The Fragrance Garden in Forsyth Park

The other day I was in Forsyth Park and I must admit that I have not wandered off the walking track and boy did I miss something and that is the Garden of Fragrance. It is tucked in the northwest part of the park and right next to the children's playground and let your nose take you there. It is impressive and a wonderful place to set on the benches in the garden and just smell. Anyway, this is what the city states and I quote "The Fragrance in Forsyth Park, Savannah, Georgia was originally begun in 1959 by the Garden Club Council of Chatham County, and was dedicated April 3, 1963. The garden was designed by the late Mr. Georges Bignault, and was his final work as a Landscape Architect.

The Garden is surrounded by wells on three sides, helping to contain the fragrance of the plants and the fourth side is enclosed by the ornamental iron fence. The entrance is particularly enhanced by the handsome iron gates from the Old Union Station. These gates were erected in memory of Frances Smith Littlefield by members of her garden club and friends.

Through the years, the garden began to suffer from neglect and reached the point of needing renovation. This need was answered in 2002, when the Park & Tree Department, in collaboration with the Trustees Garden Club and the Junior League began to renovate the Fragrant Garden. Pressure washing, painting and infrastructure modifications were made, and new plant materials were installed. The Trustees Garden Club has provided an endowment of $5000 for future upkeep of the gard

Thunderbolt, GA

Just a few miles from Historic Savannah and on your way to the beach is the town of Thunderbolt. This quaint little town of about 3000 people sets on the west side of the Intercoastal Waterway and has great views of the boats going up and down the waterway. The are shrimp boats tied-up to fish processing plants that are very visible from the main street that goes through the town. On the far southside of the town is a large yacht repair facility and a you can see how the really rich live. There are some great “drinking and eating” places to grab a cold drink and a sandwich and one of the local favorites is Tubby’s. Thursday night is the night to find a date for the weekend…Good music, nice atmosphere and a beautiful view of the waterway directly across the street.

Midway, Georgia - a Colonial Beauty

Midway is located in Liberty County, Georgia on Highway 17 between Savannah and Darien and has a long and distinguished history. English Puritans founded the Midway Society on August 28, 1754 in a log meeting house on Midway Neck. The Midway Society was a strongly religious Congregationalist group. These Puritans migrated to St. John's Parish, Georgia from Dorchster, South Carolina (near Charleston) in 1752 and established a new Dorchester and another nearby settlement what was later to become the Midway Community. In 1752 the Council of Georgia granted the settlers 31,950 acres primarily because colonial officials wanted a large number of settlers there to protect them from the Creek Indians. The original settlers where primarily rice planters and developed a strong agricultural economy.

The settlers in this area were very political and took an early stand for independence. In May of 1775, Lyman Hall (a Midway Church member) was sent to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia as a delegate from the parish of St. John. A year later Hall and St. John's Parish resident Button Gwinnett (along with George Walton of Augusta) signed the Declaration of Independence. Another Midway resident, Nathan Brownson, served in the Continental Congress from 1776 to 1778, but was absent from the Signing. Click one of the following buttons to download copies of the Declaration and other Charters of Freedom!


In 1777 St. John's Parish, St. Andrew's Parish, and St. James' Parish combined to become Liberty County. Because St. John's Parish was the first in Georgia to vote for liberty, the new county created was given the name Liberty.

Historic landmarks include the Midway Church and Cemetery and Midway Museum (collectively known as the Midway Historic District).

Established in 1752, the Midway Congregational Church building was destroyed during the Revolutionary War. The present building (which still stands) was completed in 1792. The religious welfare of the slaves was given high consideration. The "colored" members of the church worshipped with whites throughout the entire existence of the church. On Sundays, the two races worshipped together, with the blacks in the galleries and the whites in the pews below. Every April, the Midway Society conducts an annual service commemorating the town's settlement. The Church and the adjacent cemetery were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Among those buried here are Daniel Stewart and James Screven, two American Generals of the Revolutionary War. In the center of the cemetery there is a large monument dedicated to these men. The monument was dedicated in 1915.

The Midway Museum (located on Highway 17) is home to documents, exhibits, and furnishings which commemorate and affirm the love of Liberty which distinguishes the Midway Society from the Colonial period through it's last meeting in December, 1865. The Midway Museum is Georgia's only colonial museum.

Bonaventure Cemetery

Bonaventure Cemetery was developed on the historically-significant site of Bonaventure Plantation. The peaceful setting rests on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah. The site was purchased for a private cemetery in 1846 and became a public cemetery in 1907. Citizens and others can still purchase interment rights in Bonaventure. This charming site has been a world famous tourist destination for more than 150 years due to the old tree-lined roadways, the many notable persons interred, the unique cemetery sculpture and architecture, and the folklore associated with the site and the people. The entrance to the cemetery is located at 330 Bonaventure Road and is the largest of the municipal cemeteries containing nearly 160 acres. The cemetery is open to the public daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and there is no admission fee. The famous statue of the Bird Girl that is on the cover of “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil” was originally in the cemetery but because of the threat of having the statue destroyed or stolen, the statue was moved and is currently on display in the Telfair Art Museum.

Savannah City Market

If you are visiting the historic city of Savannah, a must place to visit and enjoy is City Market. This rectangular space is truly a market. You find quaint gift shops, artist studios, fun bars, many fine dining options and even a pizza shop and an ice cream store. There is always something for all of us kids.

City Market is almost as old as the city itself and in early beginnings of Savannah, the city market was the central place to meet and discuss the events of the day. The market was truly market and the products produced in and around Savannah could be purchased in the Market. Time moved on and the market became less popular when air-conditioning was discovered and shoppers left to find these cool places. If you have ever been in Savannah in July and August, you can appreciate the importance of air-conditioning. While the market decreased in commerce and popularity it still stood as a welcome center and a symbol of the history of Savannah. Fires and other natural events would take its toll on the market but it survived to be rebuilt again on the same ground.

Today, City Market is the soul of Savannah because it represents the art, culture and diversity of this wonderful city. Live entertainment in the market courtyard is just one added attractions and the setting benches make just “sitting awhile” and watching the people, horse driven carriages and trolley cars circle the square a treat.

Nearby, is the oldest Black American Church in Georgia and a must see and other interesting places that surround the city market. Take a tour or just get a map and venture off to continue your visit to the “jewel of the south”.

Visit City Market at www.savannahcitymarket.com

Crosswinds Golf Club - A Championship Course

As an avid golfer but not a very good one I enjoy and appreciate playing on a course that allows me to have fun but still challenges me to make a good shot. Crosswinds is the course that makes it happen! This well-maintained course is not only a joy to play but they go out of their way to help you along with their GPS system installed on every cart that makes reading distances as easily as it can be. The lush greens invite you to make the putt and if you read the roll correctly it will fall.

Crosswinds has a practice green, a nicely stocked pro shop, a first class dining facility and a comfortable bar. Have a drink either inside or enjoy their raised deck to just relax.

Crosswinds also is the only course in the Savannah area that has a lighted 9 hole par 3 course that invites the family to enjoy playing together and have fun.

I should mention that the course is conveniently located near the Savannah airport and many new and modern motels and inns. Since the club is located just off a major highway (I-95) it is easy to get there from anywhere you are staying in Savannah or nearby Hilton Head.

Try Crosswinds and you will agree that it is clearly the place to play golf and enjoy the other services they provide.

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The African-American Families Monument

The African American Monument was erected on Rousakis Plaza/River Street on July 27, 2002. The monument is an 11-12' high bronze monument which depicts a black family caught in a tight embrace with broken shackles at their feet.

The Monument is to commemorate and honor contributions of African Americans to the cultural, social, educational, economic and spiritual life of the Savannah community.

The inscription, by poet Maya Angelou, reads:

"We were stolen, sold and bought together from the African continent. We got on the slave ships together. We lay back to belly in the holds of the slave ships in each others excrement and urine together, sometimes died together, and our lifeless bodies thrown overboard together. Today, we are standing up together, with faith and even some joy."

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