Subscribe to Tom Oder's blog for updates on the gardening scene in Atlanta and the Southeast. TomOder.com features the region's only curated calendar of garden sales, shows, workshops and other garden happenings. Subscriptions and calendar listings are free!
Hummingbirds, monarchs, queen bumblebees and native bees are all fueling up right now — and your garden can be their lifeline. Discover five essential native nectar plants, curated by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, that will make your fall garden a pollinator powerhouse.
Roost reports show the fall monarch migration is picking up as the butterflies continue to progress south. Reports of roosts are coming in to Journey North from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and other places. Learn more about the migration and reports from Journey North's Jacob Swanson.
Also, check out a recent blog on this site about how to make sure your garden is ready for the monarchs when the migration reaches the Southeast.
Blooming now in my garden: Echinacea purpurea
Some people don't think of white as a color. I not only think of it as a color but as a beacon that draws the eye into the garden. This is a white form of the coneflower Echinacea purpurea. Coneflowers are drought and heat tolerant, deer resistant and bloom into the fall—just at the right time for migratory and resident bees and butterflies. Deadheading early flowers will encourage more blooms. I leave the fall blooms on the plants into the winter until the goldfinches and other birds have eaten all the seeds in the seed heads.
In progress: A children's picture book
I have written a children's picture book about the epic migration of the monarch butterfly. When I was developing the idea for the book, one of the most respected voices in pollinator science in the Southeast told me I would need a new angle. I found one.
The book is built around new tracking technology that allows children — in a classroom setting or at home — to follow tagged monarchs in real time via a smartphone app, turning the reading experience into a living, interactive journey. The classroom application in particular suggests strong potential for school system adoption. This technology angle makes it meaningfully different from previously published children's picture books about monarchs. I am seeking representation for a single book, but the real goal is a trilogy covering the full migration.
The manuscript — scientifically accurate and narrative-driven — has received a very positive review from the director and an acquisitions editor at a major academic press, an editor with a children's book background who offered specific suggestions to strengthen it. All have been incorporated. I am now seeking literary representation. (Photo: Susan Meyers, Monarchs Across Georgia)
Plant sales, shows, workshops & more in Atlanta and the Southeast
Garden events calendar
Listings are free! Use the button to the right to provide information about your event.
North Fulton Master Gardeners Online Garden Fundraiser Through Flower Power
Shop the North Fulton Master Gardeners online Flower Power plant sale and support scholarships for local Georgia students pursuing environmental science, horticulture, and related careers. Fifty percent of each purchase returns to the organization, and all proceeds support scholarships. The sale includes plants, spring bulbs, and curated gifts for gardeners. Zone 8A gardeners are encouraged to give allium bulbs extra chilling time in the refrigerator before planting. For more information and to shop, visit https://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/index.php/marketplace/seller/profile/shop/northfultonmastegardeners
Online sale ongoing through Oct. 15Online
Sept. 11–28
Trees Atlanta 27th Annual Tree Sale — Shop Online
Order trees online for a larger selection of species and quantities, then pick up your order at Trees Atlanta Nursery. Shop early for the best selection of popular and hard-to-find trees. The online store link will be live at noon on Sept. 11 and remain open through noon on Sept. 28. Details: https://www.treesatlanta.org/support-us/tree-sale/
Online store opens Sept. 11 at noon and closes Sept. 28 at noon; pickup Fri. Oct. 2, 9 AM–3 PM, or Sat. Oct. 3, 9 AM–noonOnline ordering; pickup at Trees Atlanta Nursery, 1150 Allene Ave. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
Sept. 18–19
Birmingham Botanical Gardens Fall Plant Sale
The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens' annual Fall Plant Sale features a diverse selection of perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, herbs, and vegetables selected for the region. Members enjoy early access and a gift plant. For more information, visit https://bbgardens.org/plant-sales/
Members only: Fri. Sept. 18, 8 AM–noon; Public: Sat. Sept. 19, 8 AM–2 PMBirmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham, AL 35223
Sept. 18–20
Bellingrath Fall Plant Market
Kick off the Great Bellingrath Harvest season at the Bellingrath Fall Plant Market, held in the parking lot in front of the Café and Gift Shop. Browse a vibrant selection of plants and garden-themed merchandise; a horticulture team member will be on hand to answer questions and help you choose the perfect additions to your landscape. No admission required to shop the plant market. On Saturday, Sept. 19, bring the kids for NatureNauts STEM Day — a fun, educational experience for young explorers. Contact: 251-GARDENS | [email protected] | https://bellingrath.org
Juniper Level Botanic Garden opens its 10-acre public garden for its final two open weekends of 2026. Explore a conservation-based collection of more than 27,000 plant types, including hundreds of extremely rare specimens. Free demonstrations and classes cover new plants, garden design and maintenance, and pollinators, with garden experts available for questions. Admission is free; the $5 parking fee is fully refundable with an onsite plant purchase.
Flutter Festival 2026 — Monarch Ranch Butterfly Conservatory
South Carolina's immersive butterfly garden and festival, combining butterflies, flowers, artisan vendors, educational experiences, food trucks, photo ops, and whimsical garden experiences. Features a special presentation on the Great Monarch Migration, a butterfly release experience (weather permitting), and the return of Mariposa, the Monarch Princess. An easy day trip from Charleston, Columbia, Aiken, Augusta, and Savannah. Car pass tickets available in advance. For more information and tickets, visit https://monarchranchsc.com/flutterfestival/
Save the date for the annual Fall Plant Sale! Shoppers will enjoy an educational, self-guided shopping experience featuring native Piedmont plants (19 new varieties available this year), houseplants donated from local gardeners, and special plants harvested right from the garden. Support the garden through its biggest annual friendraiser! More details including signing up to shop at https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/fall-plant-sale/ | Contact: [email protected] | 404-373-2222
All dayWoodlands Garden, 932 Scott Boulevard, Decatur, GA 30030
Sept. 19
Coastal WildScapes Fall Native Plant Sale
A fall native plant sale featuring vendors from across the coastal Georgia and South Carolina region, including pre-sale options from multiple nurseries. For more information, visit https://www.coastalwildscapes.org/Native-Plant-Sources
9 AM–1 PMAshantilly Center, 15591 GA-99, Darien, GA
Sept. 24–26
Chattahoochee Nature Center Native Plant Sale
Over 100 varieties of native plants that attract butterflies, pollinators, birds, and more. Herbs and veggie seedlings also available. Free admission, rain or shine. Plants $5–$35; CNC members receive a discount. For more information, visit https://chattnaturecenter.org/events/members-only-plant-sale-2/
Members only: Sept. 24, 4–7 PM; General public: Sept. 25–26, 9 AM–5 PMChattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA
Sept. 25–26
Hall County Master Gardeners Fall Garden Expo
More than 40 vendors offer trees, shrubs, native plants, perennials, annuals, fall vegetable plants, houseplants, garden art, birdhouses, handcrafted gifts, honey, preserves, and more. Ask Master Gardeners your questions, attend free horticultural presentations at 11 AM and 1 PM, enjoy food trucks, and enter hourly door-prize drawings. Admission: $2; children 12 and under are free. Rain or shine in a covered arena; no pets except ADA-qualified service animals.
Friday, 8:30 AM–5 PM; Saturday, 8:30 AM–4 PMChicopee Woods Agricultural Center, 1855 Calvary Church Road, Gainesville, GA 30507
Sept. 26
Fall Plant Sale — Huntsville Botanical Garden
The Fall Plant Sale at Huntsville Botanical Garden features high-quality plants hand-selected for North Alabama gardens: trees, shrubs, perennials, native plants, pollinator favorites, herbs, fruits, houseplants, and more — including unique cultivars propagated from the Garden's own collections. Contact: 256-830-4447 | https://hbg.org
All dayHuntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave SW, Huntsville, AL 35805
Sept. 26–27
DSGA Booth at Duluth Fall Festival
The Daylily Society of Greater Atlanta will have a booth at the Duluth Fall Festival, offering daylilies from member gardens for sale. For more information, visit http://www.atlantadaylily.org/plant-sales.html
All dayDowntown Duluth, Duluth, GA
University Extension Resources
Free Southeast Gardening Tools & Calculators
Find local planting dates and get pest help with these free university links.
Tomoder.com offers a major regional directory of leading independent nurseries, garden suppliers, garden clubs and conservation groups as well as a guide to stunning botanical gardens and arboreta in Georgia.
