Almost Heaven - Edisto Memorial Gardens 3-24-11

Orangeburg, South Carolina

I had the happy circumstance of getting in my car today and spending the whole of it wandering across the whole of South Carolina. My first happy distraction was to be found in Orangeburg, about 165 miles south east of home.

There is little to compare with a fine garden at the peak of Southern spring. Dogwood, cherry, magnolia, and wisteria compete with azalea, snapdragon, and dozens of other grand harbingers of spring. Wandering about hundreds of acres on a 76-degree day with gentle breezes will drive away anyone’s funk. Spanish moss on magnificent live oaks and cypress trees reminds one of the larger world that runs smoothly without any help on our part. Great cypress trees create a solemn majesty to the gardens. A half mile of board walk makes for a most pleasing mid-day walk in the cool shade of these ancient sentinels. Out in the sun nearly 5,000 roses are to be found in formally laid out gardens. These gardens are official test gardens for newly created hybrids.

In 1926 the Edisto Memorial Gardens were created to memorialize those who were lost in a number of conflicts. Tastefully understated memorials at the entrances to the garden accomplish this task nicely. A series of finely crafted bronze sculptures are sited near a small lake and one of the war memorials. Images of these are included in the linked photo library.