Brie Grows

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens… a Lowcountry garden that enchants more deeply with every visit.

After two decades of coming here, it somehow continues to get better. Under the leadership of Jim Martin, a truly world-class team is raising the horticultural bar year after year. Next weekend they’re hosting a plant sale and educational sessions. I had an early look, I can say the offerings are exceptional. Huge kudos to Preston Sherwood for the outstanding propagation and growing work.

I’m especially impressed by the new labeling systems introduced by Mike Brewer. Most visitors may never notice, but a strong accession program is what separates a beautiful space from a true botanical garden. This collection absolutely deserves that recognition.

Strolling these historic grounds is both humbling and inspiring, always the highlight of any visit to Charleston 💚

Learn more about next weekend’s event: https://www.magnoliaplantation.com/events/plant-sale

Earlier this week we headed south to the low country for a few days with friends in Charleston.

I was especially excited to hear Sam Hoadley of Mt Cuba Center, one of my favorite native gardens in America. Sam leads the amazing trials planted there and creates the must have annual report! Thanks to The HORT ( Charleston Horticultural Society ) for hosting him at the Cultivating Minds Lecture that was co-hosted by the Lowcountry chapter of the SC Native Plant Society.

Thanks to Madeleine McGee we had an action packed Tuesday scheduled. First we met with the Stewards of Public Places at Middleton Place where we had a behind the scenes tour with camellia legend Sidney Frazier. This meeting of the minds included representatives from all of the the low country tourist destinations.

This experience left me excited and dreaming of the opportunities that cross promotion/ marketing can provide to increase awareness of gardening in every community, bust especially those in the Charleston region.

From there we headed to Roots and Shoots nursery, who specialize in natives and rare edibles, including the sugarcane I have been searching for since the Super Bowl halftime show! This is such a cool nursery and yes I had a shopping spree… Happy to report everything is already planted!

Charleston Aquatics wholesale nursery was our next stop. There we met with a great group of professionals and toured this one of a kind nursery where Stu and Tanner are propagating natives liners. I am thrilled to bring IPPS here in 2030!

Tuesday ended in style with a delicious shrimp creole dinner party at Summer Feet 👣 Very special thanks to Bunky Wichmann and David Arthur for being such extraordinary chefs! It’s was such a joy to catch up with everyone… these low country friends feel more like family with every visit!

Greenhouse classes are filling fast! We have a fun assortment of sessions scheduled for April with a few spots left in each. Check out all the offerings here

BOOKS & CLASSES — Brie Grows Books and Gardening Classes with Brie! Plan to attend a Greenhouse class for a unique hands-on learning experience that will leave you ready to grow anything!