The Midlands Chapter has created a pilot virtual workshop in three online sessions exclusively for SCNPS Members
Tuesday Evenings Online at 7 p.m.: September 29, October 6 & 13, 2026
Field Trip in Columbia Saturday, October 10, 2026
REGISTER HERE.
Note that you’ll need to log in and verify SCNPS membership. You may need to renew or join to take the course.
If you’re new to gardening with native plants or looking for guidance on how to plan and choose the right plants for your space, register for this free workshop from the Midlands Chapter. We created it just for SCNPS members.
In three Tuesday evening online sessions we’ll cover planning, planting, and maintenance. Before the final workshop, we’ll take a Saturday morning field trip to visit a Columbia member’s front yard native plant garden and a nearby public native plant garden with the designer, Midlands Chapter President Andrew Melanson. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to ask questions, hear about what shaped these gardens, and get good ideas.
Workshop presenters are all SCNPS Midlands members with years of hands-on native plant expertise:
- Bob Askins, Manager at W. Gordon Belser Arboretum, South Carolina Master Naturalist, Certificate in Native Plant Studies, Past SCNPS Midlands Chapter President
- Aidan-Lee Houser, Midlands Master Naturalist, SCNPS Midlands Chapter State Representative
- Don McInnes, Three degrees in Biology, FL and SC Master Gardener, Clemson Extension horticulturist. Don has been Curator at W. Gordon Belser Arboretum, SCNPS Midlands Chapter President, President of Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission, Columbia Green board member, college biology teacher, and remains an enthusiast of Edward Everette Horton films.
- Andy Melanson, Owner at Creekside Native Grass & Design, Midlands Master Naturalist, Certificate in Native Plant Studies
- Lynn Yenkey, Manager at W. Gordon Belser Arboretum, Midlands Master Naturalist, SCNPS Midlands Board Member, Garden Writer
