Mike Saunders

Botanical Garden Entrance on South Milledge

In 1968 the University of Georgia set aside 313 acres of land as a living laboratory for the study and enjoyment of plants and nature. This laboratory became the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. The visitors center, as well as providing an information center for visitors, also has a cafe and gift shop, offices and classrooms, and, a conservatory of tropical plants.

Alice Hand Callaway Visitor Center

5 miles of walking trails let you explore the various "gardens" housed within the complex. There is an international garden with fauna from around the world, a native garden filled with southern plants, a shade garden where you can find some cool respite from the summers heat. Pools, fountains, statues and other interesting items are found as you explore the various sections.

Bronze Castings of Student & Instructer on Field Trip

Local plants in the Native Garden

The Garden Club of Georgia built it's state headquarters here in 1998. The headquarters building also serves as a museum of vintage furnishings and arts.

A Quiet Place to Rest in the Shade Garden

Each season brings new wonders and things to see. During July and August not much is in bloom in the garden. The crepe myrtle is one of the beautiful exceptions.

Crepe Myrtles in Bloom

The garden is located on South Milledge Avenue 3 miles away from the main campus. While it is open all year hours vary for both the garden and the visitor center. For complete directions and current hours of operation refer to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia website.

Greenbrier - A Quiet and Affordable Gem of a Neighborhood

Located on the eastside of Athens, just 7 minutes away from downtown and the University of Georgia is a small subdivision named Greenbrier. Mature trees and landscaping provide the setting for homes located on lots approximately 2/3 acre in size.

The few streets within this subdivision are all cul de sacs, no through traffic. The homes are all about 1500 to 2000 sq. feet and the price range is from the $140,000's to the $170,000's with the recent average selling price of $159,000.00.

Only a few hundred yards from the entrance is Wiggly Field Dog Park. It is a fenced in park that permits off-leash dog activities, including a "doggie" obstacle course. There are actually two fenced in areas, one for small dogs and one for larger breeds. Right next door to Wiggly Field is Wonder Playground which features swings, slides, elevated walkways and structures designed to entertain and educate younger children.

Shopping and restaurants are all within a couple of minutes, as well as a skate park, driving range and walking track.

For information on homes for sale in Greenbrier, or anywhere else in the Athen and surrounding 6 counties, call Mike Saunders, Keller Williams Greater Athens Realty, at 706-207-5290. You can also email me at athensrealestate@hotmail.com . You can also search for properties at my website www.theathensrealestatepage.com

If you like REM & the B-52’s, stop by Athens, GA between June 18 and June 22 for this years AthFest – the annual Music and Art Festival in downtown Athens featuring local artists and musicians.

No, REM & the B-52’s aren’t listed on this year’s schedule. However, they did get their starts here in Athens.

AthFest was founded in 1997 as a non-profit festival to promote the locally grown music and art of Athens and the surrounding areas. Much of the festival is free. There are wristbands that can be purchased that provide admission or cover charge discounts for certain special events, such as the annual Club Crawl – going to each of the 18 participating clubs and seeing all the entertainment at each (or, at least making the attempt).

AthFest’s mission is to educate the public about music and arts, specifically, about the music and arts of Athens. More information about this year’s schedule and events can be found at AthFest 2008.

Fall is a wonderful time in Athens. Leaves are changing colors, summer temperatures are moderating, and we can open the windows and enjoy the fresh air, between the air-conditining and heating seasons. And, their is University of Georgia football. The normal game day madness is only going to grow this year after Sports Illustrated picked the Dawgs ad the pre-season #1. Hotels are filled with UGA alumni and visiting team fans. The traffic downtown and near the stadium is like L.A. during rush hour. Noisy game fanatics fill the restaurants and watering holes.

But, if you are relocating to the Athens area, it is still a great time to find that special home you are looking for. Houses will still be for sale. Sellers will still open their homes to potential buyers. Deals can be made. You just have to plan ahead.

If you are considering coming to Athens in the fall, whether to look for a home or for any other reason, try to come on a weekend the Dawgs don't have a home game. Or, if you your choice of dates is such that you need to be here on game day, make your hotel reservations well in advance (or be prepared to stay several miles out of Athens). To help in your travel planning, here is the home schedule of the DAWGS for 2008:

• Sat, Sep 06 Central Michigan A
• Sat, Sep 27 Alabama
• Sat, Oct 11 Tennessee
• Sat, Oct 18 Vanderbilt - Homecoming
• Sat, Nov 29 Georgia Tech

For more information about Athens homes, traveling to Athens, things to do, places to stay and/or eat, click on the contact me link under my picture. Or, call me at 706-207-5290.

Shoal Creek Farms – Country Living – Close to the City

Deer, squirrels, rabbits, cardinals, and other wildlife are what you will share this community of 2500 to 4500 square foot homes with. Most of the homes are situated on 1 to 2 acre lots, some with lake-frontage. There are several larger lots ranging in size from 2 to15 acres spread throughout the slightly more than one square mile of development. Home prices range from about $275,000 to about $425,000 except for the significantly larger lots.

It is a quiet country setting but only 5 minutes to shopping, 12 minutes to the University of Georgia and 15 minutes from the restaurants, business, shopping and night life of downtown Athens. Along with areas of native woodlands, there is a picturesque lake that all residents of Shoal Creek Farms have the use of. There are several small streams that add to the rural ambiance of the neighborhood as well as plenty of open space and forested areas.

The common areas around the lake and the entrance are maintained through an annual home owner’s assessment of $225.

Call me at 706-207-5290 or hit the contact me link for information on any of the several excellent properties available in this desirable neighborhood, or for information on other properties available in the Athens or surrounding 6-county area. You can click for a link to a video tour of one of the homes currently for sale. Below are more photos of the neighborhood.