The Georgia Mountains Master Gardeners (GMMG) are pleased to be able to place in public and private gardens throughout north Georgia the Canna Indica flore rubro or what most southern gardeners call the canna lily. These extraordinary cannas were first introduced into Spain and subsequently Portugal in the 1500’s from their native home in the east and west Indies. They quickly spread throughout Europe after John Parkinson’s praise and detailed descriptions of the beautiful species in his landmark 1629 book, Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris. An original garden of these extraordinary cannas was found in front of the historic MacDonald House at Yahoola Creek Park. Research revealed that these cannas were purchased at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair – Columbian Exhibit by Doctor Arnold (1864-1948). Doctor Arnold owned the Singleton Gold Mine later known as the Consolidated Mines located behind the McDonald farm. Marion McDonald Boatfield (daughter of Jessie and Sara Ann McDonald) and her husband, John, worked for Doctor Arnold. According to a Dahlonega Nugget interview with Marion McDonald published June 28, 1990 she said, “Doc Arnold was a good man; he was a Botanist and loved plants just like I did and would frequently bring me plants from his travels. He always said I had a green thumb.” These heritage cannas were planted in front of the McDonald House and are a living souvenir from the 1893 Chicago World’s fair. The main body of cannas still resides in that location; now on the backside of the new outside basketball court at Yahoola Creek Park. Having rescued some of these historic cannas, GMMG volunteers in collaboration with the Dahlonega Women’s Club, the UNG Botanical Society, the Longstreet Heritage Trust and Lumpkin County Parks and Recreation staff have re-homed them in various locations including: The Lumpkin County Administration building, the Parks and Recreation Building, the Avita Community Partners Building, and the Dahlonega Community Building. The University of North Georgia planted a bed of these heritage cannas outside the Health and Natural Sciences Building. Cannas have also been shared with sites in Dawsonville at the Farmers Market and the Extension Office. The city of Gainesville received some of these extraordinary cannas for the Longstreet Heritage Garden and the Linwood Ecology Center.