The Garden’s Gate from the South Carolina Botanical Garden January - April 2021 Shrubs for Winter Interest Over the past several years we have worked hard to increase the beauty of our garden in the winter months. We have added many winter shrubs with attractive Inside this issue flowers, alluring fragrance, colorful berries or structural beauty. I asked the Page 2 horticultural staff for their top three shrubs for winter interest, and here are their Director’s Note picks: Pages 3 - 4 Garden News Page 5 The Geological Record Pages 6 - 7 Education Programs Camellia sp. Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick Winterberries Corylus ‘Contorta’ Ilex verticillata Page 8 - 9 Encouraging Wildlife In Your Winter Garden Pages 10 Edibles in the Landscape Pages 11 Guest Author: Keeping Mason Bees Ricepaper bush Early stachyurus Fragrant Daphne Edgeworthia chrysantha Stachyurus praecox Daphne odora Page 12 Garden Reflections American witch hazel Titi Darrow blueberry Hamamelis virginiana Cyrilla racemiflora Vaccinum darrowii Garden Gate at Night Red twig dogwood Oakleaf hydrangea Rosebay rhododendron Cornus sericea Hydrangea quercifolia Rhododendron maximum cont’d p.4 The Garden’s Gate • 1 Director’s Note The end of a year serves as a logical time Garden Staff for reflection on annual accomplishments and goals for the coming year. This year has Shannon Barrett Interim Director taken a much different trajectory than we Landscape Architect could have imagined at the end of 2019, but our vision of being a space that provides Kathy Bridges Garden Manager a sanctuary for diversity of all life remains the same. The COVID-19 pandemic has Susan Chandler challenged us to consider how to manage Garden Educator our goals safely, and despite our temporary Allison Jones closure in early spring, we have worked Education Program Coordinator Shannon Barrett toward keeping this Garden as a sanctuary Allison Kelly for all who visit. Natural Heritage Garden Manager I would like to take this opportunity to Trenton Miller reflect on the closing of an inspiring era at Collections Manager the Garden. In September our esteemed Angel Perkins Director of the last decade, Patrick Business Manager McMillan, accepted the position of director at Heronswood Garden in Kingsport, David Rife Washington. Although he is far away, Arboretum Manager his presence will always be felt within Jamie Rutherford our 300 acres. Patrick has left a tangible, Landscape Manager physical legacy with the establishment of Beth Schneider the Natural Heritage Garden, Chihuahuan Friends Program Coordinator Desert Garden, the re-visioning of our Misty Shealy Children’s Garden, and countless other Nursery Manager improvements. His true legacy though is the inspiration and education that he Adam Smith provided to our staff and community. He Patrick in the field Curator, Geology Museum has instilled in all of us a lifetime goal of Kendra Vincent sustaining and furthering this Garden for Life. Garden Educator While we continue to react and adjust to the myriad changes caused Spencer Waldrop by COVID-19, we can thank Patrick for the focus that he has given us all Facilities Manager that helps us maneuver with clarity. The Garden will exist through these Sue Watts times as a place of beauty, tranquility, and fresh air that nourishes us and Education Program Coordinator connects us to the natural world. We hope that you will visit frequently to James Wilkins relax, reflect, and recharge. Education & Resource Coordinator CEF/SCBG To Patrick, we would rather not say goodbye, but instead show our gratitude by moving forward with his vision of this place as a Garden for Life. And thank you, our Friends, for sharing and supporting that vision that serves us well through all times. I look forward to working with you all in the year to come. ~ Shannon Barrett, Interim Director 150 Discovery Lane, Clemson University Clemson, SC 29634-0174 phone: 864.656.3405 email: [email protected] www.clemson.edu/scbg Sweet Shrub Production: Calycanthus floridus Sue Watts [email protected] The Garden’s Gate • 2 Garden News Spring 2021 Plant Sale Order online April 12-23rd with scheduled, contact-free order pickup Early access for Friends of the Garden members beginning April 5th In a typical year, the Spring and Fall Plant sales at the South Carolina Botanical Garden (SCBG) account for over 50% of our annual revenue. Our Spring Sale is the most anticipated event that we offer to our Friends of the Garden members and the public. Just as we were finalizing preparations for the Spring Sale in March, everything ground to a disappointing halt. Although we had to give up on the Spring Sale, we didn’t give up! Instead, we began planning a safe way to offer our wonderful plants to our Friends and the public for our Fall Sale. With the help and expertise of the CU Cash and Treasury department, we converted our sales catalog into an online store to replace in-person shopping and sales transactions. Our partners in CU Development and PSA Communications quickly helped us get the word out and added FAQ information to our website to help people understand what would be different about this sale. It was so rewarding to see the excitement of Friends and customers picking up new plants to perk up their landscapes. With the tremendous efforts of our staff and student workers, the support from our University partners, and the patience and understanding of our shoppers, we were able to generate revenues comparable to our typical Fall Sale earnings! We have already begun planning for our online 2021 Spring Sale and we hope our community will support us again for our biggest annual fundraiser. ~ Shannon Barrett, Interim Director Tips for shopping the sale online • Become a Friend of the Garden for early access • Visit the Plant Sale webpage, clemson.edu/public/scbg/ to the sale! Visit clemson.edu/public/scbg/support/ plant-sale. The catalog, anouncements, helpful links – membership.html for more information about how to so much information is located in this spot! join, membership levels and benefits. • Read over the FAQs on the Plant Sale webpage. As the • If you’re already a Friend, make sure your membership online format is new to us all, we have tried to guide information is current. Communications to members you through the process with these questions so that are sent in emails. If you are not currently receiving you will know what to expect. the monthly newsletter email as all members should, please contact Beth Schneider, Friends Membership • Like our Facebook page! Want to know when the Coordinator, 703-869-4844 or [email protected] to catalog is ready? Need a reminder of when the sale update your information. starts? It is a great way to keep up with garden events! The Garden’s Gate • 3 Garden News Shrubs for Winter Interest Cont’d from p. 1 With around 2300 named cultivars it’s possible to have camellia flowers from September through April. The dramatic twisting branches of Corylus ‘Contorta’ make it an intriguing addition to the winter landscape. Winterberry enlivens the garden with a vibrant display I would like to thank to all of the Garden staff who have of berries in shades of yellow, orange or red. really stepped up in this strange time we’re living in. With minimal student help and without volunteers, the The sweetly fragrant, delicate flowers and architectural staff has really joined together to maintain the Garden stems of Edgeworthia, make this a beautiful addition to and keep it presentable and thriving for our visitors. the winter plant palette. To the volunteers, I am hopeful that we will be able to invite you back soon. We miss you! Stachyurus praecox a Japanese native whose elegant chestnut-brown twigs hold delicate racemes of bell-like We had a very successful virtual Fall Plant Sale. There flowers. were a few bumps and bruises, but these were quickly resolved. For a first time virtual event it went very well. Daphne odora has intensely fragrant blooms. It was good practice for the Spring Sale, which will also be virtual. Now is a great time to stay warm inside and Witch hazel has unusual, delicate, fragrant yellow think about what changes or additions you’d like to flowers. make to your home landscape. Gardening is a perfect hobby in this time of social distancing. Cyrilla racemifloraor Titi has gorgeous orange-red winter foliage. Storms have really impacted us this year. Multiple hurricanes and strong winds took a toll on our tree Darrow blueberry ‘Rosa’s Blush’ exhibits attractive population, and we lost at least 70 large trees. Needless deep purple foliage in the winter. to say we have been very busy cutting up and removing debris, reworking pathways, and replanting in areas Cornus sericea has dramatic red bark in winter. Cornus which are suddenly full sun. We’re taking it as an sericea ‘Flaviramea” is known for its yellow stems. opportunity to expand the collection and plant trees which we haven’t had before. Students from campus The exfoliating bark of Hydrangea quercifolia or will also benefit from these additions when they study oakleaf hydrangea is an attractive winter feature. The tree identification. persistent dried flower heads add extra interest. Our visitation has been very good throughout the crisis. We are glad to provide this outlet for families to get Rhododendron maximum’s glossy evergreen leaves outside and have a safe, beautiful place to forget about have an interesting winter property: they act as a worries for a while. If you haven’t been out lately, come thermometer, curling tight when temperatures reach visit. Winter bulbs are popping out, and there’s always 20°F.