A new year always brings new opportunities for education and growth. My social feeds right now are full of invitations to learn how to watercolor or knit, eat better or exercise more, or touting the lure of gardens or learning about the environment. The latter is where we come in. The South Carolina Botanical Garden (SCBG) on the Clemson campus offers numerous educational experiences for all ages. To receive a 10% discount on all programs, become a Friend of the Garden.
One of our flagship programs is the South Carolina Native Plant Certificate, a partnership between the SCBG and the SC Native Plant Society. If you want to learn more about South Carolina’s native plants, habitats and ecology this certificate might be for you! You don’t have to pursue the certificate to take part in the classes but if you want to there is no time limit on completion. The program’s core classes cover everything from basic botany, horticulture and sustainable landscaping to natural plant communities and more. Electives might focus on a specific landscape or theme, but all are valuable in learning about this beautiful state we call home. For more details visit the certificate website or contact Sue Watts at watts9@clemson.edu. In a similar vein, but not part of the certificate program, Sue Watts will be offering two springtime talks: The Ecology of Spring Wildflowers (March) and an Introduction to Native Bees (April). Both introductory classes will be a mix of classroom time and Garden exploration and observation. Lastly, there is a new opportunity to embrace and nurture your artistic side. Educator, Allison Jones, will offer an adult class on nature journaling which is guaranteed to be a fun and relaxing way to engage with nature and learn more about the natural world.

Nature Journaling for adults and families.
Allison Jones, ©2024 SC Botanical Garden, Clemson University
Our programs for children and families are extensive. For the younger set we have Tot Tales and Trails and Garden Sprouts both focus on the under-fives. Homeschool days, Junior Naturalists and CircleUp! STEM all welcome school-age children. Allison Jones is offering a fun monthly nature journaling class for families, a program on chocolate and one on bathtub botany. Everyone can learn more about birds and explore areas of the Garden that are less well-travelled in the monthly programs Winged Wednesdays and Friday Garden Forays with James Wilkins. Please visit our Nature Center and Hunt Cabin Open Houses which are held once a month on Saturday afternoons.
For more details on all our programs, and to see any that may be added in the future, please visit our general registration webpage.