MARSHVILLE — Like most people who grew up in this area, I think it’s a pretty great place. The majority, even if they agree, sometimes want to just get away for a few days. If you enjoy the coast, in three to four hours you’re there. If you prefer your vacation in the mountains, you can travel there in the same length of time.

What if you wanted both the coastal area and the mountains in the same place? That may seem foreign to us, but it’s not unknown. It may not be common, but there are a few places in the world where that is the norm.

What if you wanted that environment here? Obviously, the mountains and the coast are not going to co-exist anywhere close to us. I have, however, found a place within a 45 minute drive that has some of the plant life that grows in the mountains and the sand. I had heard of a couple of these unusual places in South Carolina but had never visited one until a couple of months back. On a warm day, my Master Gardener friends and I visited a very special and memorable place. It is obviously one of the best kept secrets around. That secret is Kalmia Gardens located in Hartsville, S.C. This is another wonderful place that is absolutely free. If you want all the inside info, you can opt for the guided tour. At $35 for a group, it is a real bargain.

We didn’t know what to expect, but when we pulled into the parking area, Dan Hill, assistant director of Kalmia Gardens, greeted us with a big smile. Our smiles would have been as big as his if we’d have known what was awaiting us. I’ve seen a lot of gardens so most are somewhat alike. I always carry a small notepad with me to record different and unusual facts whenever I visit a garden. In three minutes I realized the small notepad wouldn’t be sufficient, so I slowed our group as I returned to the vehicle for a full-sized notebook.

Even the parking area had something I’d never seen before. It was a Chinese flame tree. It had lantern-shaped blooms. What was really strange, however, was the number of bees on the ground under its canopy, slowing moving and unable to fly. This behavior was caused by an intoxicating effect the tree’s nectar had on the bees. Leaving the parking area, we began our tour of this approximately 38-acre wonderland, owned by Coker College. The garden’s director, Mary Ridgeway, along with Dan, has done a marvelous job when you consider its size and the state of our current economy. Immediately we encountered a large herb garden area. The substantial space devoted to fennel shows their interest in caterpillars and thus butterflies. Next was some Camellia sinensis shrubby plants. These are the origins of the tea you might drink.

Past the camellias, we began moving downhill. I mean really downhill. To make the trek easier are 93 steps with safety handrails that lead to an area that makes Kalmia Gardens so different. At the bottom is a totally different ecosystem than is normally found in the Sandhills and Piedmont areas. What you encounter are plants usually seen in the mountains, yet here they are growing naturally. It was the first time I had traveled downward to find a mountain-type area.

Decades ago, this low, bottom area was used as a dump site. Our guide pointed to a Model T tire almost hidden by years of growth to illustrate that fact. At this point where the descent ends, a very long and extensive wooden boardwalk begins. Otherwise, you’d have to be a mountain man to get around all the trees and shrubs. Americorp teen volunteers from Maine spent one summer building the elaborate walkway. Also, in that bottom area is some slow moving darkwater. It is known as Black Creek. Surprisingly, it flows and builds until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean, near Georgetown, S.C.

Part way on the boardwalk, we encountered an artesian well and an old cistern. An artesian well is a rare, but, naturally occurring well whose underground pressure causes it to emerge from the ground. This absolutely pure source of drinking water was caught in a cistern (large container that holds water). A hydraulic ram, built in 1820, sent the water all the way back up the hill to the Hart House near the parking area. I thought this was incredible since electricity was decades away.

Some of the most unusual plants we encountered were: An anise tree with star-shaped fruit. A red buckeye tree whose nuts the natives would grind into a powder and sprinkle it into water containing fish. The powder caused the fish to become stupified and sluggish, so they were easily caught. There were some huge cypress trees. There was also an abundance of switch cane that I first thought was bamboo. Of course, mountain laurel was abundant, growing naturally. The botanical name for mountain laurel is Kalmia latifolia. The abundance of this wonderful shrub is how the gardens received their name. Likewise, another small tree associated with mountainous areas, witch hazel, also grows freely there.

Interestingly, this area has a large sandstone ridge that can be seen. Our guide said this was very unusual because rocks cannot be found in the soil anywhere close to this location. Sprinkled liberally are many camellias, gardenias, and azaleas. A nice reflecting pond was full of yellow and white water lilies when we visited. As the wooded trail ended a large fern garden appeared, with numerous labelled specimens.

It was also pointed out that this area has many migrating birds as well as residents. As you might guess, it’s a great habitat for them. In fact, it’s so good that they have a regular “birder’s walk” during April and May. The historic Hart House, adjacent to the parking area, is also available for tours by appointment. The prominent family who lived there is also special because the town of Hartsville bears their name.

There is much, much more to see at Kalmia Gardens than I can describe here. The gardens have an extremely unique ecosystem. In the fall, there is always a rush to visit the mountains for their beauty and foliage. Here’s a place where you can enjoy a little of what the mountains have to offer. Also, the Hart House is worth the trip alone. The best part is that it’s only 45 minutes from our side of Union County. You should plan a trip today. For more info, you can reach them at 843-383-8145.

— Tom Walden is a Master Gardener volunteer with the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Union County. He may be reached at tnw00@windstream.net.