THE ZOO'S GARDENS

Flower Border


Swinging in a jungle

The garden is divided into two main areas, a 12 acre walled garden and a rose garden. The rose garden is at the end of the walled garden. South Carolina was once very important in rose growing. Riverbanks tries to find old, forgotten types of roses and plant them in the rose garden.One type of rose came from the grave of a lady's pet chicken! At the end of the rose garden there are three swings. I love to sit in the shade while swinging on them. It feels like you are in a jungle because plants have overgrown the arbor.

A tulip

Riverbanks has greenhouses where they grow plants. They also buy plants from all over the world. Riverbanks also receives cuttings from other gardens. They do no work with genetics or cross breeding. Gardeners are trying out different species of plants to see which ones grow best in South Carolina.
Star Magnolia

The gardens though are not a home to many species of animals. A few birds nest there and humming birds are seen occasionally. Bushes are planted that attract butterflies. The birds like the berries. Insects are common especially mosquitoes. Riverbanks uses no pesticides except when they have spent a lot of money on some plants and something threatens to wipe them out.

Pansies

A new color scheme is put in every season in the changeable part of the gardens. Once Riverbanks copied a print from modern art using flowers. Every few years the part of the garden around the fountains is ripped out and replanted with different plants. There is a long-term plan and most of the short-term stuff is also done by plan.
The fountains are fed with water from the Saluda River, which is next to the gardens.

Approximately 300,000 people visit the gardens each year. The initial investment was $6,000,000.00. I think it has paid off quite well.

Here are some gardening sites for kids

A special thanks to my Mom who helped me learn html, my Dad who took the wonderful photos and Mr. Ted Williams of the Clemson extension office in the Riverbanks garden who so kindly let me interview him. Mr.Williams works in the visitors' center and is always available to answer your questions. He is very patient with kids.