Charleston Horticultural Society Seeks to Protect and Preserve the Nature of the Lowcountry - Coastal Carolina Foundation of South Carolina
July 11, 2024
Environmental preservation and coastal resilience are critical to maintaining the success and vibrancy of South Carolina’s coastal region, particularly in the Lowcountry. This unique ecological landscape is a tapestry of salt and freshwater marshes, coastal waterways, forests, and wetlands.
One organization working to preserve and protect these critical ecosystems is the Charleston Horticultural Society. Established in 1999 as a fiscal sponsorship of the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina (CCF), the Charleston Horticultural Society (CHS) seeks to preserve and enhance the unique ecological heritage of Charleston and the surrounding areas. With a deep commitment to the well-being of the environment locally and beyond, CHS provides educational programming that supports efforts to create beautiful green spaces, inspiring others to embrace sustainable practices and work towards a harmonious coexistence with nature.
CHS became an independent organization in November of 2001 when they were granted their 501(c)(3) status.
Madeleine McGee, Charleston Horticultural Society Board Chair, recognizes the growth and evolution that CHS has experienced over the years.
“The role of the Horticultural Society is very different today from what it was 25 years ago when my parents and their friends founded the organization, and what it was in 1840 when the original Charleston Horticultural Society was founded. In many ways, horticulture before was about collecting and propagating a species. What interests me as I step in to follow in my parents’ footsteps is that horticulture is now about so much more.”
McGee says she draws inspiration from Douglas Tallamy, an American entomologist, ecologist and conservationist: “In the past, we have asked one thing of our gardens: that they be pretty. Now they have to support life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators and manage water.”
McGee understands the importance of horticultural societies when it comes to crafting a sustainable environment.
“I’m loving that I can come in and build upon what my mother did in creating gardens of beauty and places of solace that comforted your soul, but add to it that layer of education and understanding as to the role it plays in a sustainable environment.”
This shift from focusing solely on beauty to considering the larger environmental impacts of our gardens is core to the work of the Charleston Horticultural Society. McGee shared a story of a private garden she and the rest of the Horticultural Society toured on James Island, an area which floods frequently. That garden is fitted with marsh grass along the perimeter, making it designed to be flooded.
“We left there going, that’s what we have to do in the future. This is the beauty we have to learn to appreciate, because this is the beauty that is sustainable,” McGee shared.
She believes if all people in Charleston took this new, innovative approach to gardening, not only would we save money in replanting, but we’d also see improvements in water retention in the right ways.
McGee also values and understands the connection between the Horticultural Society and CCF. Having served as the Foundation’s President from 1997 to 2007, McGee is acutely aware of the core values of CCF and sees great alignment between those and the core values of the Charleston Horticultural Society.
“Being in sync with nature because it’s good for the heart and the soul and our planet. That holistic view of people, heart, soul, planet, is all part of how the Foundation does its work. Realizing that green spaces are the foundations for resiliency and sustainability. Realizing how we treat the land today will impact future generations. And that every one of us has the power to make a difference.”
McGee shared that the support CCF has provided to the Horticultural Society has been critical. To support further growth, CHS established an endowment with CCF in March of 2023 providing a permanent source of funding for their efforts.
“There comes a time when you really need to invest in yourself and you say, if we got this position, or bought this building, we can move to the next level and do ten times more work, and that’s when you need that endowment,” McGee explained.
In the future, McGee hopes to see the Horticultural Society grow in their education efforts and continue their mission of advocating for “growing greener together” in private and public spaces. They plan to focus on building collaborative partnerships with professionals in the field and local governments to strengthen the ecosystem for resilient horticultural work.
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