Botanical Garden Needs Help After Storm

Officials with the SC Botanical Garden are asking for the public's help after the garden was heavily damaged by a weekend storm.

The damage was so great the garden was forced to close for the first time in its history on Monday.

Though most of the garden has since reopened, there is much work to be done to repair the extensive damage.

In a message on the Garden's Facebook page, Director Patrick D. McMillan asked for the public's support.

“The South Carolina Botanical Garden has received unprecedented damage from flooding, well over $200,000.00 in infrastructure damage,” McMillan said. “This includes a devastating blow to its most significant collection and exhibit. The Natural Heritage Garden shelters more than 1000 varieties of native plants in their natural habitats. This is the heart and soul of our Garden.”

The Natural Heritage Garden Trail will be closed until spring 2014.

Heavy rain early Saturday overwhelmed the Duck Pond and spilled over the dam, according to a Clemson University release.  The mountain meadow below the dam, including the Natural Heritage Garden trail and all of the plantings, were battered by water and the Geogrid trail was lifted from the ground and washed down slope. Several small trees and bushes were washed out of the ground.

The Hunt Cabin is closed indefinitely, as there are concerns the flooding damaged its foundation.

After consulting with university Facilities and the Fire Department, the staff agreed the overflow path from the pond had to be changed. They moved several tons of boulders by hand, changing the flow of water to direct it away from the cabin to protect the foundation.

The entire route of the Natural Heritage Garden has been damaged. Several bridges were compromised or washed away along with the entire irrigation system. Most of the topsoil has been removed, along with the plantings, and some areas have many inches of sand or gravel covering key collections. The reflection pond, which was just dredged as part of an Eagle Scout project now is filled with sediment. The dam was undermined on one end and most likely will need to be removed.

The “Leaky Pond” filled to the overflow for the first time and many plantings were under water. The brick path that was just finished last week at the Children’s Garden and Butterfly Garden was badly damaged. There are many other less significant losses but the Garden sustained more damage during this weather event than any other.

McMillan said insurance will not cover the damage sustained in the storm.

“We need your help to recover,” he said. “We need support from the community to rebuild.”

He asks those willing to give to visit the garden's website at www.clemson.edu/scbg to donate.

“Every dollar donated will go directly into repairing the damage and rebuilding a place for our families and friends to enjoy, learn and experience what our wonderful state naturally is,” McMillan said.

He said garden officials and staff will update the public as the repair work progresses.

“If we all share and if everyone helps, even a small amount, we will emerge greener and better than ever,” McMillan said. 

Volunteers are being sought to help clean up the garden from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays until Friday, July 26. Volunteers will meet each morning at 9 a.m. at the Hayden Conference Center and will be assigned to work crews. Check the Botanical Garden Facebook page for updates, including whether work will be done this Saturday.