Lookout Mountain, Georgia
Sanctuary Stewards: Steve and Karen Persinger

Rising Fawn Gardens is a privately owned six-hundred-acre parcel located between the banks of Lookout Creek and the western slopes of Lookout Mountain in Dade County, Georgia. Stewards Steve and Karen Persinger have owned the land since 2007 and placed it in a Conservation Easement with the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust nearly five years ago. Home to numerous native and rare species, the land includes riparian, bottomland hardwood, and mountain ecosystems. Also present are community gathering spaces, hiking trails, abundant wildlife, and medicinal herb and vegetable gardens.

Thanks to a multi-generational family tradition of attending Auburn University, the Persinger’s son was given the opportunity to work in the crop sciences garden and participate in turmeric (Curcuma longa) research during his time at the University. After this introduction and many seasons of trial and practice, turmeric is now one of the main crops at Rising Fawn Gardens, in addition to ginger (Zingiber officinale) and blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). Also grown at Rising Fawn Gardens are various medicinal and culinary herbs, which are dehydrated and used to make herbal tisanes. Rising Fawn Gardens is a living apothecary surrounded by plants, both cultivated and wild, that is dedicated to responsibly caring for the land in a way that is not only sustainable but regenerative. Recently, the Persingers were invited by the University of Georgia to participate in a program led by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia that recruits private landowners for the conservation of native endangered species. Silene regia, royal catchfly, is the first plant to become hosted at Rising Fawn Gardens through this program.

Rising Fawn Gardens believes the earth gives us what we need to live, grow, and heal and that plants have the power to enhance our well-being and restore our health. Therefore, we are incredibly grateful to be a member of United Plant Savers’ Botanical Sanctuary Network as we believe it will assist us in furthering our mission of educating the public about the importance of land stewardship and the conservation of native medicinal plant species. Rising Fawn Gardens hosts 7-10 guided programs per year, including scheduled medicinal garden tours from June through October, guided wildflower walks with local botanists, tree identification hikes, and pollinator walks.

Please view our website at www.risingfawngardens.com, follow us on social media @risingfawngardens, and/or sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our programs and events.