The University Trial Gardens are known internationally within the horticulture industry, but few people around campus know about this secret garden that holds beautiful flowers and landscapes.

Those involved with the garden are going to try something new by hosting “An Evening in the Garden.”

From 5 to 7 p.m. today, the Trial Gardens, located behind Snelling Dining Hall, will host an afternoon of jazz music, artwork, light hors d’oeuvres and brief tours by Allan Armitage.

Armitage, a UGA horticulture professor, created the garden in 1982 to test if certain plants could live in the Georgia climate. Although its primary function is to serve as a research garden, those involved with the garden want more people to know about and visit the site.

The garden is home to over 2,000 plants and is visited by people all over the nation who want to research and learn about new crop introductions. However, this garden should not only be a must-see for botanists and gardeners.

Since few people know about the garden here at UGA, Camille Evans, the Director of Marketing & Promotions of the garden, hopes this event will help people to recognize the hidden treasure behind Snelling.

“There is a serious lack of awareness of the garden on campus,” Evans said. “And we just want people to have a peaceful place on campus to enjoy.”

Armitage hopes that eventually more people will come to the garden to hang out, eat lunch and enjoy the scenery.

His nonchalant attitude will be reflected at the event, as well. Armitage wants people to feel comfortable as they wine and dine with jazz music around the garden on Wednesday.

“People can walk around the garden and I’ll give tours for anyone who wants to learn about the garden and flowers,” Armitage said.

Karl Friday, a professor of Japanese history at UGA, will be performing with his jazz band, Sonny Got Blue.

The band is excited to play at the gardens because it is a totally different type of venue.

“It should be interesting,” Friday said. “We haven’t done anything like that before so it will be different.”

If you have visited the garden before, it’s worth visiting again because new plants are added almost every week.

“Every time someone walks in there, they say that it looks better than it did before when they saw it last,” Armitage said.