Festival of Flowers - Topiary Display, Greenwood, South Carolina

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul”.

Luther Burbank

Jeep Wrangler

Jeep Wrangler

Jeep Wrangler 

Inside of the Jeep Wrangler

Milak, the Elephant Mama

Horton, the Elephant baby

Pink Princess, The Frog 

Stanley, The Stork 

Bubbles, the Seahorse

When Joe and I were in Edgefield last weekend, we stopped and visited with our friend, Martha who works at the Carolina Moon Distillery and during our conversation she asked if we were going to Greenwood, South Carolina the following weekend. We asked her why and she told us about all the topiaries that would be displayed around town and what a great event it is to see. So she gave us a booklet on the event and we were sold. Thank you Martha for helping us find this amazing event.

Stennolissa, the Dolphin and Lindsay, the Mermaid 

Lindsay, the Mermaid

Ari, the Lion

Ari, the Lion

Dino Dude, the T-Rex

Dino Dude, the T-Rex

Harley, the Labrador

Jibari, the Lion Cub 

Sunny, the Turtle

By the first weekend in June, the greenhouse staff in the city of Greenwood, South Carolina had worked diligently to get all the topiaries, over forty now, out of the two city large greenhouses where they are cared for throughout the year. The idea was first put into motion and the first thirteen topiary’s were displayed around the Uptown Market in Greenwood in 2008 after the horticulturalist receiving training and inspiration from Disney World and their “Festival of Flowers.”

Sweet Caroline, The Butterfly 

Gertie and Gidget, The Giraffes 

Gamecock

Gamecock

Centennial Celebration Cake 

A great place to get your picture taken

Bubbles, the Seahorse

Today, the weather prediction was over a 60% chance of rain in Greenwood but we decided to go anyways. We took the country roads and it only took us an hour and fifteen minutes to get there from Augusta, Georgia and it is a nice drive. When we drove into town on Main Street, we started seeing the topiaries around the center of town. We easily found a parking spot and started walking. The topiaries were all around us. How amazing they were. They were so detailed and we couldn’t imagine the amount of work it takes to make one of these. Each topiary is sponsored by a local businesses and each one is named. We found that they had huge ones, over fourteen feet displayed as well and very small ones, like the turtles. They can be kept outside for about six weeks and then they must be returned to the greenhouses where they are cared for by horticulturist throughout the year. They each have their own irrigation system to keep them with just the right moisture. This event has increased their tourism in town greatly since adding this to the “Festival of Flowers”.

GRRRRR KASASA, the tiger

Bearcat

Bearcat - Lander University

Uptown Market

Emmett, the Citadel Dog

Emmett, the Citadel Dog 

The Dabbling Duck

Dabbling Ducks

This year celebrates the 52^nd annual “Festival of Flowers”. Greenwood is a very pretty city with a suburban feel showcasing lots of green plants and beautiful exotic flowers along the tree lined streets that has a small town feel. The plants and flowers that brighten up the city and give it a park like feel. Obviously the gardeners take pride in their work making this a town full of beauty and color. Greenwood is known as the “Emerald City” probably because of the nature and beautiful flora that you see throughout the town.

King Kong, the Gorilla

King Kong, the Gorilla

Baron, the Stately Horse 

Coco, The Funky Monkey 

Ali's Banana Boy & Coco 

It is impossible to pick a favorite topiary. We loved the horse, the elephant, King Kong, the mermaid, the alligator, the Citadel dog, the truck, and the sea horse. There were many more that were great but those are a few of our favorites. The details on them all were amazing.

Stennolissa, the Dolphin 

We stopped for lunch at The Mill House, which opened in 2009 on Maxwell Avenue and enjoyed a wonderful lunch. There craft beer menu was huge and Joe enjoyed some of their brews. I ordered the Parmesan Chicken Salad which was large and delicious and Joe got Pauly’s Preferred Specialty Pizza. He said the pizza was fantastic. We got a table outside since the weather was only in the 80’s today. Our view was great since we were right across from the Uptown Market and we could watch the kids play in the splash park. It was also fun watching the children sitting next to the playful Panda’s topiary and getting their pictures taken. We would highly recommend this place to eat. Check them out at: http://www.millhousepizza.com.

Downtown Greenwood, South Carolina

Uptown Market 

Inside Uptown Market

Another view of the Uptown Market

Splash Pad

Beautiful old buildings in downtown Greenwood

Bell Tower 

We walked along Main Street and loved how the designed this town. There are nice shops on both sides and places to eat along the way. This town is improving all the time and is a great destination to go see.  While we were walking around, we heard the sound of the beautiful bells ringing from the bell tower.    I hope you enjoy looking at the topiaries as well as well did. They will be on display till the end of June.

Flora, the Flamingo

Beautiful Bell tower at a local church 

Dabbling Ducks 

Pink Princess, The Frog

Pretty courtyard

Bringing Light to Life Pavilion 

The Playful Panda Family 

“A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them.”

Liberty Hyde Bailey

Playful Panda's