All Season Interest in Your Parks
This week, the Conservancy planted assorted bulbs, hoop house-grown dianthus, and sweetgrass (repurposed from our recent site work at Colonial Lake) at St. Julian Devine Community Center on the Peninsula’s Eastside. These plantings line the walkway along East Bay Street, creating a welcoming entrance to downtown Charleston as people walk, drive, or bike into the area. Come late winter into spring, the bulbs will emerge and welcome those crossing from the Ravenel Bridge or heading south on East Bay with bright swaths of color.
St. Julian Devine isn’t the only park ready for the cool season. Our horticulture team has planted thousands of cool season annuals and bulbs across Conservancy parks including Marion Square, Rose Pavilion, Tiedemann Park & Nature Center, Hazel Parker Playground, and Wragg Square, including snapdragons, blue fescue grass, ornamental kale, digitalis, poppies, and a variety of daffodils, tulips, anemones, and ranunculus.
Conservancy horticulturists carefully curate a plant palette with staggered bloom times and diverse textures to ensure year-round interest. Taller plants like tulips and digitalis provide striking backdrops, while lower-growing plants like violas and pansies add color to the forefront of displays at both Marion Square and the Rose Pavilion in Hampton Park. Blue fescue grass offers structural contrast, balancing the softness of flowers like anemones and ranunculus at St. Julian Devine and Vangie Rainsford Park.
Our hoop house is already making an impact, with vibrant “raspberry parfait” dianthus grown and nurtured by our Greenhouse Manager, Elliot Acevedo. Starting from seed helps reduce cost, ensures quality, and allows us to grow unique varieties, that are not readily available at local nurseries. This year, the Conservancy was able to grow 20,000 plants from seeds or plugs at an average cost saving of 80% per plant.
As the cooler months set in, it’s the perfect time to give your garden some extra care to ensure it thrives year-round. Here are some essential garden tips for the cooler months:
- Turn and aerate the soil to improve soil structure and prepare for spring planting.
- Prune dead foliage: Trim damaged plants to encourage healthy new growth.
- Plant cool-season annuals: Add color with pansies, violas, and snapdragons.
- Water wisely: Water as needed, avoiding overwatering in colder weather.
- Protect delicate plants: Use covers to shield plants from frost.
Where to Find Seasonal Blooms in Conservancy Parks
- Allan Park – 365 Ashley Avenue
- Hazel Parker Playground (at park entrance sign) – 70 East Bay Street
- Marion Square (along King Street) – 329 Meeting Street
- Rose Pavilion at Hampton Park – 30 Mary Murray Drive
- St. Julian Devine Community Center (along East Bay) – 1 Cooper Street
- Tiedemann Park & Nature Center – 38 Elizabeth Street
- Vangie Rainsford Park (formerly Chapel Street Fountain Park) – 52 Chapel Street
- Wragg Square – 342 Meeting Street