Events

Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, Shuck it in the Bin

Join Becky Ryon, North Coast Office Director for the Coastal Conservation League, for her presentation in Kalmia Gardens’ new adult education series, Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, at the Joslin Education Center. Pre-registration is required and tickets may be purchased for $5 (check back for pre-registration link).

Becky will be presenting her lecture Shuck it in the Bin. She will discuss the importance of recycling oyster shells and maintaining our estuaries.

Becky Ryon is the North Coast Office Director for the Coastal Conservation League. She grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida and was fortunate to be surrounded by natural beauty. Unfortunately, like South Carolina, the diverse wildlife and habitats were constantly threatened by unrestrained development. Her childhood in Florida, young adulthood in North Carolina, and previous environmental advocacy work in Richmond with the Virginia League of Conservation Voters have instilled a limitless appreciation for the wild wonders of the Southeast and a desire to preserve them for future generations. As the North Coast Office Director for the Coastal Conservation League, Becky is working to build a more resilient South Carolina and to protect our natural resources.

The Joslin Education Center is located at 1520 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550.

Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, Using Pesticides Safely and Effectively

Join Brad Fowler, Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator for Horry and Georgetown counties for his presentation in Kalmia Gardens’ new adult education series, Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, at the Joslin Education Center. Pre-registration is required and tickets may be purchased for $5 here.

Brad will be presenting his lecture Using Pesticides Safely and Effectively. Using pesticides in the landscape can be intimidating but may be necessary depending on the severity of the problem.  The most important thing to remember when using pesticides is to be safe.  We will discuss reading labels, safety precautions, and possible pesticide alternatives so that you can be confident when addressing issues in the landscape.

Brad Fowler is the Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator for Horry and Georgetown counties. Prior to working for Clemson Extension, Brad worked as a horticulturist for Brookgreen Gardens and as the manager for a local landscape company.

The Joslin Education Center is located at 1520 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550.

Week in the Wild

Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, Garden Delicious: Using Edible Plants in Ornamental Garden Designs

Join Jimmy Brandt, Horticulture Supervisor at Moore Farms Botanical Garden, for his presentation in Kalmia Gardens’ new adult education series, Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, at the Joslin Education Center. Pre-registration is required and tickets may be purchased for $5 here.

Jimmy will be presenting his lecture Garden Delicious: Using Edible Plants in Ornamental Garden Designs. This lecture will highlight edible plants that make useful additions to your ornamental garden plant palette. Explore the appearance and ornamental attributes of both popular and less-common edible plants and how they can enhance your home garden. Alongside photographic examples, considerations and recommendations for use in a garden display design will be discussed for each plant.

Jimmy Brandt is the Horticulture Supervisor at Moore Farms Botanical Garden in Lake City, SC.  His ten-year career in the ornamental horticulture industry includes over five years in public gardens, and he has been working in the field for nearly nine years in South Carolina.  He earned a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Horticultural Technology Management from SUNY Farmingdale State College in New York after a life-long interest in ornamental gardening. Jimmy recently relocated from Myrtle Beach, SC and moved slightly west where he joined Moore Farms Botanical Garden as a Horticulturist in late 2024.

The Joslin Education Center is located at 1520 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550.

Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, Beekeeping 101: From Honeybee Biology to Starting Your Own Hive

Join Laura Del Vecchio, Senior Horticulturist and Resident Beekeeper at Moore Farms Botanical Garden, for her presentation in Kalmia Gardens’ adult education series, Cultivating Knowledge: A Lecture Series, at the Joslin Education Center. Pre-registration is required and tickets may be purchased for $5 here.

Laura will be presenting her lecture Beekeeping 101: From Honeybee Biology to Starting Your Own Hive. This introductory class, led by Laura Del Vecchio, Moore Farms Botanical Garden Senior Horticulturist and Resident Beekeeper, will provide participants with a foundational understanding of honeybee biology and the essential steps to starting a successful beehive. Whether you’re a beginner beekeeper or simply curious, you’ll enjoy this deep dive into the fascinating world of honeybees while sampling some of the award-winning honey produced at Moore Farms Botanical Garden.

Laura Del Vecchio is the Senior Horticulturist and Resident Beekeeper at Moore Farms Botanical Garden in Lake City, SC. A Certified Beekeeper and Journeyman with the SC Beekeepers Association, she recently earned a master’s degree in wildlife biology from Clemson University to become a more intentional gardener and steward of habitats. She is also a Certified ISA Arborist, a Master Gardener with Clemson Cooperative Extension, and a Prescribed Fire Manager with the SC Forestry Commission. After an international career, she chose to put down roots (literally!) in South Carolina about a decade ago, following her time teaching plant science workshops at the New York Botanical Garden. In her spare time, she fosters rescued dogs and cats, caring for no fewer than 20 animals at any given time.

The Joslin Education Center is located at 1520 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550.