The Smithgall Woodland Garden is $1.1 million away from becoming a staple in the Gainesville community for years to come.The Atlanta Botanical Garden opened up the garden to a group of invited guests Tuesday night to show them what the development will grow to be.Organizers of the woodland garden also announced they are close to putting the capstone on their first phase of fundraising.In the last leg of fundraising efforts to reach the $21 million goal, the garden received an additional $4.5 million in grants and gifts.According to Mary Pat Matheson, Atlanta Botanical Garden’s executive director, the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation provided the garden with a $2.5 million grant.The grant needs to be matched with $1.1 million by the garden’s fundraising efforts by June of next year.A separate $2 million gift was also given to the garden by Doug and Kay Ivester.The money all but makes the garden a reality for Gainesville.“It’ll open next year,” said Matheson. “I’m very confident in that.”The woodland garden has been in the works since 2001 when Charles and Lessie Smithgall donated their 185-acre property off Cleveland Highway to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The Smithgalls also started the fundraising with a $3 million endowment, which the botanical garden matched with $2 million.“It’s (Charles’) dream come true,” said Lessie Smithgall.