Georgia Governors Mansion Project

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Georgia Governors Mansion Project May 26-May 29
2009
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The Georgia Green Industry Association and its
members were proud to partner with Governor Sonny
Perdue and mansion staff to landscape the front
portion of the Georgia Governors Mansion.
During wintertime discussions with Governor
Perdues staff regarding the efficiencies of drip
irrigation, the idea arose to demonstrate the
efficient irrigation and best management
practices in the landscape. Governor Perdue has
been a staunch supporter of the green industry
during Georgias historic drought and has always
been a proponent of water conservation. The
mansion grounds proved the perfect stage to
demonstrate that not only was it okay to plant
again in Georgia but that sustainable landscape
projects dont have to use a lot of water. The
green industry in Georgia is a leading segment of
agriculture. Prior to the drought, economic
impact of the industry was estimated to be in
excess of 8 billion annually with over 75,000
Georgians employed by nursery growers, landscape
firms, garden centers, greenhouse operators,
irrigation contractors and allied suppliers. The
effects of the drought and of the subsequent
economic downturn have been estimated at over 1
billion in lost sales and the loss of 25,000
jobs. Resilient and optimistic, the members of
GGIA recognized the potential impact of
participating in such a high profile project and
volunteered materials, labor and their expertise
to make the mansion project a full-blown success.
Special attention was given to water efficiency
and sustainability. Every aspect of the project
served as a model for practices that would not
only create a beautiful landscape to showcase
Georgia grown products, but would do so while
using minimal water resources. .
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In late March, a team of GGIA volunteers visited
the mansion to begin formulating a plan for
refurbishing the large and prominent area that
had been removed during renovations to the
exterior of the mansion. Landscape designer Mark
Fockele set about designing a garden that would
blend with the scale of the residence while using
plants which once established would be drought
tolerant. Mansion staff and First Lady Mary
Perdue approved the plan and work began to secure
plant material from nurseries across the state.
Next, planning began to prepare the soil and
irrigation systems. Two dump truck loads of ERTH
Food soil conditioner were worked into the soil
to improve fertility and the water holding
ability of the soil. Craig McManus of McPlants
and Robert Picard of Keystone Sales worked at a
feverous pace on Dingos to prepare the site. On
Tuesday May 26th, plant material began to arrive
at the mansion from all corners of the state and
the project had officially begun. A A
Landscaping, Buck Jones Nurseries, Evergreen
Nurseries, Fockele Gardens, Gardens South
Landscaping, McCorkle Nurseries, Cofers, Sod
Atlanta, Monrovia Nurseries, Specialty
Ornamentals and Tapestry Greenhouses all
contributed plants - over 1,100 in all. Tom
Shannon of Ewing Irrigation worked from start to
finish with GGIA board members Bob Evans and Ed
Montalvo to design and install the high
efficiency systems. With the soil prepped and
irrigation plans complete, a virtual army of
volunteers descended on the mansion on Thursday,
May 28th to begin installing plant material,
irrigation tubing and mulch provided by
Wood-Tech. FFA students from across the state
joined students from Griffin Tech to learn proper
planting techniques and the benefits of drip
irrigation. In just a few short hours, the
landscape of the Mansion began to be transformed
from a blank canvas into a living and breathing
garden.
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On Friday, May 29th, crews from White Oak
Landscape helped put the finishing touches on a
truly remarkable transformation. Organic
fertilizer from Going Green Organics assured the
newly installed plants would receive an
eco-friendly dose of nutrients to assist in their
establishment. The new garden was complete,
filled to the brim with blooming annuals and
perennials, evergreen trees and flowering shrubs
all chosen with a careful eye towards water
conservation and sustainability. The Georgia
Governors Mansion is now a showplace for Georgia
horticultural products and water conservation.
The garden will be a lasting and evolving
testament to the environmental benefits and
beauty that a properly designed and installed
landscape can bring to all Georgians.
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Plant Suppliers Monrovia Nurseries McCorkle
Nurseries Buck Jones Nurseries Pike
Nurseries Evergreen Nursery Tapestry Nursery and
Greenhouse Garden South Landscaping Special
Ornamentals Fockele Garden Company Sod
Atlanta Cofers Home and Garden   Materials
Suppliers Wood-Tech Mulch and Soils Erth
Food Going Green Organics McPlants  
Irrigation Suppliers Property Creations Sprinkalaw
n Atlanta Hendry and Associates Stovall
Irrigation John Deere Landscape Rainbird   Volunte
ers Mark Fockele- Garden Design Bob Evans-
Irrigation Design and Install Ed Montalvo-
Irrigation Design Mike Lewis-Plant Selection John
Strickland- Fertilization Ron Deal- Installation
and Design Jennifer Toliver Chris Pounds Todd
Hurt Chris Williams Rob Moon Rocky DeVotie Tom
Shannon
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FFA Participants
North Oconee High School Stan Mitchell, Ag Ed
Teacher Trent Mattox (FFA student) Rickey Dyer
(FFA student) Lucus Bowan (FFA student) Tommy
Caldwell (FFA student)
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FFA Participants
North Forsyth High School Anita Harris, Ag Ed
Teacher Jordan Bryant (FFA student) Coley Harris
(FFA student) Mikaela Harris (FFA student)
Shaina Martin (FFA student)
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FFA Participants
Pope High School Joe Green, Ag Ed Teacher Brian
Bahorich (FFA student) Ally Ruiz (FFA student)
Jeremy Hurwitz (FFA student) Mark Zenoble (FFA
student) Nikki Tucker (FFA student) Pictured
with First Lady Mary Perdue
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FFA Participants
Sonoraville High School Sara Clark, Ag Ed
Teacher Jasen Spoon, Ag Ed Teacher Crysta
Nicholson (FFA student) Chris Re (FFA student)
Layson West (FFA student) Araceli Macias (FFA
student) Katie Sutherland (FFA student) Amber
Kay (FFA student) Hawke Watson (FFA student)
Taylor Fain (FFA student)
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Griffin Tech Participants
Griffin Technical College Greg Huber-
Instructor Cindy Barton Harry Bolton Lindsay
Burroughs Melissa Eason Darrell McDowell Jeremiah
Peavy Brandon Rassier Anna Garvey
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FFA Students With First Lady Mary Perdue
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Governors Mansion Project
Having undergone substantial renovations, all
landscaping had been removed from the front of
the mansion leaving a blank canvas for landscape
designer Mark Fockele.
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Governors Mansion Project
ERTHfood was incorporated into the soil to
improve the fertility and water holding capacity.
Robert Picard of Keystone Sales moved like a
ballerina on his Dingo.
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Governors Mansion Project
Wood-Tech Mulch donated over 50 yards of material
while GGIA Board Member Craig McManus gave his
son a little on the job training.
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Governors Mansion Project
GGIA board member Craig McManus helps prep the
planting beds while Tom Shannon of Ewing
Irrigation inspects the irrigation valves.
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Governors Mansion Project
Plants begin arriving on site from McCorkle
Nurseries, Buck Jones and Tapestry Greenhouses.
Over 1100 plants were donated and planted at the
site.
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Governors Mansion Project
Pike Nurseries and Monrovia Growers bring their
plants to the jobsite.
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Governors Mansion Project
Chris Butts and Ron Deal begin spotting plants
for the next days planting.
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Governors Mansion Project
Mark Fockele and Todd Hurt place plants around
the site
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Governors Mansion Project
Walter Lewis, Jr. delivers and places boxwoods
while over 1,000 other plants wait to be
installed.
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Governors Mansion Project
All thats needed now are some good shovels and
strong backs. Instead, we got a consultant.
John Strickland tells FFA students the ins and
outs of landscape installation.
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Governors Mansion Project
Students from Sonoraville High School FFA get to
work planting and installing drip irrigation
tubing.
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Governors Mansion Project
A North Oconee student works on planting while
Bob Evans checks the placement of the irrigation.

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Governors Mansion Project
Chris Williams, Rob Moon and Rocky Dovitie from
White Oak Landscape enjoy a laugh while
installing plants.
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Governors Mansion Project
The front of the project was anchored by the
large Korean boxwoods while aspidistra and
sarcacoca dotted the shade under the magnolia.
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Governors Mansion Project
Knockout Roses, Cryptomeria and Daylilies add
color and structure to the garden.
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Governors Mansion Project
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