Kalmia Gardens/Segars McKinnon Heritage Preserve

Kalmia Gardens, located in Darlington County, is over 30 acres of public gardens outside of Hartsville, SC, The gardens are highlighted by a 60’ bluff that leads down to Black Creek, a blackwater swamp with boardwalks and an artesian well. The trail continues into the nearly 800 acre Segars-McKinnon Heritage Preserve. Unfortunately, due to some storm and flood damage to the boardwalks it is closed at this time.

The History of the property dates back to the 1800’s with the Thomas Hart House being built around 1820 with timber cut on the property. The founder of Hartsville, Thomas Hart’s house is still on the property and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Eventually the land, now known as Laurel Land, became neglected and overgrown until it was placed in the care of Mrs. May Roper Coker in 1932. Mrs. Coker with the help of some men, a mule, and a vision created trails, dug the pond and added exotic plants. The new garden was opened to the public in 1935 and renamed Kalmia gardens for the plentiful Kalmia latifolia on the bluff. Thirty years later in 1965 ‘Miss May’ gave the gardens to Coker College in honor of her late husband. Today the college hosts school groups, festivals and garden clubs for education and enjoyment of the garden.

This will be a unique property for our visit as there is not only a mix of montane and coastal plain plants, but native plants mixing with some of the exotics. The property’s plant communities include aquatic, savannah, sand hill, old field, great forest, swamp forest, and shrub bog. A few highlights we might find are some white cedars, titi, sparkleberry, beautyberry, and some holly to name a few. Some of the exotics are tea-olives, azaleas, wisteria but the star of December should be the camellias that number over 200 plants and 100 named varieties. One highlight near the house was the state champion beech tree that was over 80’ tall but today it has lost its top and has been replaced as state champion by a 141’ tall tree in Cherokee county. The black creek area is a mini-Congaree so depending on the temperature you may still want to protect yourself from biting insects.

Meeting Location

From the East – Take I-20 west passed I-95 to exit 131. Turn left onto Hwy 401 S. Then in 0.7 miles turn Right on SC 403. After 8 miles it will merge and become Hwy 15. Less than 3 miles after the merge turn left on Hwy 151. Take Hwy 151 for 4 miles then turn right on Kellytown Rd. After a half mile as it merges into 151 alternate W carolina avenue the entrance will be directly across the road.

From the west – Take I-20 East to Bishopville exit 116. Merge onto Hwy 15 North towards Bishopville. Continue around 14 miles. Then turn Left to stay on Hwy 15. Less than 3 miles later turn left on Hwy 151. Take Hwy 151 for 4 miles then turn right on Kellytown Rd. After a half mile as it merges into 151 alternate (W carolina avenue) the entrance will be directly across the road.

GPS Coordinates: 34.3653848, -80.1174398

We will meet in the parking lot near the kiosk and the bluff overlook, not in the parking lot with the education building.