THIS GARDEN IS MEANT TO BE INTERACTIVE , AND TO EXPLAIN MORE THAN JUST THE NAME OF A PLANT , BUT TO LEARN ABOUT THE PLANTS AND THEIR FUNCTION IN THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM .
hopes to broaden an educational understanding of the maritime forest garden in the context of the island ’ s ecology . For Sean Cannon , the function of the teaching garden is to do more than just listing plant names . “ Plants , insects , amphibians , birds — they ’ re all connected . This garden is meant to be interactive and to explain more than just the name of a plant , but to teach about the plants and their function in the entire ecosystem ,” he says . “ It ’ s a holistic approach to educate people on why plants are so important and why native plants should really be the focus of everyone ’ s garden .”
The new learning garden will expand on the Conservancy ’ s Naturally Kiawah Recognition Program , which acknowledges Kiawah ’ s property owners who have implemented this ecology-focused approach of native plantings in their residential landscapes and designed gardens . Cannon says , “ For most people , the barrier of designing with native plants is not knowing how to start . This could be the first step .” Work is currently underway on the new garden , with plantings to begin in the fall of this year .
10 • KIAWAH CONSERVANCY