Spring in Full Swing at Charleston’s Public Gardens
Get ready to revel in a multitude of vibrant colors and fragrances. Charleston’s public gardens are flaunting their spring foliage, offering an unparalleled outdoor experience this season. Six of the Lowcountry’s best public gardens are on full display, each with its own charm and distinct spring features.
Middleton Place
From March to April, the formal landscaped gardens of this National Historic Landmark turn extraordinarily vibrant. Over 100,000 azaleas blaze across the 65-acre property, setting the gardens alight with their vivid colors. Seated along the Ashley River, Middleton Place is eager to introduce visitors to the latest plantings and programs this spring season.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Magnolia, one of the nation’s oldest public gardens, is renowned for its stunning collection of azaleas – the star flower of the Lowcountry in springtime. A hefty investment of $125,000 has enhanced the garden considerably, with pruning and tree removal allowing for more light and promoting the full bloom of a variety of flowers. Visitors this spring should be ready for an elevated scenic experience.
Colonial Lake
A massive garden echoing the naturalistic style of New York City’s High Line was achieved in 2016 after the Charleston Parks Conservancy partnered with the city for a $5.9-million renovation. The transition from a former lawn-and-trees park to a spectacular garden spot has made Colonial Lake a must-visit location in the spring. The park comes alive with ‘Peggy Martin’ roses spiraling up palmetto palms, a sight that has become a hallmark of spring at Colonial Lake.
Hampton Park
Sprawling over 60 acres, Hampton Park offers a dreamy setting for those seeking blooming landscapes. The promenade around the pond is resplendent with flowering trees, shrubs, and perennials, offering a constantly changing spectacle as thousands of annuals are added each season. The park’s bike and pedestrian lanes trace a centuries-old horse-racing track, offering visitors a delightful historical backdrop to their blooming experiences.
Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens
Featured on the National Register of Historic Places, Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is home to a formal garden revived about three decades ago by renowned rosarian Ruth Knopf. Adorned with vintage rose varieties such as rambling climbers from the Noisette class — which was born in Charleston — the garden now incorporates swaths of native plants and a Gullah Heritage Vegetable Garden that helps interpret the past.
Cypress Gardens
One hundred years ago, a couple transformed an overgrown cypress preserve into a marvelous garden, planting thousands of blooming species including azaleas, camellias, and magnolias. Today, Cypress Gardens invites visitors to explore a botanic wonderland in the form of a blooming swamp forest, complete with rowboat rides in its enchanting black waters.
While each garden has its own unique charm, spring season in Charleston brims with an abundance of floral beauty in all corners of the Lowcountry. Regardless of which garden you choose to visit, the warmth and colors of spring in Charleston’s public gardens beckon to be experienced by all.
