The iconic Serenbe Wildflower Meadow, located at the crossroads of Selborne Lane just outside of the historic Inn at Serenbe in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, is set to undergo an extraordinary transformation as a coalition of partners led by the Art Farm Environmental Council embarks on a large-scale restoration project. The meadow, which holds deep historical significance within the Serenbe community, will be revitalized into a vibrant and sustainable habitat for native pollinators and wildlife.

The Serenbe Wildflower Meadow has played a pivotal role in the history of the Serenbe community, serving as both inspiration and catalyst for its creation. Founder Steve Nygren's initial concern about sprawl in the area led to the preservation of this meadow, which has since become a cherished open space with a soft trail system and several sculptures, enjoyed by Serenbe residents and the broader Chattahoochee Hills community.

Now, 20 years later, a diverse coalition of partners has come together to restore the Serenbe Wildflower Meadow to native form. The project is a collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeastern Grasslands Institute, State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Serenbe Town Association, Serenbe Land Company, Quail Forever, and the Bobwhite Quail Initiative. This collective effort aims to transform a 13-acre section of the meadow into a permanent community of native plants that will serve as protected pollinator and wildlife habitat.

The restoration project will serve as a safeguarding site for the endangered Georgia Aster and will include host species for the threatened Monarch Butterfly. The transformation will unfold over the next 18-24 months and involve phases such as early remediation and invasive vegetation removal beginning in fall 2023, planting native grasses and pollinator-friendly plants, and the installation of interpretative signage and educational infrastructure.

Despite the occasional fallow appearance of the meadow, including periods after prescribed burns, the restoration project is following best practices guided by a team of conservationists and botanists. This approach recognizes that these intervals of succession are necessary to establish a healthy permanent ecology.

Community involvement is an integral part of this project, with volunteers participating in significant ways, including the installation of 1,500 bales of native grass hay in the Spring 2024. This hay, full of seed heads, will form the foundation of the native plant community and will be supplemented with more sensitive species like native milkweeds in future plantings.

Upon completion, the Serenbe Wildflower Meadow will stand as the largest pollinator restoration project in Chattahoochee Hills and the surrounding area, further supporting the Chattahoochee Hills Bee City designation – also catalyzed by the Art Farm Environmental Council. The meadow partnership envisions expanding its efforts into other restoration projects throughout Chattahoochee Hills, including discussions with the Parks Commission regarding the city's parks and potential collaboration with other private landowners.

This ambitious restoration project not only preserves the natural beauty of the Serenbe Wildflower Meadow but also enhances its role as a symbol of positive change and environmental stewardship. It demonstrates what can be achieved when communities come together to protect and promote their shared values and spaces.

Follow Art Farm on social media and visit our website for updates as we begin making progress on this exciting project.