South Carolina Historic Landscape Initiative
The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc.
First Annual Workshop
With the genteel Southern setting of the Boylston Gardens welcoming us to the
Lace House on the grounds of The Governors’ Mansion Complex, the first annual workshop for SCHLI took place on Friday, April 4, 2008.
Seventy one participants had registered for this workshop with attendees from all seven districts. There were individuals affiliated with other agencies attending and those who felt this to be an interesting effort and just wanted to be involved.
Our day began with registration, goodies and coffee. The later to jolt our bodies and alert our minds to the volumes of information to come. Marsha Alexander, GCSC President graciously welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming.
Andrew Kohr, ASLA of Robert and Co. in Atlanta 
began our instruction by going over the informational binders that were distributed during registration. These binders held the Initial List of Gardens for documentation divided into Districts. A list of District Liaisons was also included. A sample survey form, survey hints and additional information was also included in the binder. Reviewing all of this and explaining the process was quite enjoyable as we witnessed Andrew’s enthusiasm and commitment to this undertaking.
Cari Goethcheus, ASLA, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, Clemson Univ
ersity, and HALS (Historic American Landscapes Survey) Statewide Liaison for S.C. told us about the natural progression of documentation of strictly buildings to the current phase of documenting landscapes. She discussed the fragile nature of landscapes and their vulnerability relating to forces of nature and of man. The changes are inevitable making our task of documentation important for future generations.
Former Historic Charleston Foundation employee and coordinator of Loutrel Briggs documentation efforts, Susan Epstein, shared her power point presentation of garden styles long ago and then compared them with present day gardens. Seeing the changes gave us all the more reason to want to preserve these special places on paper. As we visit these special gardens and work among the beauty and solitude they offer, Susan challenged us to be thorough, but work as if the bulldozer were coming tomorrow…for in many cases it is!
Jim Cothran, FASLA, Landscape Architect of Robert and Company, Atlanta and co-founder of the Georgia Historic Landscape Initiative Documenting Loutrel Briggs in Charleston, shared slides of lovely landscapes and designs. He described the grassroots effort of volunteers in Georgia and how important garden club members are to this project. He described gardens that no longer exist and how everyday these garden treasures are lost. New owners of historic properties are sometimes uninformed about the significance gardens play in the history of an area. Jim encouraged us to use Carolina Gardens by E.T. H. Shaffer as reference for South Carolina gardens. This book was published in 1937 and offers a wealth of information.
It was a pleasure to hear about the Rosemont Preservation Society of Laurens, S.C. An informative brochure was given out with information concern this restoration effort to save and restore these historic gardens belonging to Ann Pamela Cunningham, who saved Mount Vernon. Among others, this effort is lead by members of GCSC. Three of the members of this outstanding restoration project were able to attend the workshop, Doris Taylor, Faye Edge and Alvina Meeks.
Our instruction and study time was divided by a lovely lunch with time to enjoy the warmth of the sun…that finally appeared and beckoned us to meander among the fabulous plantings of historic boxwood, magn
olia, camellias, and azaleas. The day ended with a special visit to our Memorial Garden led by Andrew Kohr. The restoration that is taking place there is remarkable! A fine example of a garden worthy of documentation for this project…and one that is certainly on the list.
I hope you will be encouraged to join our efforts to identify, document and preserve gardens within our state. This is neither a one day nor a one year effort. Documentation of these gardens will take time and require committed individuals to make it a success. If you are interested, please contact your District Liaison listed below.
We had a great time at the workshop and offer a special thank you to all the garden club members who made a special effort to come!
Please call or email me if you have questions.
betsysteele@truvista.net 803-789-5451
FOR SURVEY FORM CLICK HERE
District Liasons
Coastal
Julie LeChette
843-774-4249
JULSALES@aol.com
Linda Dutton
843-774-6355
treeandbook@bellsouth.net
East Lowcountry
Charlene Scott
843-889-6966
scottcharlene@comcast.net
West Lowcountry
Pat Copley
803-649-2572
gcopley@bellsouth.net
East Piedmont
Jim and Helen Goforth
864-489-1459
3gofor@bellsouth.net
West Piedmont
Pat Abercrombie
864-227-2362
pata@nctv.com
East Sandhills
Nancy MacDonald
843-669-8837
dpm1@bellsouth.net
West Sandhills
Pat Setzer
803-419-0624
pmset@bellsouth.net
South Carolina Historic
Landscape Initiative
Workshop
March 13, 2009
Camden, South Carolina
Save our historic gardens!
Interested in helping document our garden treasures? Come to Camden, learn or hone your skills in documenting a treasured garden rarely open to the public, Holly HEDGE. Spend time working with experts and novices, and help us to document this beautiful, historic garden. Register with your garden club and other gardening friends to join us on this remarkable occasion!
Download the form and mail it, with your check, before March 5, 2009.
Date March 13, 2009
Meeting Location Historic Robert Mills Courthouse
Documentation Site Holly Hedge
Meeting Time 9:30 A.M.-10:00 A.M.
Workshop 10:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.
Mail Registration Form & Check to:
Pat Troutman, GCSC Treasurer
1904 Tara Trail
Lancaster, SC 29720
Make check payable to: GCSC, Inc.
Questions? Judith Dill
jjdwriter@aol.com
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MARCH 5, 2009
FOR REGISTRATION_CLICK HERE
