Boston Flora

Tag: Riverbanks Botanical Garden

  • Thursday, October 27 – Sunday, October 30 – 69th Annual Meeting of the Holly Society of America

    The 69th Annual Meeting of the Holly Society of America will take place October 27 – 30 at The Landmark Resort, 1501 South Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Beyond the work that the HSA’s Executive Board does, its strength lies in educational outreach and growing the membership. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to meet and converse with horticultural experts from around the country. Use this chance to broaden your knowledge about hollies through observation and participation so that you in turn can enlighten others. Cathy and Bob Shumate have put together an extraordinary program which will culminate with the ever popular Plant Auction. Here’s your chance to buy hard-to-find hollies and other uncommon plants.

    Speakers will include Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University. He has also served as Director of Horticulture for the Norfolk Botanical Garden and as a horticulturist at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Mark travels extensively searching for new plants to diversify the American landscape. He is currently writing Growing the Southeast Garden, a modern guide to gardening in the Southeast, for Timber Press.

    Juang-Horng “JC” Chong, Ph.D., An Associate Professor and Extension Specialist with Clemson University, is based at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, South Carolina where he does turf and ornamental research as an Entomologist. His current research and extension projects focus on understanding the biology, ecology, and management of scale insects, wood boring insects, spider mites, eriophyid mites and biological control. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona and his Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

    Augustus Jenkins Farmer III, led teams to plant and establish the vision for two of South Carolina’s major botanical gardens. He is the former director and plantsman of Riverbanks Botanical Garden and of Moore Farms Botanical Garden. With a masters degree in public garden management from the University of Washington and a horticulture degree from Clemson University, he has the combination of horticultural science and museum science needed to set strategic vision for growing plants well. Jenks operates a mail order nursery specializing in organically grown plants of the genus Crinum. He also works as a garden designer from New Orleans to Charleston. He has written Deep Rooted Wisdom: Lessons Learned from Generations of Gardeners.

    Registration forms and full information may be found at http://www.hollysocam.org/meetings-2016.htm

  • Through Monday, October 26 – American Horticultural Society’s 2015 Online Auction

    The not for profit American Horticultural Society offers one of a kind garden experiences all over the United States on its online auction site, and proceeds support AHS educational programs. This week we are highlighting one auction item a day selected from hundreds of options. For the full list visit http://www.ahs.org/online-auction.

    For the golf enthusiasts who travel to South Carolina in the winter, this one’s for you.  Visit Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina with Botanical Garden Director Andy Cabe.  Your visit for up to four include a personal tour of the Riverbanks Botanical Garden with Garden Director Andy Cabe, lunch with Andy at one of Riverbank’s on-site eateries, and of course admission to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

    Located on the west bank of the Saluda River and connected by bridge to the renowned Riverbanks Zoo, the Riverbanks Botanical Garden features scenic river views, spectacular valley overlooks, and themed gardens. The Walled Garden, the horticultural jewel of the Botanical Garden, opened to the public in 1995 and is filled with scents, colors, and textures of plants from all over the world. Riverbanks’ Old Rose Garden features 120 varieties of roses, including one of the largest public collections of Noisette roses in the world. Known for their sweet perfume and repeat bloom, the Noisettes originated in Charleston, South Carolina, so hold a special place in regional history. In addition to its botanical collections and natural beauty, the Garden site has significant historical value as the location of one of South Carolina’s first water-powered textile mills. (Depending on interests, a tour of the Riverbanks Zoo may also be included as part of this experience.)

    Andy Cabe, Botanical Garden Director at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, is a Columbia native and a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture. Andy has been with Riverbanks for over 15 years. He enjoys working with all types of plants, but bulbs are one of his true passions. One of Andy’s current projects is the development of a new, 3-acre, interactive children’s garden which is slated to open in late 2015.

    Best times to visit: while anytime is a good time to visit Riverbanks, March, April, and May are peak months. Garden enthusiasts might want to avoid spring break which is usually the busiest time of year when crowds are at their peak.  Conditions/Limitations for this item: tour to be arranged at a mutually agreeable time subject to host’s availability by October 31, 2016.