Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 68F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

People from all over the nation and around the world have come to call Coastal Georgia home, and for horticulture enthusiasts, gardening is one of the many things that must be learned. In our coastal zone, with its sandy soil, mild winters and (at times) scorchingly hot summers with humidity levels to match, cultivating a beautiful garden can be a challenge. Fortunately, resources abound for inquisitive green thumbs with goals of creating at least one oasis in their yards.

Gardeners are friendly folks, and often willing to share their knowledge (and sometimes their plants) with people with whom they share this common interest.

Dawn Hart, owner of ACE Garden Center on St. Simons Island, is a local plant expert. Her years of experience and dedication to her profession have made her an authority on things that grow.

Gardeners have a bountiful selection of flowers and foliage from which to choose, and some of the most popular in the Golden Isles are detailed on the following pages.

If there is one plant that Southern women pride themselves on other than roses, it’s their camellias. Many gardens contain heirloom camellias that have passed down through generations. Hart recommends early fall, late fall and winter-blooming varieties.

“Use Japonica for afternoon shaded spots and Sasanguas, which will take some sun and is stunning when ‘naturalizing’ a wooded area of the garden,” Hart said.

Another favorite are drift roses.

“This is an excellent low-growing mounding shrub rose which blooms practically all year long,” she explained. “They are pest and disease resistant and bloom in red, peach, apricot, pink or white.”

Another long-term bloomer is hibiscus, which comes in a myriad of colors, including red, peach, yellow, orange, white and pink.

“They are excellent for a full-sun spot in the garden,” Hart said. “Hibiscus topiaries, which are underplanted, make excellent container plants for patio or poolside.

Hart begins with succulents, including echeverias, crassulas, aloes, graptopetalum, aeonium, cactus and agave.

“Of the agave there are several varieties; silver and variegated Americana are most popular,” Hart said.

Topiary are also popular, including the Ilex Colonnade holly, ligustrum, juniper, cherry laurel and boxwood.

Xanadu, a dwarf form of philodendron, is a versatile choice.

“This is excellent when used en masse in a shady area or as a potted accent on the porch with its glossy serrated foliage,” she said.

Garden centers are a great resource and a perfect introduction to learning how, what and when to plant. But, observing plants in a garden gives an entirely new dimension. Attending a local garden tour, like the upcoming Tabby & Tillandsia Garden Walk to benefit the Cassina Garden Club, is not only a pleasurable way to spend part of a day – it’s an opportunity to learn about what grows best where, and discover new and different ideas for planting, arranging and combining the plants in your own backyard. It’s also the perfect way to get some inspiration, whether you’re designing your first garden or freshening your existing green-space. In fact, gardening may be the one discipline in which plagiarism is perfectly OK.

Eight private gardens on St. Simons Island will be featured on this year’s tour, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 30. Tour headquarters will be at the Historic Hamilton Plantation Tabby Cabins. Docents will be on site to provide information about the gardens, their designs, features and plantings. Cassina Garden Club was founded in 1928, and is the oldest garden club in Glynn County.

Tabby + Tillandsia Garden Walk to benefit the Cassina Garden Club

Tickets to tour the gardens are $30 in advance and $35 on tour day.

Pre-purchase online at cassinagardenclub.org, or, buy on tour day at the Will Call Table at the Tabby Cabins, 1195 Arthur J. Moore Drive on Gascoigne Bluff. They may also be purchased in advance, locally at ACE Garden Center, GJ Ford Bookshop, Simons Drug Co. and Righton Books. Contact Gail Cook at 404-310-1525 or email gailcook52@hotmail.com for further information.

The Members Cultivated Plant Sale will take place at the tabby cabins during the garden tour. Tours of the cabins will also be available during the plant sale. Proceeds from the garden walk and plant sale will help maintain and preserve Cassina’s historic tabby and gardens.

A garden party, with live entertainment from Annie Akins, will also be held at the cabins at the close of the tour.

• Marsh Side Retreat – (left) Visitors are welcomed by a Canary Island date palm. Around the corner, find a raised bed citrus garden with Persian lime, Meyer lemon, Ponkan tangerine, Satsum tangerine and variegated pink lemon trees. Completing the grove is a fruit cocktail tree. The back lawn is rimmed with native plantings of White Encore azaleas and palmettos. The pool is surrounded by urns filled with agave and seasonal color. The pool provides the backdrop for the outdoor room and a cozy fireplace that is accented with a “Tree of Life” sculpture. Don’t miss the view of the marina, FJ Torras Causeway and the rivers.

• King’s Point – (left) A formal courtyard garden, centered with massive Enzo Zago Italian terra cotta containers filled with dramatic mature agave plants, welcomes visitors to this timeless Spanish villa. Glance to the left of the home for the stunning vistas of the Sidney Lanier Bridge and the Brunswick River. A formal boxwood garden features a whimsical “Jim the Rabbit” sculpture (bottom right). A hydrangea-lined path leads to the rear garden and pool area. Muhly grass and native grasses provide low-maintenance texture and color. Marsh views, playful garden sculptures provide focal points. Guests will exit via a driveway lined with Philodendron Xanadu and Chinese fringe trees.

• Colorful Hideaway – (above) “Whalecome” to this eclectic garden, with brightly colored lanterns bobbing above a wide array of flowers. View an enjoyable garden with cheerful colors and whimsical yard art. The homeowner is a true gardener with a passion for color with plantings of bright hibiscus and pops of seasonal color. Koi ponds with playful fish sculptures dot this happy space. Mexican tiles decorate the walkways and rear patio.

• Black Banks Sculpture Garden – (right) This garden was designed by a local architect who was inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Large sculptures, birds of paradise and mature agave flank the home’s entrance. Camellias and a clumping bamboo hedge afford privacy as you proceed along the side path. In the back of the property admire the Muhly grass mixed with other native plants. The sculptures of renowned artist Stephen Kishel provide color and structure to this hidden gem.

• Shades of Green – Home to a devoted gardener, this low-maintenance landscape features a variety of plants with variegated foliage that provide a lovely soft palate for this semi-shaded area. As you enter the pathway, notice a swing, tucked away in the far corner, which beckons you to relax and enjoy the space. Wander further along the path of this pie-shaped garden and savor the many plantings that include ajuga, agapanthus, hydrangea, fatsias, farugium Japonica and African iris . Myers lemon, olive and maple trees are artfully mixed with the stately old Live Oak trees.

• A Fresh Approach – The open, uncluttered style of landscaping is the first thing visitors notice. Further exploration yields many surprises. Winding brick walkways wend through sculpted lawns and beds, creating contrasts of shapes, textures and values that are pleasing to the senses. A large variety of plants that will flourish in our coastal environment have been carefully arranged to enhance the beauty and serenity of the landscape.

• Garden on the Green – (bottom right) This recently remodeled home and studio, is casual and welcoming. A connecting breezeway is framed by two free-form Hawthorns. This home will be open to tour guests, where whimsical touches, such as an elevated train set in the game room, draw the eye. In the back garden, listen to the fountain, surrounded by holly ferns and variegated tri-color ginger. The patio is bordered with elephant ear plants, giant philodendron and liriope. The screened-in porch contains a variety of planters, abundant with succulents.

• Cottage on the Cul-de-Sac – The walkway leading to this cozy cottage is lined with dwarf podocarpus and boxwood topiaries, reflecting the owner’s love of English gardens. An impressive sculpture, “Sunrise Over East Beach,” accented with a butterfly garden, welcomes visitors to the property. A sparkling blue pool is centered in the backyard, and accented by an English boxwood topiary garden, surrounded by seasonal color. An arched metal trellis, defined by two olive trees, points the way to the exit.

The final stop is the Historic Hamilton Plantation Tabby Cabins and Gardens, which were established during the plantation era from 1793-1865, when there were 14 Sea Island cotton plantations on St. Simons Island. The cabins were built in the 1830s, and housed slaves from Hamilton Plantation. The site is artifact rich, and items discovered date from before European settlers found St. Simons Island. The gardens reflect the design typical of those found at plantation homes. The club makes every effort to plant flora indigenous to Coastal Georgia in the garden, including okra, peanuts and cotton. The property has been declared a certified butterfly way station and wild bird sanctuary.