Charleston, SC "Behind the Garden Gate" - May 28, 2022

Sat, May 28, 2022

Join us for the first of two Behind the Garden Gate Open Days, presented by the Garden Conservancy and the Charleston Horticultural Society.

Walls of entwined ivy, dazzling blooms, and sun-dappled fern fronds abound in Charleston’s botanical sanctuaries. The Garden Conservancy and the Charleston Horticultural Society open the Holy City’s garden gates for self-guided tours of its finest private gardens. Each Saturday tour features seven different private gardens, all within walking distance, promising two weekends full of exploration and beauty in these artfully cultivated spaces.

Purchase tickets for this Saturday's tour below to reserve your spot for this extraordinary opportunity. Tickets for next Saturday's, June 4, tour can be purchased here. Tours are self-guided. Maps and other directions will distributed along with a confirmation email of purchase.

Please observe these new procedures and help us ensure a safe, contactless, and seamless garden experience for all visitors as well as our generous garden hosts:

• Pre-registration is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED for this event. Pre-register for this weekend on this website. Children under 12 are free and do not need to be pre-registered if accompanied by pre-registered adult.
• Capacity is limited. Sorry, no paper tickets or Garden Conservancy credits will be accepted.
• Masks are required, at the discretion of the garden owners, and social distancing is encouraged at all in-person events.

For more details about these changes for this season, see the Open Days Q&A.

• 
  Mary Smith House Garden

  The Federal-style house was built circa 1799 and is a three-story stuccoed brick Charleston single house, which was formerly situated 100 feet north of its present site.

• 
  Garden at John Blake House

  This restored garden by landscape architects Hugh and Mary Palmer Dargan in 1985 is an outstanding example of an 18th century parterre garden.

• 
  Garden of the Benjamin Phillips House

  The Benjamin Phillips House was restored by the current owners in 1987 and at the time, there was no garden, only a paved parking area...

• 
  Garden at Timothy Ford House

  This house was built by Timothy Ford, a New Jersey native who moved to Charleston after graduating from Princeton…

• 
  Kohne-Leslie House Garden

  Eliza Neufville Kohne built this three-and-a-half-story Greek Revival house in 1846. Loutrel Briggs, a noted Charleston landscape architect, created the plans in 1970 for the garden…

• 
  Mrs. Whaley's Garden

  This simple frame Charleston single house was purchased by attorney Ben Scott Whaley and Emily Whaley in 1938....

• 
  Garden at George Mathews House

  The owners are garden enthusiasts, and the husband designed the garden rooms surrounding the 1743 house to be compatible with the early Charleston architecture and southern climate...