About the Midlands Chapter
Preserving and Restoring Native Plant Biodiversity in the Midlands
Midlands plant rescue-Clay and Bailey Parker
Board members planting native garden at Governor's Mansion. Credit: Lynn Yenkey
We have approximately 175 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 ChapterClay Parker's program on plant propagation. Credit: Bob Askins
Meetings
Our membership meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of every other month, with board meetings at the same time in the interim months. Meetings range from lectures on topics of interest to casual meet-ups in a location featuring native plants to hand-on activities. Members, and those interested in becoming members, are 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. The demonstration garden will be installed at the 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 by providing information at locations such as the USC Belser Arboretum and the Riverbanks Zoo, by answering individual questions that come to us from all over the country, through articles in our newsletter, and through special projects such as working with utilities to provide lists of native plants suitable for installation under power lines.
Native plant tours at a Spring plant sale. Credit: Lynn Yenkey
Plant Sales
It is sometimes hard to find native plants even when you know exactly what you want. We help gardeners in the Midlands meet that need by holding plant sales in the fall and spring, often in collaboration with the Historic Columbia Foundation.