Adult Programs

Carmen Ketron, Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator for Darlington and Florence counties at Clemson Extension, will be presenting her lecture Converting Your Lawn to Garden. She will share a comprehensive presentation that teaches proven techniques for converting grass areas into beautiful, productive garden beds. Discover site assessment, grass removal methods, soil preparation, plant selection, and maintenance strategies. Leave with the knowledge to create an eco-friendly space that uses less water and chemicals than traditional lawns.

Pre-registration and $5 tickets are required and can be purchased HERE.

Dr. George Sawyer, Director Emeritus of Kalmia Gardens, will be presenting his lecture Early History of Kalmia Gardens. He will be discussing the early history of the development of Kalmia Gardens by May Roper Coker and her gift to Coker College. This will be followed by Dr. Sawyer’s personal involvement with transitioning the garden from a private estate garden to a public garden and its role in the tourism industry in Hartsville, S.C., while maintaining its role as an outdoor classroom/laboratory of the college.

Pre-registration and $5 tickets are required and can be purchased HERE.

Geraldine Cuypers, Water Resources Agent for Florence County Cooperative Extension, will be presenting her lecture Managing Stormwater Runoff in the Home Landscape. Stormwater has emerged as a leading threat to water quality as our environments become more urbanized and can result in erosion, poor drainage, and flooding. Join Geraldine Cuypers as she discusses how to manage stormwater runoff at your home and how you can reduce the impact you have on stormwater runoff. Lecture attendees will learn best management practices to address erosion, poor drainage, and flooding with the use of rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, and the use of native plants.

Pre-registration and $5 tickets are required and can be purchased HERE.

Lucy Contreras, Assistant Director of Kalmia Gardens, will be presenting her lecture A Hypochondriac’s Guide to Gardening. Gardening is a great way to get outside and enjoy the tranquility of nature – unless you’re a hypochondriac. Lucy Contreras, a self-proclaimed hypochondriac (though her doctors would surely agree) discusses the real (and perceived) dangers lurking in the garden, as well as how to stay ahead of them. In this lecture, Lucy will share her experiences as a professional horticulturist and homeowner working in the garden through humorous anecdotes and general tips to make your time out in the garden pleasant, safe, and enjoyable.

Pre-registration and $5 tickets are required and can be purchased HERE.

Kaela Miller, Plant Collections Coordinator at Brookgreen Gardens, will be 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 are required and can be purchased HERE.

Mary Ridgeway, Director Emeritus of Kalmia Gardens, will be presenting her lecture How You Can Improve the World – Starting in Your Own Backyard. There is an amazing plethora of life that can be found in an ordinary yard – if you simply provide the right plant material. Join Mary and learn how to add more life to your own yard, all while improving our natural world, one garden at a time.

Pre-registration and $5 tickets are required and can be purchased HERE.

Brian Gandy, Historian and Director of Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum, will be presenting his lecture Thomas Hart, The Land, Money, and the Legacy. This presentation will examine the move from Mechanicsville to Hartsville, his rise and fall, and the property that was connected to his Black Creek Plantation.

Pre-registration and $5 tickets are required and can be purchased HERE.