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Kalmia Gardens - The Laurel Branch

August 10, 2026

Welcome to our e-newsletter, The Laurel Branch!

Events Abound in August!
The dog days of summer may be upon us - but we're not slowing down! We have robust offerings on tap for this month, from our monthly lecture, to our new tour, to our first virtual silent auction! Get the brief with the graphic below, or read on to find out more details about what we've got planned, recaps of how we've spent July, words of wisdom from our Grounds Supervisor, Chris Pierce, and a message from our Director, Dan Hill.

A Message from Our Director
"Expect the unexpected" is a saying we've all heard before. Here at Kalmia, we have our own take on it: "Kalmia happens". In public gardens, just like in any industry, you can make plans for how your day or week will go, but something usually comes up that you weren't expecting. Maybe it's a meeting that popped up, or a project that has a quick turnaround. While those things certainly happen here, oftentimes those unexpected moments are an irrigation break, or, like we had earlier this week, a large, healthy-looking tree snapping, narrowly missing our observation platform as it fell. Given the choice, I'd take that pop up meeting in a heartbeat.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, and our observation platform was spared. Additionally, our local arborist was able to quickly tackle this job and get us back up, open, and most important of all, safely accessible to guests. Unfortunately, expenditures like these are expensive, and for a small garden with a small budget like ours, these can be a challenge. If you would like to make a donation to Kalmia Gardens to help offset the expense of this unexpected event, a tax-deductible donation can be made in any amount.
As always, we value our community and appreciate your support.

-Dan Hill, Director

Kalmia Gardens' First Virtual Silent Auction Goes Live at the End of August!
Are you looking for a fun way to support Kalmia Gardens while also snagging some incredible items and experiences? Kalmia Gardens is excited to announce our first virtual silent auction, opening August 24th and ending September 2nd. All proceeds generated from the silent auction directly benefit Kalmia Gardens and allow us to continue our mission to serve as a free public garden, education center, and outdoor classroom where plants and animals can be observed in their natural environment, all while helping to preserve species diversity.
Interested in supporting Kalmia Gardens by donating an item or experience to the auction? Please contact us so we can determine the best way for you to contribute!
Can't wait until the auction? Check out our auction page to see what we have so far, and check back often to see what we've added!

A Couple of Fun-Filled Weeks in the Wild
We spent the start of July in the wilds of Kalmia Gardens with our rising first through rising sixth grade campers! Campers developed an increased appreciation of nature during their morning hikes through the natural areas and gardens, got creative making crafts, played outside, met special guests (both the human and animal kind!), and made new friends. We had a blast and know our campers did too. We can't wait to do it all over again in 2027!

Knowledge Grows at Kalmia Gardens
This summer, Kalmia Gardens was fortunate to have two interns join the team. Emily and Kelly joined Kalmia staff to learn the ins and outs of working at a public garden in horticulture. They spent time doing hands-on work caring for the gardens and grounds, learning horticulture skills, such as plant identification, weed management, garden design, and more, as well as meeting professionals in the field from other South Carolina public gardens.
Emily and Kelly were given a project at the start of their internships to take an overgrown area of bed space near our greenhouse and to redesign it. They spent time identifying what plants were to remain, removing the weeds from the area, creating a design, and then installing their new planting.
It has been our pleasure to work with Emily and Kelly throughout the summer and we are excited to see where their paths will take them!

Expand YOUR Knowledge with Kalmia Gardens' New Introduction to Horticulture Class
Join Assistant Director, Lucy Contreras, for a weekly beginner-friendly horticulture basics class where you will learn the foundations - from soil to design, pruning to entomology, and plenty in between!
Classes start on September 1 and end on November 3, meeting every Tuesday at the Joslin Education Center from 5:15 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Classes will primarily be in the classroom, but will include two outdoor practicals. Registration is limited and pre-registration of $150 is required.
Sorry, no refunds on customer-initiated cancellations or non-attendance.

Hart House Tours Start in August!
We are excited to announce that Kalmia Gardens will be hosting free tours of the historic Hart House, led by volunteer docents. Tours will typically be on the second Thursday of the month, starting at 10am sharp and meeting at the front door of the Hart House. Our first tour will be Thursday, August 13th.
House tours are free, open to the public and are for all ages, but children must be accompanied by an adult. There is no pre-registration for tours, and availability is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please check our event page to find upcoming tours.
Interested in a private tour of the Hart House or the grounds? Private tours can be booked by contacting us. Tours are priced at $75 for groups of 6 people or less, and $10 per person for 7 people or more.

Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series Returns
Cultivating Knowledge is back on August 19th with Kaela Moon, Manager of Plant Records and Conservation at Brookgreen Gardens, presenting her lecture, Invasive Species: Rebalancing Your Backyard Ecosystem. Oftentimes we have plants from other parts of the world that do too well in our gardens. When those plants start creeping into native habitats, it can become a devastating ecological problem – but one we can work to fix. Come learn how to distinguish the difference between our native and invasive flora, and what to do next! 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.

Interested in learning more? Save the dates for our upcoming 2026 lectures, and purchase tickets while they are still available!

August 19, 2026, Noon - 1 p.m.
Invasive Species: Rebalancing Your Backyard Ecosystem
Kaela Moon, Manager of Plant Records and Conservation at Brookgreen Gardens
September 16, 2026, Noon - 1 p.m.
How You Can Improve the World - Starting in Your Own Backyard
Mary Ridgeway, Director Emeritus of Kalmia Gardens
October 21, 2026, Noon - 1 p.m.
Thomas Hart, The Land, Money, and the Legacy
Brian Gandy, Historian and Director of Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum
Sorry, no refunds on customer-initiated cancellations or no-shows for all lectures.

Chris's Tip
You know, I notice a lot of my tips tend to do with water. We've talked about watering only when needed, the right time to water your garden, how to prepare your spigots outside your house for winter - heck, I've even talked about the importance of keeping us as people hydrated! With how important water is, I guess it's no surprise. While you may think we've covered just about all there is when it comes to that liquid gold, I've got yet another tip up my sleeve for you - rain barrels.
With drought persisting throughout the state, it can feel difficult to know how we can help. While of course small, but meaningful steps, like turning off the faucet when we brush our teeth can make an impact, it may feel somewhat hopeless when it comes to our gardens. Are we supposed to let all of our plants sizzle away to save water? Not with rain barrels to the rescue!
Using rain barrels to harvest rain water is a great way to take advantage of stormwater runoff, especially as it comes from the roof of your home or shed. If your house has gutters and downspouts or even rain chains, you can divert that water into a rain barrel that you can use for your home landscape. Now, keep in mind, this water is not intended to be used as drinking water, but it can be a great way to fill up watering cans to water your garden beds, or to even fill up your birdbath. Rain barrels can sometimes be purchased through your local Extension and come with some great information about the best ways to use them, or at many home improvement retailers. There is a lot of great information you can learn about rainwater harvesting from our friends at Clemson Extension - it's definitely worth a read!
As the summer continues on, stay cool, stay hydrated, and consider some water recycling techniques to keep your garden growing strong!

Beautiful Plants of Kalmia Gardens
Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Crape Myrtle (Lagestroemia cvs.)
Daylily (Hemerocallis cvs.)
Elephant's Foot (Elephantopus sp.)
Honeysuckle, Coral (Lonicera sempervirens)
Lantana (Lantana cvs.)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
St. Andrew's Cross (Hypericum hypericoides)
Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
Waterlily (Nymphaea odorata)
Yucca, Mounded-Lily (Yucca gloriosa)

EVENTS:
Aug. 19, 2026, Noon - 1 p.m.
Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series:
Invasive Species: Rebalancing Your Backyard Ecosystem
Aug. 24 - Sep. 2
Virtual Silent Auction Fundraiser
Tuesdays Sep. 1 - Nov. 3 2026, 5:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Introduction to Horticulture Class
Sep. 16, 2026, Noon - 1 p.m.
Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series:
How You Can Improve the World - Starting in Your Own Backyard
Oct. 21, 2026, Noon - 1 p.m.
Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series:
Thomas Hart, The Land, Money, and the Legacy

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.