Gardeners, landscape architects, preservationists and plant lovers of all levels and expertise will gather at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens for the 2013 Southern Garden Heritage Conference.

On Friday, Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. gardeners can learn about heirloom fruits and vegetables and explore the rich gardening traditions of the South.

The Conference features speakers William C. Welch of Texas, author of "Heirloom Gardening in the South," and Felder Rushing of Mississippi, author of "Slow Gardening: A No-Stress Philosophy for All Senses and All Seasons."

Several gardening and environmental groups have joined to sponsor this year’s event: The UGA College of Environment and Design in cooperation with The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc., Friends of The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Cherokee Garden Library of the Atlanta History Center and the Southern Garden History Society.

For more directions or to register for the conference, call 706-542-6156 or visit www.botgarden.uga.edu.