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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Members of Discover SC Gardens wish to expand their presence and reputation in order to attract and increase visitor spending.
- 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.
- 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 |