Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynn Pennington.
Lynn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Even before Johns Creek became a city in 2006, the Johns Creek Community Association (JCCA) collaborated with community and state leaders to secure $100,000 in grants from the Fulton County Tree Fund, along with donations from local businesses, which allowed the city to secure additional, larger grants. Johns Creek Beautification was created to lead the median and right-of-way beautification efforts along the Medlock and State Bridge corridors. The organization spent its early years establishing roots in the newly formed City of Johns Creek by working closely with them on median projects, donating tree saplings to Northview High School and local neighborhoods, paving the way for public art installations, and navigating funding processes for future projects.
Over the last nearly 20 years, Johns Creek Beautification (JCB) has developed a stronger sense of our community and developed a more focused mission. JCB’s current mission is to enhance the well-being and natural beauty of our community by bringing people together through landscaping and public works of art. With that focus, JCB has three major ongoing projects: ArtSpot, Daffodils4Hope and the Secret Gardens of the Johns Creek Community.
ArtSpot is dedicated to utilizing art in public places as a means to strengthen and enrich the identity and culture of the Johns Creek community. Daffodils4Hope is a community-wide, bulb-planting initiative to honor and support cancer survivors. The Secret Gardens of the Johns Creek Community offers the rare chance to explore stunning private gardens, enjoy live music and watch local artists create nature-inspired works of art.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with many all-volunteer nonprofit organizations, securing the financial resources and dedicated volunteers needed to fulfill the mission is an ongoing challenge. Yet, JCB has remained successful in sustaining momentum and advancing all three major projects.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Johns Creek Beautification is fortunate to serve a community recognized for its exceptional livability, public safety, and responsible fiscal management. As a newly incorporated city, Johns Creek appropriately focused early investments on infrastructure improvements and the acquisition of land for future parks. With those priorities taking precedence, limited funding remained for public art. To help fill that gap, Johns Creek Beautification has donated several impressive public artworks by both local and international artists, and continues to develop additional public art initiatives.
Daffodils4Hope (D4H) is a community-wide volunteer bulb planting initiative launched in 2018 in partnership with CanCare to honor and support cancer survivors. D4H project engages residents each year during Community Dig Day to plant daffodils across the city. Through the support of community planting partners who provide planting sites and funding, JCB has planted 72,500 daffodil bulbs at parks, hospitals, schools, churches, businesses, and within neighborhoods. These daffodils serve as a symbol of hope, healing, and resilience for our community—especially for cancer survivors, patients, and caregivers.
ArtSpot has proudly contributed several public artworks to the City of Johns Creek, including Entwined Strength—a magnificent horse sculpture by artist Eric Strauss, created from more than 4,000 pounds of forged steel vines. Currently, ArtSpot is focused on two key initiatives: donating a new series of stainless-steel dog sculptures by artist Jim Collins to the City of Johns Creek, and raising funds to commission a major public art sculpture that honors the Native American heritage and history of the region. This new sculpture will serve as a lasting tribute to the Indigenous peoples whose presence on this land spans more than 14,000 years. It will stand as a powerful reminder of their enduring legacy, their deep connection to the land, and their invaluable contributions to our shared history. Through this project, we aim to celebrate diversity and inclusivity, while paying respectful homage to those who came before us and called this area home. The sculpture will symbolize our community’s ongoing commitment to recognizing and preserving the rich cultural heritage that shapes Johns Creek today.
The Secret Gardens of the Johns Creek Community tour, held every other spring, is JCB’s signature fundraising event. This unique metro-Atlanta experience offers a full day of touring six or more gorgeous private gardens, each featuring local artists and musicians. The tour requires a large team of volunteers who greet guests and share information about the gardens. Feedback from past attendees has been exceptional, with many describing it as a “must-do” event for garden lovers or anyone seeking a beautiful, inspiring day outdoors.
The next Secret Gardens Tour will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Garden locations are revealed only a few days before the event. Passes will go on sale in March 2026 and may be purchased at johnscreekbeautification.org. We invite you to attend this very special event!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://johnscreekbeautification.org
- Instagram: secretgardensofjc
- Facebook: Johns Creek Beautification
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnscreekbeautificationin3251/playlists
