Places We Visited in 2008

Team Making It Grow visits downtown Greenville, SC, the home of a Children’s Garden that was put together by Master Gardeners and volunteers in the upstate. Join us as we visit this fun, yet relaxing educational atmosphere.

Fairs in South Carolina offer South Carolinians lots of fun, fellowship, food, but there is also and educational aspect. Such is the case with the Coastal Carolina Fair located near Charleston, South Carolina. Team Making It Grow had the opportunity to visit the Costal Carolina Fair this past fall where we found a most unusual garden and some funny looking animals.

It’s not Florida, it’s South Carolina! Roland Alston and Team Making It Grow had the chance to visit with Stan McKenzie, which is now better known throughout the Palmetto State as the citrus man. Join us as we visit the largest citrus grower in South Carolina.

If you are looking for a big horticultural event to attend each year you need not look any further than Charleston, South Carolina. Team Making It Grow had the opportunity to visit the Charleston Garden Festival this fall. It’s a gardening extravaganza where you can learn about gardening, different types of gardens, plants, along with excellent seminars.

The rose is probably the most recognizable and symbolic plant that we grow in the United States. There is a major football bowl game named after it, and on Mother’s Day we honor that special parent with it, but Valentine’s Day is the day in which the rose lives in infamy. Team Making It Grow visited Ozzie, a florist in Sumter, SC, who gave us some good advice about this beautiful flower.

One of the most attractive sites to behold in the Palmetto State lies along the Reedy River in Greenville, South Carolina. Falls Park on the Reedy is the home to a relaxing garden and a most magnificent bridge. Team Making It Grow visits Falls Park on the Reedy and explores its history, beauty, and unrivaled bridge.

Team Making It Grow explores Shea Essentials, which takes a plant that is grown in Africa, and turns it into butter. Shea butter is used for washing hands and numerous other purposes. Don’t miss out on this cleansing experience.

South Carolinians enjoy food as well preparing food and recipes. Team “Making It Grow!” had the opportunity to visit an old plantation in Calhoun County, SC. There we learned about the history, as well as spending time with a retired farmer who showed us how to make artichoke relish that is good on ham, pork, and other dishes on the table.

Join “Team Making It Grow!” as we visit Charlie Brown in the Bolentown Community of South Carolina. Charlie is making old timey pie safes that seem to take you back to an earlier day. Pie safes were used to store different foods and products in, but Charlie Brown is making them where they look like a beautiful piece of furniture.

Ovis Hill Farms, located in Darlington County, outside Timmonsville, SC,  is diverse with lots of things growing around the farm.  They also have a lot of things growing organically, as well as strong educational emphasis for visiting school children.

Team “Making it Grow” had the opportunity to visit an artist who picks up yard debris, such as the fallen frans from a palm tree, and shapes and paints them for his beautiful artistic creations. Everett White shows us some of his palm fran masterpieces. 

Many South Carolinians get excited when you can take wood and make it into some interesting objects, especially boats. Team “Making It Grow!” had the opportunity to travel down to Charleston , South Carolina and meet a true artist that takes some South Carolina cedar and turns it into absolutely beautiful fishing boats.

Team “Making It Grow!” caught up with one of Roland’s former classmates at Clemson University right outside of Lamar, SC.  Al Jeffords is a retired Ag teacher from Lamar, and now he and a friend have delved into the Greenhouse business.  Al is growing tomatoes, ornamentals, and some other plants.  They are really doing a fantastic job.

The commercial horticultural industry in SC is alive and well.  All you have to do is go to Georgetown County just south of Georgetown on historic highway 17.  Team “Making It Grow!” had the opportunity to visit one of our large commercial nurseries, Parson’s Nursery.  Not only do they have healthy plants, they have a little bit of everything.

Ovis Hill Farms, located in Darlington County, outside Timmonsville, SC,  is diverse with lots of things growing around the farm.  They also have a lot of things growing organically, as well as strong educational emphasis for visiting school children.