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Wednesday, October 13th
1 — 2 p.m.
Native plants in the formal landscape: the Transformation of Gardens at the Robert Mills House
Historic Columbia Members - $20 Per Course
Non-Members - $30 Per Course
Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens : 1615 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Traditionally, US native plants and formal landscapes simply did not work well together, often forcing gardeners to choose one or the other. A vast amount of selection and breeding of native species in the last decade, however, presents new and exciting opportunities for all types of managed landscapes.
This class, led by Historic Columbia Director of Grounds Keith Mearns, is in cooperation with the Lourie Center. The "Lourie Lectures" continue to provide engaging educational presentations and discourse for adults over 50. Taught by academics and content experts, topics explore the arts and humanities, science, culture and more.
Keith Mearns is a horticulturist who researches, designs, and installs period-appropriate gardens. He earned a degree in anthropology with a minor in environmental studies from the University of South Carolina. Before joining Historic Columbia, he worked at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden and assisted with digital collections at USC’s herbarium. In 2021 Keith was named the winner of the American Horticultural Society’s 2021 Emerging Horticultural Professional Award.