Banksia gardeners reach out 3/7/2009 4:05 AM By SUZANNE R. STONE Staff writer
A group of local horticulture enthusiasts has banded together to help Banksia's garden grow.
The Gardeners for Banksia group takes care of the landscaping of the historic Winter Colony home Banksia on Newberry Street, which now houses the Aiken County Historical Museum.
The group's current project is the installation of the Savannah River Cancer Foundation Memorial Garden on the grounds, according to member Jacque Rees.
"Lil Dickey, Pam Glokowski and I are designing and planting this garden," Rees said. "We have about 37 members, and we're getting volunteers from the community - we're talking to the garden clubs, and the Girl Scouts are going to be helping. They'll be making us stained glass stepping stones in the colors of cancer awareness ribbons."
The ground has been tilled for the memorial garden, and a few plants have already gone in - magnolia trees, a hibiscus, a vilex plant and bulbs are already planted.
Still to come are dwarf crepe myrtles, knockout roses, and several types of flowering vines set along the walls.
Phase two of the project will be a shade garden with azaleas, camellias and hydrangeas, according to Rees.
"For the Memorial Garden, people can purchase a plant in honor of or in memory of a loved one," she said. "This is a joint project with us and the Healing Garden at the Child Advocacy Center. We're hoping to put on a four-week workshop to provide the home gardener with design tips, planting tips and soil preparation tips. They'll walk away with a landscape design for their own site, a list of plants and information on how to take care of those plants."
The workshop, which will raise funds for the Memorial Garden, is scheduled for March 23 to April 13. Registration is $80.
For more information about the workshop, call the Aiken County Historical Museum at 642-2015.
For more information about the Gardeners for Banksia, to volunteer or to make a donation to the Savannah River Cancer Foundation Memorial Garden, e-mail Rees at jacque-rees@bellsouth.net.
Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.
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