Events

Ask a Master Gardener

Have a question about your garden, lawn, or favorite indoor plant? Not sure where to start in creating your home vegetable garden?  Stop by the Ask a Master Gardener table at the Kiosk in the Kalmia Gardens parking lot! Clemson Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions, ranging from turf to trees, insects to irrigation, soil to sustainable practices, and everything in between.

This is a free resource and no appointment is necessary. Drop in any time between 9am and 1pm!

Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, Let’s Talk about the Birds and the Bees: Backyard Birding and Beyond

Join Mary Ridgeway, Director Emeritus of Kalmia Gardens for her presentation in Kalmia Gardens’ adult education series, Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, at the Joslin Education Center. Pre-registration is required and tickets may be purchased for $5 here.

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. Learn what birds may be present in your own yard and how you can make your yard an oasis for bird life.

Mary grew up in Darlington, S.C. and went to Clemson University. She received her degree in Plant Science, specifically Ornamental Horticulture. Mary worked most of her career in Columbia for the Department of Agriculture before moving to Hartsville to become the second Director of Kalmia Gardens.

The Gardens proved to be the perfect job since it melded her enjoyment of working with the public with her love of nature, horticulture, and history. During those 15 years as Director, updates to the Hart House, the gardens, and the education center were made to ensure the facilities are ready for the next 30 years of public enjoyment and environmental education.

Mary retired in 2022 from her position as Director. She now lives in Society Hill, S.C. the land of her paternal ancestors and the longleaf pine. Her “current occupation” is daydreaming, searching for both significance in her new life and the opportunities to make a positive difference in this world. Life offers so many transformations, but a constant calling has always been the love of nature and animals. One of her great joys is rehabbing wildlife and specifically ‘possums’ along with sharing the joy of gardening with you.

The Joslin Education Center is located at 1520 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550.

Ask a Master Gardener

Have a question about your garden, lawn, or favorite indoor plant? Not sure where to start in creating your home vegetable garden?  Stop by the Ask a Master Gardener table at the Kiosk in the Kalmia Gardens parking lot! Clemson Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions, ranging from turf to trees, insects to irrigation, soil to sustainable practices, and everything in between.

This is a free resource and no appointment is necessary. Drop in any time between 9am and 1pm!

Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, Beekeeping 101: From Honeybee Biology to Starting Your Own Hive

Join Laura Del Vecchio, Senior Horticulturist and Resident Beekeeper at Moore Farms Botanical Garden, for her presentation in Kalmia Gardens’ adult education series, Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, at the Joslin Education Center. Pre-registration is required and tickets may be purchased for $5 here.

Laura will be presenting her lecture Beekeeping 101: From Honeybee Biology to Starting Your Own Hive. This introductory class, led by Laura Del Vecchio, Moore Farms Botanical Garden Senior Horticulturist and Resident Beekeeper, will provide participants with a foundational understanding of honeybee biology and the essential steps to starting a successful beehive. Whether you’re a beginner beekeeper or simply curious, you’ll enjoy this deep dive into the fascinating world of honeybees while sampling some of the award-winning honey produced at Moore Farms Botanical Garden.

Laura Del Vecchio is the Senior Horticulturist and Resident Beekeeper at Moore Farms Botanical Garden in Lake City, SC. A Certified Beekeeper and Journeyman with the SC Beekeepers Association, she recently earned a master’s degree in wildlife biology from Clemson University to become a more intentional gardener and steward of habitats. She is also a Certified ISA Arborist, a Master Gardener with Clemson Cooperative Extension, and a Prescribed Fire Manager with the SC Forestry Commission. After an international career, she chose to put down roots (literally!) in South Carolina about a decade ago, following her time teaching plant science workshops at the New York Botanical Garden. In her spare time, she fosters rescued dogs and cats, caring for no fewer than 20 animals at any given time.

The Joslin Education Center is located at 1520 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550.

Ask a Master Gardener

Have a question about your garden, lawn, or favorite indoor plant? Not sure where to start in creating your home vegetable garden?  Stop by the Ask a Master Gardener table at the Kiosk in the Kalmia Gardens parking lot! Clemson Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions, ranging from turf to trees, insects to irrigation, soil to sustainable practices, and everything in between.

This is a free resource and no appointment is necessary. Drop in any time between 9am and 1pm!

Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, Reflections on a Career in Horticulture and a Vision for the Future of the South Carolina Botanical Garden

Join Martin Hamilton, Executive Director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University, for his presentation in Kalmia Gardens’ adult education series, Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, at the Joslin Education Center. Pre-registration is required and tickets may be purchased for $5 here. This presentation will be live-streamed virtually at the Joslin Education Center, where Martin will present digitally.

Martin will be virtually presenting his lecture Reflections on a Career in Horticulture and a Vision for the Future of the South Carolina Botanical Garden. He will discuss his career in horticulture before transitioning to his role as Executive Director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University. The presentation will highlight the vital role botanic gardens play in biodiversity conservation and how many botanical gardens act as safe havens for rare and endangered plant species by cultivating them outside their natural habitats (ex-situ conservation), which includes seed banking and safeguarding collections. The presentation will include insights into the work of SCBG including plant propagation and conservation projects and the crucial role in educating the public about the importance of biodiversity and the threats to it. The presentation will look at some of the on-going work at the garden and new projects and initiatives that are helping conserve native plants. The presentation will finish with a look at the workshops, volunteer programs, and educational events that are held at SCBG.

Martin Hamilton is a native of Kentucky and has worked and studied at institutions in the USA and abroad, including Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Kentucky, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the United Kingdom, and Oak Spring Garden Foundation in Virginia. Martin is an Honorary Research Associate at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and a Fellow of The Linnean Society of London. He is particularly interested in the conservation and management of threatened species, habitat restoration, and the development and management of plant collections. Martin is a member of the South Carolina Native Plant Society and is an avid gardener. Martin started as the Executive Director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University in August 2023.

The Joslin Education Center is located at 1520 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550.

NOTE: This presentation will be held live in the Joslin Education Center, but will be live streamed with the presenter not physically present in the room.

Darlington County Master Gardener Association Plant Sale

Are you looking for some unique plants to add to your home garden? Look no further than the Darlington County Master Gardener Association Plant Sale at the Joslin Education Center at Kalmia Gardens! Shop for annuals, perennials, edibles, shrubs and more! Not sure what will work in your garden? No problem! Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions and help you make the best planting decisions for your unique garden situation.

April 16-18, 2026
April 16-17: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
April 18: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Please note: This event is held at the Joslin Education Center
1520 W. Carolina Avenue
Hartsville, S.C. 29550

Earth Day Celebration

Come celebrate Earth Day at Kalmia Gardens! This free event is fun for the whole family and includes local vendors and exhibitors that can’t wait to meet you and share their love of the natural world. Enjoy nature hikes throughout the grounds all while appreciating the wonders of Mother Nature.

April 18, 2026
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.