Historic Tree Grove: Juliette Gordon Low Magnolia

Southern Magnolia

Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) are native to the Southeast region of North America. Growing to 20-30 meters in height, Southern Magnolia have large and fragrant white blossoms in the late Spring. The tree has a leathery evergreen leaf with an under-side that is yellowish-brown and slightly furry to the touch.

Magnolia is an ancient genus of flowering trees that evolved before bees and have flowers designed to be pollinated by beetles. The flowers of these trees have tough carpels that can resist damage done by beetles walking and crawling through the flowers. Found throughout the Americas, southeast Asia and the West Indies, magnolias were named for the French Botanist Pierre Magnol (1638-1715) who introduced the concept of grouping plants by family based upon common combinations of morphological characters.

Juliette Gordon Low:

Known affectionately as “Daisy” to her family and close friends, Juliette Gordon Low moved from Savannah to England with her husband. In 1911 she met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides and quickly took an interest in this project. Returning to the United States, in March of 1912 Mrs. Low established the first two American troops of the Girl Guides in Savannah. A year later, the group was renamed as the Girl Scouts.

Mrs. Low tirelessly raised money and awareness for the group which brought girls of all backgrounds into the out-of-doors, giving them opportunity to learn about nature and develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. She encouraged girls to prepare themselves not only for traditional homemaking roles, but also for possible future roles as professional women, in the arts, sciences and business, and for active citizenship outside the home.
Juliette Gordon Low Magnolia
The Juliette Gordon Low Southern Magnolia grows in Savannah, Georgia, in honor of the women who founded the Girl Scouts. Our tree is a seedling from that parent tree.

Rose Garden

The remarkable bloom of the rose has long been associated with love and beauty and in ancient times was a symbol connected with goddesses of many pantheons. As there seemed no better symbol for the progression into womanhood, we chose roses as the heart of this planting. Florida's roses do best in the cooler winter and spring months. Plantings include:

• Pink and Red Knockout Roses: a tough and hardy shrub type rose with outstanding disease resistance
• Belinda's Dream: a shrub rose with large, fragrant and very double pink blossoms.
• Don Juan: a dark red-flowered climbing rose
• Frau Karl Druschki: a hybrid tea rose developed in 1901
• Gold Medal: Grandiflora rose developed in 1982. This species has blooms that open a deep yellow and fade to nearly white as they age.
• Proud Land: a hyrbid tea rose developed in 1969

As companion plantings, chocolate mint was chosen for its low-growing and sprawling fragrant foliage that brings to mind thoughts of beloved Girl Scout cookies. This garden also includes daisies in a nod to Low's childhood nickname.





Juliette Gordon Low Southern Magnolia Art and Artists

Artwork for the informational sign was done by local artist Holly Bird.

Bench art for the Juliette Gordon Low Southern Magnolia was done by Tampa artist Dori Klaaren.