The site is adjacent to the planned 100-acre Columbus ParkCrossing regional shopping mall being developed by Atlanta-basedBen Carter Properties. The retail center is the first phase of alarger planned 400-acre mixed-use project north of the city.Columbus is about 120 miles southwest of Atlanta.

The cornerstones of the Garden complex are the 100-year oldAdams farmstead home and the Environmental Horticultural Program ofColumbus Technical College, which will relocate to two acres on thesite. The first step will be completion of a restoration of theAdams home and outbuildings and a period garden around thehouse.

Some $200,000 will go toward the project. Work will begin inearly 2001 and be completed by March. The farmstead will containoffices, an education area and entry point to the Garden. TheGarden also has access to another 20 acres set aside by the Adamsfamily for greenspace and as a buffer to the development. Thatspace will remain as natural woodland.