South Carolina Historic Landscape Initiative
2009-2013
The South Carolina Historic Landscape Initiative has a mission: to locate and document the state’s historic garden properties. In order to achieve this goal, the Landscape Initiative reaches out to volunteers from The Garden Club of South Carolina, landscape architects and designers, horticulturalists, academics, the SC Department of Archives and History, non-profits, master gardeners and members of the community.
Beginning with the list of “Visiting Gardens” initiated by Lucy B. Pomeroy, Second President of GCSC (1934-396-36), we have mandated two qualifiers for our list of gardens to document: each garden must certify at least fifty years of age and demonstrate historic significance. This historic significance can emanate from landscape design, horticultural specimens or collections, property ownership or location of specific historic events. Accordingly, we formulated protocols and created standardized forms to achieve our goals, teaching volunteers, who easily learn the system. The South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston is the recipient of all of our completed documentation records.
We believe that our state’s gardens reflect our storied past. We believe that we must preserve our historic gardens and horticulture, in order to learn and create landscapes that thrive. We believe our progenitors understood the land and the necessities of using appropriate plant material. We believe we should follow these principles to create future properties worthy of historic preservation.
Are you interested in saving our garden heritage?
How can you participate?
Actual documentation
On-site field work
Off-site assistance
Monetary donations
Book Publication of project
Intern program
Award application
SCHLI Award
Listed in GCSC Handbook
Will you be in a Garden Party that Counts?
Contact information
Judith Dill, Chairman: jjdwriter2@gmail.com