne at the end of long stalks and appear from March to June. The petals are 5 in number and nearly triangular in shape. The fruits are rounded capsules with a warty surface. The capsules split open at maturity to expose bright red seeds and take on the appearance of a strawberry, ripening in September or October.
Heart Leaf Ginger (Hexastylis spp)
Nice as a groundcover, this evergreen plant has a nice little secret: lift up the leaves to see the little "flower" which looks like a little brown jug. From pair of waxy, evergreen leaves stems the flower which is a mottled red-brown to maroon fleshy, wide-lobed calyx. The flower is cup-shaped and about 1 1/2" wide. This plan flowers between May and July. Names and characteristics make this easily confused with Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) of the same family, which is distinguished by having hairy leaves and not evergreen. Also may be confused with the more prolific Galax that is not in flower, but Galax has round teeth along its leaf edges, unlike Heartleaf Ginger which has a smooth margin.
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris)
This lovely vine offers spectacular flowers in late spring and early summer. As a beauty bonus, its leaves turn a brilliant gold in the fall and its thick burnt-orange vines add nice color to the winter landscape. Deciduous climbing hydrangeas prefer moist shady locations in cool to temperate climates, needing considerable protection from the sun in southerly zones. It can be trained as a free-standing shrub or as a groundcover, but it is most often encouraged to be a serious climber. It is ta species with "holdfast" aerial rootlets, & it will happily climb to the top of brick buildings, wooden fences & pergolas, or tall trees.
Wild Azalea (Rhododendron canescens)
Called many different names, this native plant can grow to 15 feet. Its pink spring blossoms are larger than the hybrids we plant in our gardens and have a lovely, delicate scent. Florida azalea (Rhododendron austrinum) has golden yellow flowers and is found on the coastal plain Florida to Mississippi; swamp or summer azalea (Rhododendron serrulatum) has white flowers in July and August.