Dunwoody Nature Center celebrates 20 years

The Dunwoody Nature Center announced the celebration of its 20th anniversary last Friday by unveiling a new logo and a new website.

The logo was unveiled on the sign at the main entrance to the nature center at 5343 Roberts Drive by an excited group of students from nearby Austin Elementary School.

Under the supervision of Alan Mothner, the nature center's executive director, the students gathered around the new sign, which was hidden from view on both sides by large brown tarps. Mothner told the students that three of the founders of the Nature Center were attending the event. “If it wasn’t for them, you wouldn’t have this,” he said.

Mothner then asked the attending founders -- Pat Adams, Marilyn Dalrymple and Kathy Hanna – to join the children in front of the logo. The children immediately broke into unscripted applause and screams of appreciation.

Three other founders were not able to attend the ceremony. Carolyn Jones was travelling and out of town, and two others have moved out of state. Eleanor Lehner lives in Birmingham, Ala. and Rita Langley lives in Dallas. All the founders are members of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club and are known as the "Founding Mothers."

With everyone in place, Mothner told the children to unveil the new logo on the sign. They peeled away the tarp to the applause of neighbors, supporters of the center, some of the center's board members and the honking of horns by passersby.

“At the end of our lives there are things we will look back on that will make us proud,” said Hanna. “This is one of them.”

The Woman’s Club has also been the driving force behind other Dunwoody landmarks, including the local library, the Stage Door Players and the Spruill Guild.

Some members of the nature center's board were also on hand for the unveiling. They included President Su Ellis; and members, Eve Schneps, Les Woodsides and David Dalrymple. Pat Adams and Marilyn Dalrymple are also on the center's board.

“The nature center was founded by volunteers 20 years ago and has grown to become a vital part of our community,” Mothner said in a statement released to the media at the event. "This new look and feel brings us closer to how we envision the nature center evolving within the city as a cultural center for lifelong learning.”

The 20th anniversary celebration will continue throughout the year in various events such as a service learning agreement with Georgia Perimeter College, the annual Monarchs and Margaritas gala on April 21, the July 4 parade and a 20th anniversary reunion to be held at the Nature Center in the fall. Visit the center’s new website for details on these and other events.

For gardening enthusiasts, several important dates to be aware of are the spring plant sale pickups at 2 p.m. April 13 and at 10 a.m. April 14. A composting class on May 5 is planned at the Dunwoody Community Garden. Details about the composting class, including class hours, are being finalized.

Other upcoming spring events for your gardening calendar include:

The opening of the Dunwoody Green Market. Opening day for the market’s seventh season is April 11. The market will be in its familiar location in the parking lot next to the Dunwoody Post Office.

The market will be open every Wednesday until mid-November from 8 a.m. to noon, rain or shine (unless there’s lightning).

Opening Day festivities at the market will include bluegrass music, a chef demonstration from Healthy Eating 101 and a raffle for a $200 gift certificate from the market.

Farmers who will be participating in the market this year will be Heirloom Gardens, Annie Okra's Barn, Heritage Farm, Fry Family Farm, Garmon Family Farm and, possibly two more, said Paul Guilbeau, market director and owner of Heirloom Gardens.

Products for sale on opening day will include herbs, lettuce, kale, carrots, chard, arugula, onions, radishes, spinach, turnips, eggs, chicken, beef, pork, honey, cheese, yogurt, breads, jellies and much more.

The Community Garden’s Second Annual Plant Sale. The sale will be held at the greenhouse complex in Brook Run Park on April 13-15 and 21-22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Plants available at the sale will include nine varieties of tomatoes, herbs, peppers, beans, peas, strawberries and much more!

“The plants are larger this year than at last year’s sale due to a warmer winter than last year,” said Diana Wood, a Community Garden volunteer who is managing the sale.

The Friends of the Dunwoody Library Book Sale. Garden books will be among the bargains at the May 31–June 4 sale.

   Sale hours will be:

• May 31: 1 – 4 p.m. Special preview shopping for members of “Friends.” The sale is open to the public from 4-8 p.m.
• June 1-2: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• June 4: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. This is Bag Day. Book lovers can fill a large grocery bag for $6.

The sale will include a silent auction of special-value books. The sale and auction will be held at the Dunwoody Library, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, at the intersection of Womack Road and Ashford Center Parkway. “Friends” memberships start as low as $5 per year.  For more information, call (770) 512-4640.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Dunwoody Library and the DeKalb Library System.