Forest Lake Greenhouses of Florence, South Carolina believes that plant people are the happiest people … and they’re out to help you become one of those happy people! In 1989, Tim and Lisa King partnered with entrepreneur Ed Young and his four daughters — Claudia Venable, Harriet Charles, Virginia Gene, and Rebecca Madden — to make their greenhouse aspirations a reality. The resulting business became one of Florence’s greatest gems and a family legacy as Claudia and Harriet’s sons, Luke Venable and Austin Charles, along with their close friend Hunter Robinson would join the thriving greenhouse staff upon the Kings’ retirement.
A stroll through the flourishing blooms and a conversation with the knowledgeable employees are evidence of the group’s accomplishment of their mission: “to cultivate growth and happiness by connecting people to the beautiful offerings of the natural world through horticulture.” The greenhouse’s seasonal inventory and landscaping advice intentionally prioritize sustainability and environmentally-friendly choices. A deep-rooted love for South Carolina and its unique beauty pours forth in every their every word and deed. Not only does the staff treasure our state, they treasure their people. Forest Lake Greenhouses shares its wealth of resources and wisdom with the community through extra services such as custom container design, plant rentals to add a pop of color to your event, and even custom workshops to create a masterpiece of your own!
Gardening in South Carolina can be both wonderful and challenging as the state experiences hot and humid summers and cold and rainy winters. Yet at the same time, we experience a long growing season from March through November. When selecting ideal plants for your home and garden, Forest Lake Greenhouse experts say it’s key to choose plants that can handle the many different stressors that may present themselves.
The main factors to consider when choosing plants for your yard would be the duration of sun exposure, the time windows of direct sun exposure, and the soil composition of your yard or containers. Full sun is often misinterpreted as all-day sun exposure, but in South Carolina, “full sun” indicates about 6 hours of direct exposure; if your yard receives all-day sun, you’ll need to look for plants that can handle “brutal sun.”
Some of the best summer annual flowers for full sun include Pentas, a favorite for attracting butterflies and pollinators, Zinnias, a heat-loving and colorful flower that will bloom until the first frost, Vinca, a drought-tolerant and heat-loving bloom, and Salvia, another pollinator favorite. If your porch or garden is shadier, summer is a great time to boast your Boston Fern hanging baskets. Or if you’re looking for colorful flowers to fill your shadier spots, you could have Torenia, Impatiens, or any type of Begonia.
With the right care, your annuals should last you until the first frost. Watering is an important part of plant care, especially in the heat. The amount of water needed is dependent on the plant species, but more heat and sun exposure generally means you will need to water more frequently. When planting your garden, always apply a slow-release fertilizer like Osmocote to keep the blooms coming all summer!
Written by Rebecca Jenkins
Pictures from Forest Lake Greenhouses