About the Midlands Chapter
Preserving and Restoring Native Plant Diversity in the Midlands
Plant Sale Volunteers
Board members planting native garden at Governor's Mansion. Credit: Lynn Yenkey
We have approximately 240 members, and are growing fast. If you’re not already a member, click the link below to join.
Interested in finding out more about what we do? Keep scrolling, and visit us on Facebook and Instagram.
Join the Midlands Chapter
Todd Martin speaks at Hyatt Park. Credit: Lynn Yenkey
Meetings
Our membership meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the odd months, with board meetings at the same time monthly. Check the Events Calendar to see what’s happening!
Meetings range from lectures from local experts to casual meet-ups in a location featuring native plants to hand-on activities. The public is always welcome.
Past President Bill McCullough tackles invasives
Service Projects
Our efforts range from invasives removal, to plant rescue ahead of development, to planting new demonstration gardens. Notable activities include planting a native plant garden at the SC Governor’s Mansion and obtaining a grant from Dominion to demonstrate appropriate plantings under power lines. Visit the demonstration garden at Saluda Riverwalk in Columbia.
Midlands SCNPS Congaree Bluffs. Credit: Lynn Yenkey
Field Trips
We periodically arrange a field trip to a Midlands location that will teach us all something about the native plants that surround us. Examples include a trip to the Congaree Bluffs and a visit to the unique Sandstone Barrens habitat along a section of the Ft. Jackson Passage of the Palmetto Trail.
Midlands SCNPS at the Riverbanks Zoo. Credit: Lynn Yenkey
Education
We educate the public through invitations to speak to community groups, setting up information tables at events like USC Belser Arboretum open house and Riverbanks Zoo’s Earth Day event. We answer individual questions that come to us from social media and the community and through articles in our newsletter. Special projects include working with Dominion Energy to provide lists of native plants suitable for installation under power lines.
Native Tree Sale in Columbia. Credit: Lynn Yenkey
Plant Sales
Midlands spring and fall native plant sales have become a popular and important source for gardeners searching for native plants, helping fulfill our mission to help people find them and understand how to use them in home landscaping. Moreover we have been able to create a festival atmosphere at the spring sale by including local food trucks, artists, and booksellers.