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Kalmia Gardens of Coker University - The Laurel Branch

November 07, 2025

Welcome to our e-newsletter, The Laurel Branch!

Fall is for Planting
While our staff and volunteers at Kalmia Gardens are always keeping busy, fall certainly keeps us on our toes! The cooler weather is great for gardening tasks, like switching out our warm season annuals for cool season ones, enhancing our soil, and continuing with garden renovations. In Chris's tip this month, you'll learn a little more about why fall is such a great time for planting.
Your next trip to Kalmia will probably be filled with some new sights in the Gardens. Some of our more notable tasks we've been working on include changing two of our beds in the Sensory Garden to annual display beds, as well as continuing to convert the Fern Garden to a mostly native pollinator garden. We're always up to something at Kalmia, and we can't wait to see you!

Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series at the Joslin Education Center Continues
Thank you to all who attended our last lecture, Beekeeping 101: From Honeybee Biology to Starting Your Own Hive with Laura Del Vecchio, Senior Horticulturist and Resident Beekeeper at Moore Farms Botanical Garden. Tickets are on sale now for our next lecture on November 19th with Dr. Martin Hamilton, Executive Director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University. Please note, this lecture is a virtual presentation held at the Joslin Education Center. Dr. Hamilton will not physically be present in the room.
Dr. Hamilton will be virtually presenting his lecture Reflections on a Career in Horticulture and a Vision for the Future of the South Carolina Botanical Garden. He will discuss his career in horticulture before transitioning to his role as Executive Director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University. The presentation will highlight the vital role botanic gardens play in biodiversity conservation and how many botanical gardens act as safe havens for rare and endangered plant species by cultivating them outside their natural habitats (ex-situ conservation), which includes seed banking and safeguarding collections. The presentation will include insights into the work of SCBG including plant propagation and conservation projects and the crucial role in educating the public about the importance of biodiversity and the threats to it. The presentation will look at some of the on-going work at the garden and new projects and initiatives that are helping conserve native plants. The presentation will finish with a look at the workshops, volunteer programs, and educational events that are held at SCBG. Pre-registration and $5 tickets can be purchased HERE while they are still available!
Please note, lectures are held at the Joslin Education Center (1520 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, S.C. 29550). This address is different from our Kalmia Gardens address.
Save the dates for the following lectures coming later this year and purchase tickets while they are still available! 2026 lectures will be listed soon.

November 19, 2025, Noon - 1 p.m.
Reflections on a Career in Horticulture and a Vision for the Future of the South Carolina Botanical Garden
Dr. Martin Hamilton, Executive Director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University
Pre-Register and Purchase Tickets HERE

Save the Date! Upcoming Kalmia Events
Make sure to save the date for two upcoming events: The Christmas Open House and the annual Oyster Roast fundraiser.
The Christmas Open House will be held on Sunday, December 7th from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. This is a unique opportunity to not only view the historic Thomas E. Hart House, but to enjoy it decorated for the holidays. Enjoy light snacks and a visit from Old Saint Nick! Alongside the Hart House, the Hart Cottage will also be decorated and open. Make sure to visit both historic homes, free of charge, during this special event! For more information, see our flyer below.
The annual Oyster Roast has also been scheduled! Mark your calendars for March 21, 2026 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. for another round of delectable all you can eat oysters, catered foods, and all you can drink beer, wine, and soft drinks. There are fewer tasty and fun ways to support your favorite public garden! Don't wait - get tickets now, as this event sells out! You can purchase your tickets or a sponsorship opportunity HERE.

Our Donors Keep Us Going!
As a free public garden, Kalmia Gardens survives because of the generosity of our donors. We appreciate everyone who contributes to keep Kalmia Gardens the natural haven it is today. We especially wanted to thank the Paul and Ashley Reardon Foundation who participated in the Strike as One fundraising campaign, and designated a donation of $10,000 to Kalmia Gardens. This donation, along with donations in any amount, help us continue our mission and meet our goals. If you would like to donate to Kalmia Gardens, you can do so by visiting our donation page HERE.

Looking for a Unique Holiday Gift? Donate a Brick!
The holidays are right around the corner and it's time to start thinking about the perfect gift for everyone on your list. You likely have at least one person you're shopping for that "doesn't want anything" or "can't think of anything". We get it - that's a tough nut to crack! For these tough-to-shop-for family and friends, consider giving them a gift that will last, and also benefit their favorite public garden - a personalized brick along our Conifer Trail! For $150, you not only support Kalmia Gardens, but you arguably give the neatest and most unique gift of the season that they won't forget!
If you'd like to get a jump on that holiday shopping and purchase a brick or, even just learn more, please contact Dan Hill by emailing him HERE.

Adopt a Stream FREE Training Opportunity!
Adopt a Stream is a volunteer water monitoring program that helps assess the health and water quality of our local waterways. Training for Freshwater Monitoring will be held on November 20th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Joslin Education Center at Kalmia Gardens. To register for this free training, sign upHERE.
Please note, the Joslin Education Center has a different address than Kalmia Gardens. Please put the following address into your GPS to find the Joslin Education Center: 1520 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, S.C. 29550.

Chris's Tip
A lot of people tend to think of spring as the best time to plant, but I argue that fall is even better. As we mentioned earlier in this newsletter, we've been keeping busy out in the Gardens. This is a great time to start (or in our case with the Fern Garden, continue) garden projects.
I tend to think of planting by making a parallel between plants and people. When we plant in the spring, the weather is cool, but we're heading into the hot summer. I don't know about you, but trying to get by in the heat and humidity of the summer can be a chore for me! For our plants, it's also hard on them too as they are adjusting to their new space, growing roots, developing leaf and potentially flower growth - it's a lot of work while extreme weather conditions are bearing down upon you! Like us, the plants can have a hard time keeping up.
When we plant in the fall, we're still enjoying cooler weather, and we're heading into the winter where it will be getting even colder. These colder winter temperatures usually lull many of our plants into a nice winter dormancy where they are not actively growing. Many of them focus on their root growth, leaving them better prepared for the new year to come. For this reason (in addition to it feeling way more comfortable for us as humans to work the grounds), we here at Kalmia prioritize a fall planting more than spring. We'll do both, but given the option, fall is generally our favored time. Exceptions of course exist, since you don't want to put your zinnias and cucumbers out in November to be killed by the frost, but for things like perennials, trees, shrubs, and cool season annuals and veggies, fall is a great time to plant!

Dan’s Interesting Plant
Our founder, Miss May, incorporated many wonderful plants into the landscape here at Kalmia Gardens. While Camellias may come to mind first as one of her favored plants, she was also quite fond of Tea Olives, which she planted throughout the grounds. This time of year, they're hard to miss.
Tea Olives, or Osmanthus fragans, are evergreen trees or shrubs native to Asia. Their claim to fame is their tiny but intensely fragrant flowers. This is one of those plants that you will likely smell before you realize where it's coming from. Their sweet scent is wonderful at perfuming the air and elevating your garden visiting experience.
This plant has also become popular as a foundation planting near homes. While it seems like this would be a great idea, as you can enjoy this spectacular fragrance near your entryway or windows, it is important to remember that these can grow to be the size of trees, and could cause potential damage to your home down the line. That doesn't mean you shouldn't grow this plant, but if you do, be mindful of how large it grows, and give it plenty of space to have its full spread.

Beautiful Plants of Kalmia Gardens
Alder, Tag (Alnus serrulata)
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
Camellia, Japanese (Camellia japonica)
Camellia, Sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum cvs.)
Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
Hearts-a-Bustin' (Euonymus americanus)
Hollies (Ilex spp.)
Lantana (Lantana camara cvs.)
Maples (Acer spp.)
Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
Pomegranta (Punicum granatum)
Sage, Mexican Bush (Salvia leucantha)
Sage, Pineapple (Salvia elegans)
Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)
Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans)
Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)

EVENTS:
Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series
Reflections on a Career in Horticulture and a Vision for the Future of the South Carolina Botanical Garden
Nov. 19, Noon - 1 p.m.
Christmas Open House
Dec. 7, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Oyster Roast Fundraiser
Mar. 21, 2026, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Tickets and sponsorships available now!

Find Us On Facebook and Instagram
If you are on Facebook or Instagram, make sure you “like” Kalmia Gardens on Facebook and "follow" Kalmia Gardens on Instagram. It’s a great way to hear about events, stay updated on what’s happening, and view some nice pictures. We look forward to seeing your “thumbs up.”

Supporting Kalmia Gardens
Kalmia Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public garden that is kept free and open to the public thanks to generous contributions from our donors. If you would like to support Kalmia Gardens in any amount, please consider making a tax deductible donation HERE.