Woodlands Garden

Qigong/Dao Yin Class: Mindful Movement Series
2025-05-31 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | GA
Join us in the gentle movements of Dao Yin and Qigong amidst the serene beauty of Woodlands Garden. These ancient practices are designed to reduce stress and connect with nature, offering a peaceful way to nurture both mind and body. This class is part of the Mindful Movement Spring Wellness Series at Woodland Gardens.
Over the course of 8 weeks, we will gather in the screened-in Pavilion at Woodlands Garden, where we’ll practice Qigong and Dao Yin. These practices emphasize intentional breathing, balance, and gentle movements—both standing and on the ground—to help cultivate flexibility and harmony. As foundational practices for Tai Chi, they offer an excellent introduction to this transformative discipline. Weather permitting, we’ll also enjoy walking the grounds using forest bathing techniques, guided by Neil’s deep knowledge of trees.
The fee for the session is $30 for Coop members and Woodlands’ Volunteers and Donors, otherwise a $60 donation from the curious public is requested. Proceeds will be evenly donated to Woodlands Garden and the Tai Chi 4 LIFE Coop. Woodlands Garden is dedicated to preserving a woodland sanctuary that educates and inspires the community to connect with the natural world. The Tai Chi 4 LIFE Coop is a self-care cooperative that brings together teachers and students to offer practical methods for reducing stress through Tai Chi, Qigong, and other healing arts, enhancing overall health and well-being. Register using this link.
Neil, a skilled instructor in Tai Chi, Wild Goose Qigong, Tree Gong, Four Season Qigong, Five Element Medical Qigong, and Dao Yin, has taught Qigong at the Decatur Recreation Center and is a founding member of the Tai Chi 4 LIFE Coop. In addition to his teaching, Neil works as a consulting arborist, combining his love for nature with his expertise in mind-body wellness.

Music in the Garden
2025-06-01 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-06-08 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-06-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Pavilion, 932 Scott Blvd, Decatur, GA, 30030-1302, United States
Music in the Garden at Woodlands takes place in the screened-in Pavilion. Performances are free to the public and take place rain or shine. Events take place on numerous Sundays in the spring and fall between 2-4 pm; other music events occur as announced. Our performers are local musicians who donate their time and talents! Be in touch with questions (404-373-2222 or director@woodlandsgarden.org).
***Please keep in mind that off-site parking may be required for Music in the Garden. Off-site parking options can be found here. Contact director@woodlandsgarden.org with questions.
2025 SCHEDULE (More details about the musicians are here: https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/music-in-the-garden/)

4/27: Mockingbird’s Wing5/4: Charles Absher, Ron Hipp, Cameron Kane and David Leonard5/18: John Cable, Cyndi Craven and George Eckard5/25: Redwine Jam and Harm’s Way6/1: The Nearly Normal String Band6/18: Eason and Gibson
The Music in the Garden Fall program kicks off Sept. 28. See the 2025 schedule link above for more details.

Presentation: Climate Change Mitigation
2025-06-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Woodlands Garden, 932 Scott Blvd., Decatur, GA, 30030, United States
Join Emily Clarke, Woodlands Summer Intern, as she shares a thought provoking presentation entitled Climate Change Mitigation.
Overview of Presentation: Human activity increases greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to a warming atmosphere and planet, causing many consequences for people and wildlife alike. To decrease emissions, new technologies are in development and may be utilized soon as climate mitigation strategies. Carbon management is one strategy being considered by industries in the U.S. Southeast and will be discussed in this presentation.
Bio: Emily Clarke enjoys working in sustainability and conservation, especially when she can be outdoors. Past positions with AmeriCorps and the National Wildlife Federation have enabled her to explore the wetlands of south Louisiana and mountains in Colorado. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Global Environmental Health at Emory with a focus on Climate and Health.

Watercolor Painting Workshop
2025-06-22 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-20 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-24 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-21 14:00 - 17:00 | GA
Join us for watercolor painting classes with Jessica Lily, registration required. Come play with the magic of watercolors and join our community as we release expectations, and let the water do the work! Local artist Jessica Lily will guide the group through a step-by-step method.
No experience is necessary. This class is built to give beginners an easy process for a lovely, meditative painting. This class is also great for more intermediate and advanced painters, as we will all learn from each other and incorporate our own unique creativity into our paintings.
More details and required registration here – classes fill up so book now:
https://atlantawatercolorgroup.com/
• April 13: Blue Eyed Grass (sold out)
• May 18: Hummingbird (sold out)
• June 22: Frog
• July 20: Grasshopper
• August 24: Purple Spiderwort Flowers
• Sept 21: Building

Children's Bookclub: Storytime and Playtime
2025-06-28 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-08-23 10:30 - 12:00 | Woodlands Garden, 932 Scott Blvd., Decatur, GA, 30030, United States
10:45am-12pm
Join Woodlands Garden and Nature Play Studio every month for Selah’s Book Club! This month we will read the book on the poster, followed by fun activities. Recommended for elementary aged children and their families. Bring a blanket to sit upon. You and your children will enjoy story time featuring a special book. Enjoy a hands on activity and light refreshments. Explore the trails and meandering paths throughout the Garden!
April 26: Thank you, Omu!
May 24: Run Wild
June 28: Jabari Jumps
Wednesday, July 23: Summer Reading Party with Bearings Bike Works

**July’s book club will not be hosted at Woodlands Garden** It will take place at Monday Night Garage’s Courtyard. Click here for more details.
July’s book club will take place on Wednesday, July 23 at 3 PM

August 23: A Walk in the Forest

Creative Roots Artist Showcase
2025-06-28 14:00 - 17:00 | Woodlands Garden, 932 Scott Blvd., Decatur, GA, 30030, United States
Connect with nature in a whole new way!

Join us for an inspiring artist showcase that celebrates the beauty, power, and importance of the natural world. This family-friendly event brings together local creatives whose work is rooted in nature through painting, sculpture, photography, and more.

Enjoy a unique indoor/outdoor experience featuring nature-inspired art, family activities, and access to scenic walking trails at the venue. Whether you’re an art lover, a nature enthusiast, or simply looking for a meaningful way to spend your day, this event will leave you refreshed, inspired, and more connected to the world around you.
If you’re a creator whose work is inspired by nature, we’d love to feature you. Reach out to Maleah.Giles@uga.edu to learn how to get involved.

Singing Workshops: July Series
2025-07-10 18:15 - 20:00, 2025-07-17 18:15 - 20:00, 2025-07-24 18:15 - 20:00 | GA
Join Elise Witt for a singing workshop, Singing for Fun for Everyone! Singers of all levels of experience are welcome. Music reading is not a prerequisite. The cost for this 3-part series is a sliding scale of $45-90. Click here to register.
Arrive at 6:15pm for ab optional Quigong Warmup. The class will take place from 6:45-8:00pm.
Discover, explore, and expand your natural voice with Singing for FUN for EVERYONE. Singers learn songs that explore the vast expression of harmony from around the world. There are also lots of songs in English, including songs from the African American tradition, quirky rounds, food songs, Elise originals, and lots more! Singers of all levels of experience are welcome.
The singing workshop includes body and voice integration, calling in elements of Tai Chi, Yoga, and Alexander Technique, as well as dance, theater, and vocal improvisation to focus on breath and ease of movement.
All of the songs are broken down into easily learnable parts and become thrilling to sing in a group. Even people who think they “can’t carry a tune in a bucket” in no time find themselves part of an impromptu glorious chorus.

Community Yoga School
2025-07-20 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-08-17 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-09-21 10:00 - 11:30 | GA
Community Yoga School is like summer camp for your soul! Join Friendship Yoga for a monthly practice & study series rooted in yoga philosophy, gentle movement, breathwork, and meaningful connection.
📍 Woodlands Garden Pavilion, Decatur
🗓 Third Sundays | 10–11:30am
💛 Suggested Donation: $10–15
🍵 Includes iced tea + community
🌱 Class schedule & themes:
🪷 July 20 – Cultivating Connection: Yoga in Sanskrit means “to yoke”. In our practice, we connect the mind, body, and spirit. We’ll explore embodiment and develop a deeper relationship with our whole selves.
🪷 Aug 17 – Reclaiming Attention: Awareness practice is an essential component of Svadhyaya, or the practice of self-inquiry. We’ll explore the benefits of self-inquiry and put the practice into action with a walking meditation.
🪷 Sept 21 – Rooting into Love: Yoga Ethics: Fundamentally, yoga is an ethical practice before a physical one. We will define and discuss 3 of the “Yamas”: ahmisa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing).
🪷 Oct 19 – Get Grounded: Connecting with self is potent and there are methods to get you there. We’ll add a few tools to your meditation toolbox, including finding your mantra, practicing drishti and more.
What to bring:

Yoga mat
Water Bottle
Notebook
Come as you are!

Children's Bookclub: Storytime and Playtime
2025-07-23 15:00 - 16:30 | Woodlands Garden, 932 Scott Blvd., Decatur, GA, 30030, United States
Join Selah’s Book Club, Bearings Bike Works and Woodlands Garden for a Summer Reading Party! **July’s book club will not be hosted at Woodlands Garden** It will take place at Monday Night Garage’s Courtyard on Wednesday, July 23 at 3pm. Click here for more details.

Perilous Journey: Avian Migration Talk
2025-08-19 11:00 - 12:30 | Pavilion, 932 Scott Blvd, Decatur, GA, 30030-1302, United States
Avian Migration – This talk is free! No registration required.
This talk will introduce us to the mysteries, yet perilous journeys undertaken by several thousand bird species each year. The migration of birds has fascinated mankind for thousands of years. Long ago people did not know that birds would travel very long distances each year. Popularly held belief was that birds hid in the ground and spent their winters in hibernation much like bears. Aristotle in 350 BC postulated that birds migrated yet believed that one bird species transmuted into another. Bird Biology, also known as Ornithology, has given us considerable insights towards unlocking the secrets behind migration. We will start this talk with some facts akin to migration, followed by an in-depth discussion on several topics such as, defining bird migration, types of migration, the need for birds to migrate, how birds are able to navigate at night, and specific flyways used by birds, around the globe. We will also talk about the perilous nature of these long-haul journeys, and the consequences of climate change and large-scale conflicts in parts of the world. Before we conclude our discussion, we will demonstrate the use of radar science to track and predict migration and talk about the steps that each one of could take to help with bird’s safe passage.
Bio for Amurthur Ramamurthy
Ramamurthy, who goes my Ram was trained as a Scientist and served the first thirty years of his
career in the Chemical, as well as Automotive Industries. For little over a decade Ram spent time with
Amazon Corporation teaching, and training managers and shop floor associates in continuous
improvement methods.
Ram is now retired but serves as a Research Volunteer at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory at Oak
Harbor, OH. My current focus is to provide statistical analysis for Bird Banding Data.
In 1978 while completing his Graduate studies at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, a
visiting professor from Georgetown University, USA encouraged Ram to start a hobby in addition to
focus on research in the laboratory. After collaborating with an ornithologist at a Tiger Reserve in
India, Ram chose to start birdwatching as a hobby.
After moving to the US in 1980, he spent the next few years learning bird identification mostly using
field guides. Over the past forty years, Ram’s journey in his spare time has focused on several areas
related to birds. Ram has taken several courses offered by Cornell Ornithology laboratory, on-line
courses on Ornithology from India. Currently Ram is enrolled in a Basic Ornithology Course
conducted by NPTEL (India Government’s online educational platform) India.
Ram has visited various birding festivals in the US, travelled to, UK, Poland, Costa Rica, Southern
Africa, Ecuador, Peru and extensively in India to observe birds in these diverse habitats. Ram
routinely visits National Parks which further offer opportunities to bird while hiking trails. He has
currently seen over 2300 birds.
Ram has co-directed a Young Bird Camp (December 2023) in Indian Institute of Science Education
and Research (IISER), Tirupati, India. A similar camp is being planned for December 2025 in IISER
Tirupati, India.

Pollinator Picnic: Great Southeast Pollinator Census
2025-08-23 12:30 - 14:30 | GA
Join us to learn about the Great Southeast Pollinator Census and to celebrate pollinators and plants on August 23rd from 12:30-2:30 pm! This event is free and does not require registration.

Participate in community science, enjoy fun activities, and explore the beautiful gardens of Woodlands, a GNPS gold-level-certified native habitat. We will have light refreshments, and you are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy.

Learn more about the 2025 Great Southeast Pollinator Census at https://gsepc.org/

This event is co-hosted by Food Well Alliance, Intown Atlanta Chapter of GNPS, and Woodlands Garden of Decatur.

Native Plant Foraging Walk
2025-08-27 11:00 - 12:00 | GA
As we gear up for our annual Fall Plant Sale, we will host two guided plant walks! This free walk will start outside of the Visitors Center, it does not require registration. The walk will highlight native edible plants that will be for sale at the Plant Sale. We hope to see you there!
About the guide: Cornelia is an enthusiast of the natural world. She has spent the last 10 years studying the plants around her and learning skills that allow her to be in direct relationship with them – foraging, herbal medicine, basketry, natural dyeing, and folklore. She loves to share this knowledge with others. She also runs a home organizing business – when she’s not outside, she’s probably inside decluttering someone’s house!

FREE: Guided Native Plant Walk
2025-09-06 10:00 - 11:00 | GA
Join Woodlands Garden and Steve Sanchez for a free, native plant walk! This guided walk will highlight native plants that will be available at our annual Fall Plant Sale. We hope to see you there!

Fall Plant Sale
2025-09-13 - 2025-09-14 | GA
Shop our unique selection of plants: Saturday, September 13 & Sunday, September 14. Registration required. Visit this page to register and for more important information about this annual event.

FREE: Paint a Pot
2025-09-14 10:30 - 13:30 | GA
On Sunday, September 14th during this year’s Fall Plant Sale, stop by the free Paint a Pot table – no registration required! We’ll bring the pots and paints, you bring the creativity! Your pot can dry while you finish shopping, afterwards, you can bring your new pot home for your new plants from the sale.

Music in the Garden - Fall
2025-09-28 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Pavilion, 932 Scott Blvd, Decatur, GA, 30030-1302, United States
Music in the Garden at Woodlands takes place in the screened-in Pavilion, rain or shine. Performances are free to the public on select Sundays in the spring and fall between 2-4 pm. Our performers are local musicians who donate their time and talents!
***Please keep in mind that off-site parking may be required for Music in the Garden. Off-site parking options can be found here. Contact annie@woodlandsgarden.org or 404-373-2222 with questions.
The Fall schedule kicks off on Sunday, Sept. 28 and details about the performances can be found by scrolling down on this page: https://www.woodlandsgarden.org/music-in-the-garden/

Fairies in the Garden
2025-10-04 - 2025-10-18 | GA
Stroll the trails at Woodlands Garden during the magical, free, 2-week exhibit from October 4-18 and find all the fairy homes on display. Open during daylight hours. Click and scroll down on this page to view the full calendar of activities.

Fairies Opening Celebration
2025-10-04 13:00 | GA
Join us for the opening day of Fairies in the Garden! Live fairies will lead fun activities for families. Stop by between 1-4 pm for fairy crafts, stories, bubbles and more. Story time will take place at 2 pm. If it rains, we will move the event from outdoors to the covered pavilion. This event is free and open to the public.

Guided Fairy Walk
2025-10-05 12:00 - 13:00 | GA
Grab your fairy wings and join a fun stroll through the garden from 12-1 pm, rain or shine! We will highlight fairy homes and other fun garden sights. The fairy walk will be led by garden fairies and wizards. No registration required. Meet by the Visitor’s Center for this free guided walk.
