SC Botanical Garden at Clemson University

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

We had an especially nice peaceful day touring the Botanical Garden at Clemson University and then enjoying a great lunch at Clemson’s Madren Conference Center. It really reminded me of why we enjoy being able to tour the country in our RV.

We have visited the SC Botanical Garden several times. Our house in Lexington had a very shady yard. One of our successful shade plants was hosta’s. Clemson has the best collection of hosta’s we have ever seen.

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

The gardens have some other unique features like the Caboose Garden donated by the Class of 1939.

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

Another is the Guard House Bell. It hung in the No.1 barracks and was sounded during the day to announce class changes, etc. A side note - Thomas Green Clemson who donated the land and money to start Clemson directed in his will in 1888 that the University be modeled after Mississippi A&M which is now Mississippi State University. MSU is where Monique and I met and were married. The Clemson founders came to Mississippi State to visit, and I believe some of their first buildings were copied from those at MSU. Both schools were early Land Grant Colleges and started with an emphasis on agriculture and engineering. For many years they were all male military colleges where the students wore military uniforms and were regulated by a military regimen. The Guard House Bell hearkens back to those days.

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

There are many lovely aspects to the gardens. A little waterfall:

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

A bridge over a small pond:

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

Pretty lace cap hydrangeas and ferns;

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

Beautiful rhododendron in bloom:

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

After our tour, we went over the Clemson Madren Conference Center. It is a very nice complex with a hotel, restaurant and conference facilities.

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

It sits on Lake Hartwell and is adjacent to the Clemson golf course.

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

I attended several conferences there while working at BellSouth. A nice garden walkway has been added since my last visit.

From 2010-05 Clemson Botanical Garden

They serve an outstanding lunchtime buffet. We highly recommend both the Botanical Gardens and the lunch at the Madren Center.