Kalmia Gardens of Coker University - The Laurel Branch

September 05, 2025

Welcome to our e-newsletter, The Laurel Branch!

Beech Tree Update
In our June newsletter, we gave an update on our American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) outside of the Hart House. We noted that this tree, estimated to be over 200 years old, is in decline, or nearing the end of its life.
At the end of July, Kalmia staff had to make the difficult decision to carefully remove one of its two main trunks. The trunk that was removed was dead and had rotted. The other trunk remains and, while it is living, it too is in decline.
With guidance from the South Carolina Botanical Garden, we are working to save seeds from this tree to develop progeny. Using a method suggested by the South Carolina Botanical Garden, we are using mesh bags to cover areas of good fruit production to capture seeds. The mesh bags still allow light and airflow, while keeping seeds contained. When the Beech fruit dries, it will expel its seeds. Without the bags, seeds could be lost on the ground or eaten by wildlife. Saving these seeds allows us an avenue to see our beloved Beech live on in the future through its progeny, or offspring.

Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series at the Joslin Education Center Continues
Thank you to all who attended our last lecture, Garden Delicious: Using Edible Plants in Ornamental Garden Designs with Jimmy Brandt, Horticulture Supervisor at Moore Farms Botanical Garden. Our next lecture on September 17th with Director Emeritus of Kalmia Gardens, Mary Ridgeway, is sold out.
Mary will be presenting her lecture Let’s Talk about the Birds and the Bees: Backyard Birding and Beyond. She will discuss backyard birds in the Hartsville, S.C. area where you can learn what birds may be present in your own yard and how you can make your yard an oasis for bird life.
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!

September 17, 2025, Noon - 1 p.m.

Let's Talk about the Birds and the Bees: Backyard Birding and Beyond
Mary Ridgeway, Director Emeritus of Kalmia Gardens

Pre-Registration required and the event is sold out
October 15, 2025, Noon - 1 p.m.
Beekeeping 101: From Honeybee Biology to Starting Your Own Hive
Laura Del Vecchio, Senior Horticulturist and Resident Beekeeper at Moore Farms Botanical Garden
Pre-Register and Purchase Tickets HERE
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
Martin Hamilton, Executive Director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University
Pre-Register and Purchase Tickets HERE

Need Some Gardening Help? Ask a Master Gardener!
Not sure when to prune your roses? Can't quite figure out what fruit tree would work best for your yard? Is your neighbor's lawn outshining yours and you can't figure out why? This and many other questions can be answered by the Clemson Extension Master Gardener Association!
Bring your plant questions to Kalmia Gardens on October 1st from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the kiosk in the main parking lot. Master Gardeners will be on hand to help answer your most vexing questions so you can be all green thumbs.
No appointment is necessary for this free service, and you can drop in any time during the 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. time window.

What Programming Do You Want to See at Kalmia Gardens?
Here at Kalmia Gardens, we're always looking for ways to best engage with our community by sharing our love of the natural world with you! As we plan for future programs, there's no better place to gain inspiration than from our Kalmia community. We ask that you please take a few moments to complete our brief survey HERE, to let us know what you would like to see in the future. While we cannot guarantee that all of these ideas will come to fruition, we are excited to learn what you would like to see and what we may be able to provide!

Leave Your Mark - Consider Purchasing a Brick for the Conifer Trail
If you're like us, Kalmia Gardens holds a special place in your heart. For some, it's where their love of nature and the outdoors blossomed, for others, it's a welcome retreat from the busy world, and for even others, it's where they started the next chapter in their lives in marriage. While Kalmia Gardens has certainly left its mark on many of us, have you ever wondered how you can leave your mark on Kalmia? Consider purchasing a brick that will be placed on our Conifer Trail.
For $150, you can customize a brick that will be a lasting piece of Kalmia Gardens and will help benefit the organization, while also offering a unique way to donate to your favorite public garden. The engraved brick can honor someone special, or simply show your love and appreciation of Kalmia Gardens. To learn more about purchasing a brick for the Conifer Trail, please call Dan Hill at 843-383-8145, or email him HERE.

Partner Opportunity: Friends of Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
If you're looking for some great outdoor opportunities, check out what our friends at the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge have coming up HERE, plus Walks with Kay!

Chris's Tip
The summer is winding down, and I don't know about you, but I am ready to greet the fall! Unfortunately, we still have a little bit more heat to get through. During these hot months, we don't do much in the way of planting. Like us, plants need to acclimate to the temperatures, and throwing them out in the heat of the summer to grow is a bit of a rough start. While we may not be planting this time of year, we are certainly keeping busy in the garden. This month's tip was inspired by a little maintenance we did earlier this month. Let's talk about timing our weeding.
Now I know, most people don't love weeding, but it's a necessary part of keeping the garden looking good. One thing we don't always think about is how our timing impacts us down the line. An area that had been a particular thorn in my side, and I don't just mean because of the Smilax, was near the Joslin Education Center. We have a large Camellia growing and over time it had become overrun with weeds and vines. While we have plenty of weeds to fight all over the Gardens, this area was particularly important to hit ASAP. Why? Because its flower buds were not yet large and vulnerable.
Since the Camellia had some pretty decent vine coverage on it, that meant we needed to pull the vines off. If the Camellia had its large, bulbous flower buds, we would have risked yanking those off as we removed the vines entwined around the plant. This meant this plant was a higher priority for attention, so we could remove the vines, reduce damage to the plant, and hopefully enjoy an even better floral show this year with the flowers on full display, and not hidden beneath vines.
If you've got some weeding or de-vining to do in your yard, consider the plant you are working on or around and how your work may impact it. If you have something like a Camellia that could lose blooms, consider timing your removal to best benefit your garden.

Dan’s Interesting Plant
As the days become shorter, there is a plant that lights up the landscape - Goldenrod (Solidago spp.). This plant is often met with misguided disdain, as it has a bad, and incorrect, reputation of causing widespread allergies. While people can be allergic to many things, Goldenrod included, this is often not the culprit of many people's runny noses and sneezes.
Solidago is a native plant in our area, and while not all native plants are considered good (I'm looking at you, Poison Ivy!), Goldenrod is a great addition to a landscape, and offers some good ecological benefits. In the late summer and early fall, Goldenrod lives up to its name, with golden flowers illuminating the landscape. Not only are these flowers attractive to us, they're also a favorite of many different types of bees and other pollinators. I love encouraging more pollinators and a healthy ecosystem, so you can get why I'm all about this plant!
Goldenrod are commonly seen growing in ditches along the road, but they can also be used in a garden setting. If you plant Goldenrod at home, you are probably better off finding a cultivar, or cultivated variety. Goldenrod can spread aggressively in the landscape and finding a cultivar that is more mannerly and contained may make for a more harmonious planting. With autumn creeping in, plant sales are around the corner and you can likely find some good options!
Before we wrap up, you may be wondering why or how people link Goldenrod with allergies when it's likely not responsible. The answer is simple, like Chris mentioned in his tip - timing is everything. Goldenrod flowers during the same time that Ragweed flowers, leading many to believe Goldenrod is the culprit. Now that you're in the know, consider adding some Goldenrod to your garden - your local bees will thank you!

Beautiful Plants of Kalmia Gardens
Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
Blue Curls (Trichostema dichotomum)
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Climbing Hempweed (Mikania scandens)
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Elephant's Foot (Elephantopus sp.)
Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Hearts-a-Bustin' (Euonymus americanus)
Lantana (Lantana cvs.)
Lilyturf, Variegated (Liriope muscari 'Variegata')
Patrtidgeberry (Mitchella repens)
Poke (Phytolacca americana)
Pyracantha (Pyracantha koidzumii)
Rabbit Tobacco (Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium)
Rose-of-Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
Smartweed (Polygonatum sp.)
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)
St. Andrews Cross (Hypericum hypericoides)
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Viburnum, Possumhaw (Viburnum nudum)
Waterlily (Nymphaea odorata)
Yucca, Mound Lily (Yucca gloriosa)

EVENTS:
Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series
SOLD OUT Let's Talk about the Birds and the Bees: Backyard Birding and Beyond
Sept. 17, Noon - 1 p.m.
Ask a Master Gardener Table
Oct. 1, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Kalmia Gardens Parking Lot Kiosk
Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series
Beekeeping 101: From Honeybee Biology to Starting Your Own Hive
Oct. 15, Noon - 1 p.m.
Ask a Master Gardener Table
Nov. 5, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Kalmia Gardens Parking Lot Kiosk
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.

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.