The flowers are in bloom at the Augusta Botanical Gardens, and soon the public will enjoy longer hours and more days at the greenery getaway.

Each week since the reopening Jan. 5, about 200 people have visited the 16-acre site in the 1100 block of Reynolds Street, said Darrell Bennett, the gardens manager. The now-flourishing landscape, which includes azaleas, marigolds, geraniums and other pocket gardens, is a far cry from the dead or dying plants that littered the site last summer.

In mid-July, the state-funded Georgia Golf Hall of Fame Botanical Gardens lost its funding. The city took over a six-month lease of the land in November, and the results have been good since, Mr. Bennett said.

"The plants have come back to life, we've seen good numbers and traffic," Mr. Bennett said. "With the weather getting nicer, more and more people are coming."

NEW HOURS

The park will open an extra two hours, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning Tuesday. It will add Sunday to its regular scheduled days of Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

OLD FACES

After the gardens closed in July, the six statues of Georgia Golf Hall of Famers were removed to avoid vandalism. Robyn Jarrett, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, said she's not sure when they will return -- if ever.

"They're going to remain in storage until we find a more long-term solution where they can be enjoyed," Ms. Jarrett said.

OPEN SPACES

The average cost to rent out the gardens for a day is $350, Mr. Bennett said. A handful of weddings and the Mayor's Masters Reception have been held there. More weddings are planned for this summer, he said.

KEY DATES

April 2001: Georgia Golf Hall of Fame Botanical Gardens opens.

JULY: Gov. Sonny Perdue cuts off funding to the park; the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame closes it.

NOVEMBER: The city takes over a six-month lease; crews begin work to restore the park.

JANUARY: The Augusta Botanical Gardens re-opens to more than 200 visitors on the first day.

MARCH: Richmond County Parks and Recreation sends a letter of intent to the state to sign on for another six months.

APRIL: Augusta commissioners vote on making the Augusta Botanical Gardens an off-leash dog park; the motion does not pass.

MAY: The gardens is awaiting renewal of a six-month lease.