Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Named after avid gardener and lover of nature's beauty, the Ruby M. Mize Garden was created thanks to an endowment established by Mize's daughter, Dottie Wisely. Previously an overgrown loblolly pine forest, the project brought together SFA students, community members and nursery professionals to bring this 11-acre garden to life. The garden is open from dawn to dusk.
Azalea Cultivar Evaluations, beds 29-33
- Peak bloom season: March to May
Native Azaleas, beds 25-28
- Peak bloom season: March to May
Camellia Trail, beds 18-19 and 21-22
- Peak bloom season: October to February
Color Display Beds, Flowering Shrubs and Trees, beds 1-17, 20, 23-24 and 34-35
- Peak bloom season: March to May
Council Ring, between beds 6 and 7
Featuring colorful azaleas and Acer palmatum ‘Oto hime,’ dwarf Japanese maples grafted on to taller trunks, made to look like whimsical toad stools.
Japanese Maples
- Peak color season: October to December
- Distributed throughout the garden and campus.
Magnolias
- Peak bloom season: Spring
- Distributed throughout the garden and campus.
Unique Trees
- Distributed throughout the gardens.
- Pawpaw, ginkgo and Japanese plum yew.
Hydrangeas and Gardenias
- Peak bloom season: May to August
- Distributed throughout the garden.
23. Cascade Falls Baldcypress Tunnel
The cascading weeping baldcypress tunnel paired with the bridge over Lanana Creek is a favorite for all who visit the gardens.