Gardener Finds Life at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Wallace James Moneyhun has been fond of plants and flowers since he was a kid. He saw it as a hobby, not a job, and continued his career doing office work for local governments.

As years passed in his office work career, he was not getting fulfillment. On lunch breaks, he would go to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia to lift his spirits.

He decided to become a part-time staff member at the garden and soon saw that the curator of the flower garden job was up for grabs. He applied for the position and saw that a second career bloomed right in front of his eyes.

Now visitors who come to the flower garden will see a man with long reddish blonde hair, a long beard, and clear round glasses attending to the needs of the plants. 

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, located in Athens, is a 313-acre preserve set aside by the University of Georgia in 1968, according to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/. 

The flower garden was opened in 2008 and within it are several specialty gardens.

The lower flower garden displays the iris garden, fragrance garden, curator’s choice garden and butterfly garden. The upper flower garden includes the rose garden, chapel walk, meditation garden and woodland walk. 

Anyone interested in learning more can visit https://botgarden.uga.edu/ for additional information.

Wallace James Moneyhun smiles at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Moneyhun has been a full-time curator for over two years in the garden. (Photo/Landen Todd)

Wallace James Moneyhun holds a snapdragon at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Moneyhun has been a full-time curator for over two years in the garden. (Photo/Landen Todd)