Frank A. Smith, his wife Hortense and their children Frank and Bonnie are one of the families that lived at what is now known as Donaldson-Bannister Farm in Dunwoody. They moved to the farm at the corner of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Vermack Road in 1956.
Frank Smith owned and operated a nursery business located on Roswell Road, where Pike Nursery-Buckhead is today. When they lived at Donaldson-Bannister Farm, which was previously known as Boxwood Farms, they had six 150-foot greenhouses on the farm as part of their growing operation.
Recently, while visiting Atlanta History Center, I noticed a plaque for the Frank A. Smith Memorial Garden. The plaque states “The Azalea Chapter, American Rhodendendron Society at the Atlanta Historical Society, designed by C. Gordon Tyrrell, AHRHS. Developed under the direction of Ben W. Sims, Chairman, Azalea Chapter Garden Committee, 1987.” Frank Smith died in 1985.
Designer Gordon Tyrrell was retired from Callaway Gardens. The garden plan included countless varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons. There was also a simulated mountain stream constructed with rocks from Orchard Rock, Tennessee. The Historical Society held a plant sale to help raise funds for the garden.
According to waderlustatlanta.com, Smith’s original landscape and nursery business was located at Peachtree Street and Pharr Road, near the location of Atlanta History Center. He started the business in the 1930s.
A gazebo in the garden was built as a replica of a gazebo from a private home. I don’t know what private home it was, but if I find out I’ll let you know.
Next time you are at Atlanta History Center, visit the Frank A. Smith Memorial Garden near the Kenan Research Center.