About

DISCOVER SOUTH CAROLINA GARDENS

is the designated name of an organization of gardens that previously described themselves as the South Carolina Garden Alliance. Seven charter gardens of the new organization include: Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens, Brookgreen Gardens, Cypress Gardens, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Middleton Place, Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens and The South Carolina Botanical Garden. In the Spring of 2019, these gardens agreed to move forward with a new Mission and Vision that improves the understanding of and appreciation for ornamental horticulture in the State of South Carolina.

MISSION

We wish to foster interest in, promote the arts and practices for, grow awareness of, and develop education toward gardening—both horticultural and agricultural—in the State of South Carolina. We further wish to increase the visibility of our gardens for residents and visitors across the state of South Carolina to increase tour opportunities. We will actively share in promoting the historic, aesthetic, and cultural value of the collection of these treasured sites.

VISION

It is the vision of Discover South Carolina Gardens to promote the value of membership in this organization in order to include all the sites within the state that would agree to its mission. This goal would attempt to improve the guest experience for residents and visitors to the state. Establishing and growing Discover South Carolina Gardens will create opportunities to increase garden awareness, promote tourism and expand positive economic impacts around the state:

1. Members of Discover SC Gardens will foster, promote, preserve, and maintain natural resources by encouraging environmental health and sound landscape design and development, as well as promoting awareness of nature-friendly practices and products among employees, members and guests.
2. Members of Discover SC Gardens produce substantial economic benefit to the state as employers and purchasers of goods and services. This organization yields significant spillover benefits that impact other elements of South Carolina Tourism Industry.
3. Members of Discover SC Gardens wish to expand their presence and reputation in order to attract and increase visitor spending.
4. Members of Discover SC Gardens continue to make a commitment to invest significant capital in site improvements, exhibit upgrades, and updating educational outreach. This dedication impacts all the local economies and enhances overall attraction for growth of regional tourism and recreational opportunity.
5. Members of Discover SC Gardens will continue to grow their connection to the local towns and communities by development of special events, appreciation days, and support of garden volunteering. Viewed as the amenities they are, Discover SC Gardens wish to promote local consumer demand and increase overall property values.

CHARTER MEMBERS

The following Charter Members and their representatives were responsible for the development of Discover South Carolina Gardens and this web site.

Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens	Rick Benthall, Director of Marketing
Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens	Catherine Rasor, Master Gardener
Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens	Alex Deas, Education Coordinator
Brookgreen Gardens	Lauren C. Joseph, Marketing Director
Brookgreen Gardens	Page Kinry, President and CEO
Cypress Gardens	Heather McDowell, Director
Cypress Gardens	Amanda Oliver, Volunteers/Facilities/Tours
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens	Kirk R. Brown, Outreach Coordinator
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens	Herb Frazier, Marketing/Public Relations
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens	Tom Johnson, Executive Director
Middleton Place	Tracey Todd, President/CEO
Middleton Place	Don Bussey, Marketing/Public Relations
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden	Andy Cabe, Botanical Garden Director
SC Botanical Garden – Clemson	Patrick McMillan, Director
SC Botanical Garden – Clemson	Shannon Barrett, Landscape Architect
SC Botanical Garden – Clemson	Kathy Bridges, Garden Manager