Fall plant sale improves landscapes, supports S.C. Botanical Garden

Published: September 21, 2009

CLEMSON — The South Carolina Botanical Garden’s Fall Plant Sale will be Oct. 2–3 at the garden in Clemson. The sale features a wide selection of ornamental trees, shrubs and perennials, including hard-to-find and underutilized plants selected to thrive in local landscapes.

The sale is open 2:30 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, for Friends of the Garden only. New members may join at the gate for $35 per person or $50 per family. Friends of the Garden also are invited to a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, to peruse the offerings at the sale, socialize with friends and seek advice from garden staff members.

The sale is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3.

“Fall is the best time of year to plant,” said Ryan Merck, the garden's nursery manager, “and the garden staff has selected unique and interesting plants that we know will grow well in local landscapes. So there’s no better time for new gardeners to get started or for experienced gardeners to find plants that may not be available elsewhere.”

Master Gardeners of the Foothills and S.C. Botanical Garden staff members will be on site to personally help shoppers select the best plants for their landscapes. The Gift Shop area will feature special garden accents and home décor for the fall season, as well as clearance items marked 40 percent off, available only during the plant sale.

“In addition to the opportunity to get to know some new plants, the plant sale allows visitors to learn more about gardening in the Upstate and about their state botanical garden,” said Todd Steadman, associate director. “We use the proceeds from the sale to support the care of the garden, so we strongly encourage people from the area to come out and improve their gardens while improving the state garden that belongs to all of us.”
 
The South Carolina Botanical Garden is located on the Clemson University campus at the intersection of U.S. 76 and Perimeter Road. The garden encompasses 295 acres of display gardens, nature trails, woodlands and streams, and is open year-round from dawn to dusk, free of charge. The garden is partially supported by the state of South Carolina via Clemson University, but relies on private funding, memberships and proceeds from sales and educational events to continue operations. Contact the Visitors Center for more information at 864-656-3405 or scbg@clemson.edu, or visit www.clemson.edu/scbg.

END