Each year for the last 53 years, the town of Greenwood, South Carolina has come alive with flowers in late spring and early summer. From early June to around mid July the small city hosts the South Carolina Festival of Flowers.

It all began back in 1968. The Park Seed Company had show gardens, and that particular year was the 100th anniversary of the George W. Park Seed Company. The company held grower days each year that brought many people to town, so after the Tourists and Conventions Committee for the Chamber of Commerce noticed how many people visited during this time, the idea for the Festival of Flowers was born.

Many professional gardeners would come to town to walk around the trial gardens at the seed company, so they figured that other people would like to see them as well. During the early days of the festival they had many free events. There would be arts and crafts shows, photography exhibits, military band concerts, and the Park’s Seeds gardens were open for all to see for free. By offering the Festival of Flowers, the city had more tourists come to town which always means that revenue is coming in. People love to eat and shop, so it brought more people into other areas of the city that they might have never thought to visit.

In 2008, the topiary displays that are well recognized now were introduced to the festival. There are currently 44 topiaries located in the “square” of Uptown Greenwood. I had watched a program on tv one night that showcased the topiaries a few years ago, so last year I finally decided to go. I was not disappointed because it was so beautiful. I really had no clue where to go when I got into town, but there is a handy map on the festival’s website that gives the location for each topiary. I had to reference that map quite a few times that day, but when I returned this year, I knew where to go. The topiaries were basically in the same place as last year, but a few of them had switched out where they were located.

All I can say is that many talented individuals bring these topiaries to life each year. Four of the colleges/universities are represented. Where else can you go to see the South Carolina Gamecock, the Lander Bearcat, the Citadel Bulldog, or the Clemson Tiger made into topiaries? A beautiful mermaid and her dolphin and seahorse friends are in a pool of water lilies. The Chick-Fil-A cow stands out with its trademark sign. A T-Rex and King Kong are mixed in along with pandas, giraffes, lions, and many other animals. The attention to detail is quite remarkable.

For the 53rd anniversary of the South Carolina Festival of Flowers, you can visit anytime from June 1 until July 12, 2020 to see their signature topiary display. I personally highly recommend going to see it at least once in your lifetime. The photographs only show a few of the details that go into bringing these topiaries to life. The best address that I can give to get you here is 110 Phoenix Street in Greenwood, SC. If you find yourself at that address, you will definitely see all of the topiaries. You will have to get out of your car and walk some, but you can drive to the areas where the topiaries are located throughout town and walk if you don’t want to park and walk to see all of them.

Published by travelingthesoutheast

My name is Donna. At an early age I had a love for photography. There was nothing more fun than taking film to a store and then having to wait several days to get the photographs back, sometimes only to find out that none of the pictures turned out the way I wanted them to. Quite a few years ago digital came out, and the rest is history. I can always be found with a camera around my neck, on my arm, or in my hand. I have always had a love for telling stories and sharing them with others. My imagination has always been a little on the wild side. About ten years ago, I decided one day that I wanted to start traveling, and I have never looked back. There is nothing in the world that I enjoy more than traveling and taking photographs. View all posts by travelingthesoutheast