The Old Charleston Musuem at Cannon Park

Whenever I walk through Cannon Park with my camera, I invariably stop to take another picture of the four remaining Corinthian columns that once graced the entrance to the old Charleston Museum.  Although this structure caught fire sometime in the late 1970s or early 80s, the city decided to let the columns stand. (In case anyone's wondering, the building was empty when it burned and its contents had already been moved to the "new" museum that's still located at the corner of Mary and Meeting Streets.)

I always wondered what this structure originally looked like.  Finally, thanks to an article written by Post and Courier writer, Robert Behre, on Sunday, August 26th, titled "Preservation Remains Big Business Here," I have a better idea.

It seems that a woman named Frances Benjamin Johnston traveled to Charleston during the mid-1930s to photograph "endangered Southern architecture." Ms. Johnston's pictures are now part of the Library of Congress archives, and the old museum is included in this collection.


My favorite photo is posted below. It's taken facing west from across the street on Rutledge Avenue.

 Frances Benjamin Johnston

I usually shoot from the opposite direction, or from the western edge of the park, looking east.

Historic Charleston Foundation 'Eat and Run' Lecture, March 29, 2012

The Heat Is On: Ovenproof Flora for Southern Gardens. Plants That Thrive In Hot and Humid Weather. . .Even When You Can't

Hello,

Not all of my slide show pictures are posted below, although every one of the photo numbers and their titles are included.

If you wish to see a particular plant’s complete picture ensemble, please contact me at askamg@hotmail.com. If you have a gardening question or simply want to make a remark, you’re welcome to use the "Comments” section at the bottom of this page.

Thanks for supporting the Charleston Historic Foundation.

Horticulturally yours,

PJ Gartin

Slide 1. Title (sunflower)

Slide 2. 1990 USDA Hardiness Zone Map

Slide 3. 2005 USDA Hardiness Zone Map              Both Hardiness Zone maps are available at

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Slide 4. How to add interest to hot summertime gardens? Start with trees and shrubs.

Slides 5. White loropetalum (L. chinense). USDA Hardiness Zones 7–9.

Slide 6–7. Pink fringe-flower (L. chinense var. rubrum). USDA Hardiness Zones 7–9.

Dr. Michael Dirr suggests that 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia' might be the hardiest—perhaps as far north as Cincinnati (6a-6b). 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia' is usually rated 7–9.

            "Changed the market for purpleleaf shrubs in Zones 7 to 9." (Dirr) Has replaced purple-leaved barberries. Comes in all sizes from 1 to 2' up to 25'.

Slide 8. Purple-leaved barberry (Berberis spp.) particularly Japanese barberry (B. thunbergii) has become invasive is some areas. USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8.

Slides 9–11. Nandina or heavenly bamboo (N. domestica) USDA Hardiness Zones 6–9.

Slide 12. Abelia x grandiflora USDA Hardiness Zones 6–9.

Grandiflora is perhaps the most popular abelia. It is cold hardy in Chicago (6a).

Slide 13. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) (Picture used with permission. © F. Brian Smith, 2004). USDA Hardiness Zones 7–11.

Slide 14. According to Dr. Michael Dirr, C. dichotoma or Korean beautyberry might be the most cold hardy (Picture used with permission. © F. Brian Smith, 2004). USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9a.

Also, "treat as [a] cut-back shrub to stimulate vigorous shoot growth." Dirr

Slides 15–16 Mahonia japonica ‘Bealei’. USDA Hardiness Zones 5–8.

Slides 17–18 Viburnum tinus. USDA Hardiness Zones 6–12. Two varieties: ‘Compactum, which grows 4–6 ft. tall and ‘Robustum’, which grows to 6–12 feet tall. It is difficult to tell them apart. Based on its height, the one in the photo below is probably ‘Robustum’.

Slides 19–20. Doublefile viburnum (V. plicatum tomentosum). USDA Hardiness Zones 5–8.

Slide 21. Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) USDA Hardiness Zones (6)7–9.

Flowering shrub or small tree

Slide 22. Crape myrtle ‘Natchez’

All crape myrtles bloom on new growth from about June into September. However, the white 'Natchez' (to 35 ft. tall) sometimes flowers in Charleston as early as late May or early June.

The Early Bird(™) series (5–8 ft. tall) might blossom as early as mid-May, depending on location. Early Bird comes in white, lavender, and purple. (Zones 7–10) Available from southernlivingplants.com.

Slides 23–24. Crape myrtle

Interesting bark

Interesting shape

Crape myrtle can survive winter in parts of St. Louis, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Long Island.

Slide 25. Crape “murder"

Slide 26. Correctly grown crape myrtle

Slides 27–29. Pomegranate (Punica granatum). USDA Hardiness Zones 7–11. Double flowered pomegranates produce less fruit than single varieties (pictured).

Perhaps hardy to Washington, DC (7a). Growers usually rate it between Zones 7–11.

Use as a container plant in cooler areas and haul it indoors during winter. Drought tolerant. Full sun, well-drained soil.

The standard variety grows to about 10 ft. tall. The dwarf variety, called ‘Nana, is only 3 ft. tall.

Slides 30–32. Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) USDA Hardiness Zones 5–11.

50–90 ft. tall; 15–25 wide. Fast grower. Full sun. To read my article about dawn redwood, go to 

http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/carolinas/articles/dawn_redwood/

            Too cold for dawn redwood? Grow its cousin, Larix spp. (L. occidentalis or Western larch grows to 150 ft. tall and 30 ft. wide.)

Slide 33. Dawn redwood ‘Ogdon’ is bright lime green.

Slide 34. Accessories: Annuals and perennials

Slides 35–37. Gaillardia (Gaillardia spp.) Sometimes called blanket flower. USDA Hardiness Zones 2–5. 

Slides 38–41. Garden phlox (P. paniculata). USDA Hardiness Zones 2-8.

Summer-blooming tall phlox needs moist, well-drained soil. Full sun to part shade.

Three native species: P. caroliniana, P. maculata, and P. paniculata

Slide 42. "House"Plants. Indoor Flora For Outdoor Southern Gardens.

Slides 43–46. Creeping fig (Ficus pumila). USDA Hardiness Zones 8–11. 

Slides 47–48. Asparagus fern (A. densiflorus). USDA Hardiness Zones 8–12 (est.) From South Africa. Not a fern, but a member of the lily family. Invasive is some parts of the US. 

Slides 49–52. ‘Grand Duke of Tuscany’ jasmine (Jasminum sambac). USDA Hardiness Zone 10.  To read my story on 'Grand Duke of Tuscany', go to http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/newsletters/stories/grand_duke_of_tuscany/

Slides 53–59. Musical note plant (Clerodendrum incisum). USDA Hardiness Zone 10. Treat as an annual or grow it in a container and haul it indoors during cooler months.

Slide 60. Gartin on Gardening

http://Pgartin.blogspot.com

askamg@hotmail.com

City Garden Club

MY FAVORITE PLANTS

By PJ Gartin

Slide List Note: To see numbered pictures with captions, go to https://picasaweb.google.com/113986865352391439206/MyFavoritePlants

1	Title page	My Favorite Plants
2	Dawn redwood	Metasequoia glyptostroboides. Read my "Carolina Gardener" story about dawn redwood  at http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/carolinas/articles/dawn_redwood/
3	Dawn redwood	M. glyptostroboides
4	Ginkgo	Ginkgo biloba
5	Ginkgo	G. biloba
6	Dawn redwood	M. glyptostroboides
7	Ginkgo	G. biloba
8	Bald cypress	Taxodium distichum
9	Arizona Cypress	Cupressus arizonica 'Carolina Sapphire'   This link offers excellent information about this stunning tree: http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/urbantrees/arizonacypress.html
10	Arizona Cypress	C. arizonica 'Carolina Sapphire'
11	Cherokee rose	Rosa laevigata
12	Cherokee rose	R. laevigata
13	Cherokee rose	R. laevigata
14	Musical note plant	Clerodendrum incisum
15	Musical note plant	C. incisum
16	Musical note plant	C. incisum
17	Musical note plant	C. incisum
18	Musical note plant	C. incisum
19	Musical note plant	C. incisum
20	Musical note plant	C. incisum
21	Stiff bottlebrush	Callistemon rigidus
22	Stiff bottlebrush	C. rigidus
23	Stiff bottlebrush	C. rigidus
24	Stiff bottlebrush	C. rigidus
25	Lemon bottlebrush ‘Little John’	Callistemon citrinus ‘Little John’
26	Cardboard palm	Zamia furfuracea
27	Cardboard palm	Z. furfuracea
28	Cardboard palm	Z. furfuracea
29	Cardboard palm	Z. furfuracea
30	Leather leaf mahonia	M. bealei
31	Leather leaf mahonia	M. bealei
32	Leather leaf mahonia	M. bealei
33	Shrimp plant	Justica brandegeana
34	Shrimp plant	J. brandegeana
35	Shrimp plant	J. brandegeana

Suggested Web Sites and References

Clemson’s Home and Garden Information Center

http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/

North Carolina State’s “Horticulture on the Internet”

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/hortinternet/

The Gardeners’ Guide for Charleston and the Lowcountry. The Garden Club of Charleston.

Garden Guide to the Lower South. Trustees’ Garden Club, Savannah, Georgia.

http://Pgartin.blogspot.com • askamg@hotmail.com

 

1

Title page

My Favorite Plants

2

Dawn redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides. Read my "Carolina Gardener" story about dawn redwood  at http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/carolinas/articles/dawn_redwood/

3

Dawn redwood

M. glyptostroboides

4

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba

5

Ginkgo

G. biloba

6

Dawn redwood

M. glyptostroboides

7

Ginkgo

G. biloba

8

Bald cypress

Taxodium distichum

9

Arizona Cypress

Cupressus arizonica 'Carolina Sapphire'  
This link offers excellent information about this stunning tree: http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/urbantrees/arizonacypress.html

10

Arizona Cypress

C. arizonica 'Carolina Sapphire'

11

Cherokee rose

Rosa laevigata

12

Cherokee rose

R. laevigata

13

Cherokee rose

R. laevigata

14

Musical note plant

Clerodendrum incisum

15

Musical note plant

C. incisum

16

Musical note plant

C. incisum

17

Musical note plant

C. incisum

18

Musical note plant

C. incisum

19

Musical note plant

C. incisum

20

Musical note plant

C. incisum

21

Stiff bottlebrush

Callistemon rigidus

22

Stiff bottlebrush

C. rigidus

23

Stiff bottlebrush

C. rigidus

24

Stiff bottlebrush

C. rigidus

25

Lemon bottlebrush ‘Little John’

Callistemon citrinus ‘Little John’

26

Cardboard palm

Zamia furfuracea

27

Cardboard palm

Z. furfuracea

28

Cardboard palm

Z. furfuracea

29

Cardboard palm

Z. furfuracea

30

Leather leaf mahonia

M. bealei

31

Leather leaf mahonia

M. bealei

32

Leather leaf mahonia

M. bealei

33

Shrimp plant

Justica brandegeana

34

Shrimp plant

J. brandegeana

35

Shrimp plant

J. brandegeana

The Heat Is On: Ovenproof Plants For Herbaceous Borders

The following list of slides is from my presentation on annuals and perennials for the Charleston Horticultural Society's "Garden Docent Training Course." I have posted most of these slides on my Picasa account and you can access it here: https://picasaweb.google.com/113986865352391439206/TheHeatIsOnOvenproofPlantsForHerbaceousBorders

If you are interested in learning more about the vine sky flower (Thunbergia grandiflora), go to http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/carolinas/articles/sky_flower_thunbergia_grandiflora/

The Heat Is On:

Ovenproof Plants for Hot Herbaceous Borders

By PJ Gartin

1. Slide title: Introduction

2. Slide title: Site selection            How much sun?

3. Slide title: Charleston's humidity

4. Slide title: Two plants that hate sprinklers

5. Vinca (Catharanthus roseus)

6. Vinca (C. roseus)            Self-seeding annual

7. Pentas or Egyptian Star Flower (Pentas lanceolata)            Annual

8. Pentas or Egyptian Star Flower (P. lanceolata)

9. Slide title: Same name, different look

10. Slide title: Plumbago

11. Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata and P. auriculata 'Alba')            Perennial

12. Chinese plumbago (Ceratostigma willmottianum)            Perennial

13. Chinese plumbago (C. willmottianum)

14. Slide title: Shrimp plant

15. Shrimp plant (Justica brandegeana)            Perennial/annual

16. Shrimp plant (J. brandegeana)

17. Shrimp plant (J. brandegeana)

18. Yellow shrimp plant (Pachystachys lutea)            Annual/perennial

19. Yellow shrimp plant             (P. lutea)

20. Slide title: Succulents

21. Aloe (Aloe spp.)            Annual or perennial depending on the species

22. Aloe (Aloe spp.)            Annual or perennial depending on the species

23. Hens and Chicks (Echeveria spp.)            Perennial

24. Hens and Chicks (E. spp.)           

25. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)            Perennial weed

26. Portulaca ‘Yubi’ (P. oleracea ‘Yubi’) Annual/perennial

(Pop-up slide is a close-up of ‘Yubi’)

27. Moss rose, portulaca (P. grandiflora)            Annual/perennial

28. Moss rose, portulaca (P. grandiflora)

29. Slide title: Vines

30. Sky flower (Thunbergia grandiflora)            Annual/perennial

31. Sky flower (T. grandiflora) Go to http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/carolinas/articles/sky_flower_thunbergia_grandiflora/

32. Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.)            Annual

33. Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.)

34. Tall and thin accessory plants

35. Texas star hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus)            Perennial/self-seeding annual

36. Texas star hibiscus (H. coccineus)

37. Slide title: Do you like okra blossoms? (Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus))

38. Abelmoschus (A. manihot)            Annual

39. Slide title: Tall plants that need lots of space

40. Salvia madrensis (Salvia madrensis)            Perennial

41. Salvia madrensis            (S. madrensis)

42. Candlestick plant (Senna alata)            Annual

43. Candlestick plant (S. alata)

Pop-up slide is a close-up of cassia or flowery senna (S. crymbosa), a woody ornamental

44. Brugmansia, angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia x candida)            Perennial

45. Brugmansia, angel’s trumpet

46. Brugmansia, angel’s trumpet

47. Brugmansia, angel’s trumpet

48. Slide title: Gaining popularity (again)

49. Zinnia Zinnia elegans            Annual

50. Zinnia (Z. elegans)

51. Marigold (Tagets spp.)            Annual

52. Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata)            Perennial

53. Garden phlox (P. paniculata)

54 Garden phlox (P. paniculata)

55. Gaillardia (Gaillardia spp.)            Annual or perennial depending on species

56. Gaillardia (Gaillardia spp.)

57. Slide title: The best kept secret in Charleston

58. Mexicali rose (Clerodendrum bungei)            Perennial

59. Musical note plant (C. incisum)            Annual

60. Musical note plant (C. incisum)

61. Musical note plant (C. incisum)

62. Musical note plant (C. incisum)

63. Musical note plant (C. incisum)

64. Musical note plant (C. incisum)

Suggested Web Sites and References

Clemson’s Home and Garden Information Center

http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/

North Carolina State’s “Horticulture on the Internet”

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/hortinternet/

The Gardeners’ Guide for Charleston and the Lowcountry. The Garden Club of Charleston.

Garden Guide to the Lower South. Trustees’ Garden Club, Savannah, Georgia.

askamg@hotmail.com • http://Pgartin.blogspot.com

Dawn Redwood Thrives in Lowcountry Landscapes

I garden in one of the largest sub-tropical arboretums in America. It’s called the South Carolina Lowcountry. Sandwiched between labyrinths of Interstate concrete and folded along both sides of US 17, this botanical paradise begins at Garden City near the Georgia border and extends past Myrtle Beach to the North Carolina state line.

Of course, Charleston is the shining star of Lowcountry horticulture and I’m fortunate to garden there. Although I’ve tended the same spot for over twenty years, I’m never bored because there’s always another flowering shrub, herbaceous ornamental, or tree to discover.

Needless to say, I can’t own every bit of flora that I fall in love with, so maybe that’s why I became a garden writer and photographer.

I’m currently smitten with a towering dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) that thrives on the College of Charleston campus.

Read my story about dawn redwood at
http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/carolinas/articles/dawn_redwood/