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They have 65 acres cultivated in gardens providing lots of ideas for the home gardener.   There is no admission fee if you walk in but there is a parking fee of $8 per car.  Currently there is an exhibit based on Amy Stewart’s book “Wicked Plants: the Weed that Killed Lincoln’s Mother and Other Diabolical Botanicals”.  Experience these wicked plants first hand without harm through September 3^rd. 

The Asheville Botanical Garden is a downtown gem.  There more than 600 species of Southern Appalachian plants grown in their native habitats ranging from sunny and dry to shady damp locations.  Admission is free but donations are gladly accepted. 

One location I won’t stop at on this trip is the Biltmore House Gardens and Conservatory.  The gardens, which date to 1895 were designed by America’s premier landscape designer Frederick Law Olmstead, and maintained in the original plans, range from the formal parterres to serene woodland walks.   Sadly, you cannot just visit the gardens but must pay the full admission which includes the whole shebang, the mansion, restaurants and winery.  At $59 to $64 depending on the day of the week, I’ll pass on that one this time and visit when I have more time to explore (and more money.)

Next up will be a trip to the Longwood and Chanticleer Gardens in southeastern Pennsylvania in mid September.  Yes, we have family in the Philadelphia area that we are supposed to be visiting but you know how that goes.  Once the hugs are over and I have cuddled my new great nephew for a while, I’ll be off to re-visit gardens. 

Longwood, on land that was first planted in 1700, was created mostly between 1906 and 1930.  There are formal gardens, a conservatory to die for which includes an orchid house with flowers in a rainbow of colors, woodland gardens and acres of test gardens showcasing the latest and greatest of plant introductions.  Their large water garden is features many different water lilies and lotus, all well labeled so you can pick the perfect one for your own pond.  Last time I was there a long bed of Siam Tulips, Curcuma alismatifolia, in their conservatory caught my eye; that is an idea that could be utilized outdoors here in the Lowcountry.  Admission ranges between $15 and $25 depending on the season. 
 

Chanticleer, on the other hand is as wildly beautiful as Longwood is formal.  Often described as romantic, imaginative and exciting, it is a pleasure garden that should not be missed if you are in the area.  I could spend all day there just wandering through the different vignettes.  It is playful but there is nothing tacky about the understated beauty.  You will see the rarest of plants interspersed with those more common, even some we think of as weeds are showcased beautifully.  I certainly wish I could make my weeds look good.  You might see a bamboo culm painted in a bright color; there is a surprise around every corner.  Admission here is a modest $10, surprisingly low for a garden of this scale.  

Closer to home the Riverbanks Botanical Gardens outside Columbia are a perfect day trip as are Brookgreen Gardens on Pawleys Island. I am constantly surprised to hear of locals who have not yet visited the famous gardens of Charleston, Magnolia and Middleton Place.  What better way to entertain those snowbird guests in winter than by walking through thousands of blooming camellia bushes, some as large as a house. 

The Bamboo Farm, a University of Georgia Research facility on Hwy. 17 outside Savannah will be holding their Fall Festival October 13 from 9 to 4.  They specialize in cold tolerant citrus and bananas (which will be for sale that day) but they have beautiful display gardens to stroll through also.  And it is FREE. 

Did you watch the PGA tournament held at Kiawah Island recently?  On Sunday, October 21, the Charleston Horticultural Society will hold its annual fall tour of gardens.  They pick a specific neighborhood each year and this year it will be held at Kiawah.  What an opportunity to see outstanding gardens on what is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the country.  Admission is $35 and tickets can be purchased from the Horticultural Society Office by calling (843) 579 9922 or they can be purchased the day of the tour, held rain or shine, at Freshfields Village, the shopping village just outside of Kiawah.  

Have you tired of the muggy dog days of summer?  Visit a garden; they are refreshing, inspiring and energizing.  I don’t know about you but about now I can use all of those.          

Reprinted by permission from Lowcountry Weekly

Garden Secrets From the Masters

One of the most popular programs of the many offered by the Lowcountry Master Gardener Association, Lunch and Learn has returned with gusto to the Port Royal Farmers Market.  Each Saturday at 11:30, a half-hour presentation by a noted gardener gets everyone introduced to another aspect of growing in the Lowcountry.

The first presentation by Jay Weidner, on June 30, made the daunting task of pruning actually seem easy. 

On July 7, Alice Massey – whose horticultural expertise is wide ranging and informed by years of gardening and study – presented a remarkably full introduction to plant propagation.  In her half-hour presentation, Alice demonstrated methods for making more plants by seed-growing, rooting cuttings, air-layering, root-pruning, bulb cutting, and leaf-slicing.  It was a remarkably complete program, despite the fact that her usual workshop on propagation takes well over an hour to cover everything.

Alice even brought some unusual and rare seeds and plants to give away to some of the lucky attendees. 

The Lunch and Learn series is a regular Saturday event for many in the community.  By 11:30 the Gazebo at the Farmers Market on Ribaut Road in Port Royal is usually full, and most attendees have learned to bring a folding chair along with a bit of lunch and a drink from one of the vendors at the market.

There’s always time for questions afterward, and there always are lots of questions!  But that’s why the Master Gardeners are there – they are trained and certified to bring research-based knowledge and expertise to the public about good practices in horticulture, gardening, and caring for the environment.    

The series of Lunch and Learn from the Master Gardeners continues into the Fall at the Farmers Market in Port Royal. 

The 2013 schedule will be announced by the Master Gardener Association next summer. 

Master Gardeners are the “GoTo”
people for gardening events in the Lowcountry
 

The week of June 4^th this year, The Beaufort Garden Club presented their 18^th annual Garden a Day tours. As a tribute to Master Gardeners and to recognize the work they do in Beaufort County, all of the gardens selected by the Club were at the homes of Master Gardeners. Private gardens such as these rarely have plant labels, so Master Gardeners were asked lend their expertise to the annual event. For five days and five gardens, Master Gardeners were there in the LMGA green aprons. When visitors wanted a plant identified, the watchwords were “Look for someone in a green apron”.

It has become a tradition for Master Gardeners to lend a hand to the Beaufort Garden Club for this annual event. It follows the mission of the LMGA to utilize knowledgeable volunteers to educate and deliver research based information to the citizens of the state.

All of the gardens were designed, planted and maintained by the Master Gardener homeowner. They show what is actually attainable by a dedicated gardener.

Look for the Green LMGA Aprons for Master Gardeners!

The Harden Garden

Tei Tober Getting Ready for Garden A Day

Docents Janet Rivers & Dale Brous

Sandra Educate's Garden

Linda Peters in her Citrus Orchard

Rain didn't stop visitors to Kathi McKinley's Garden

Master Gardener & Master Naturalist volunteers
work together to save the Cooper River waterfront at the Waddell Mariculture Center in Bluffton
 

An irrigation system was been installed in the planting area and a regular maintenance schedule has been set up to insure that the the plantings survive and prosper. This project will become a showcase to help the public understand how they can create buffer zones between their property and bodies of water to both prevent erosion but also to prevent contaminants from running off their property into the water. Al Stokes and his team at Waddell have been great partners on this project and have helped us every step of the way.

Stormwater runoff is often polluted by fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and other chemicals, endangering fish and wildlife. Waterfront buffer areas not only stabilize shorelines, but act as natural filters of stormwater runoff.

Further volunteer workdays will complete the project by mid-summer.  Additionally, new foundation plantings will be installed at the building which houses offices, displays and breeding tanks. This will complete the planting portion.

In June SCORE will co-ordinate the installation of new oyster reef. The reef will be built by a team from SCORE working alongside Master Gardener and Master Naturalist volunteers.

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