Flower show to honor Cypress Gardens | News | Berkeley Independent

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Flower show to honor Cypress Gardens

Published Tuesday, February 21, 2012 8:43 AM

By Dan Brown
Berkeley Independent

Photo Provided

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Photo by: Dan Brown/Independent

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It’s that time again. Time for the annual Breath of Spring flower show.

In Berkeley County, spring begins when the county’s four garden clubs showcase their best floral creations the weekend of March 1-4.

This year, the Breath of Spring flower show honors Cypress Gardens.

“The theme of the 2012 flower show ‘Berkeley's Natural Gem’ will honor the 80th Anniversary of Cypress Gardens,” said Laurette Sweet of the Town and Village Garden Club. “Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Kittredge, owners of Cypress Gardens – a/k/a Dean Hall Plantation – first opened their gardens to the public in 1932.”

Kitteridge purchased the 80 acres of swamp, gardens and old rice fields in 1909 as a get-away piece of land to be used for duck hunting. In 1927 Kitteridge hired 200 men and started planting magnolias, azaleas, dogwood trees and tea olives.

After planting other exotic trees and native plants and flowers, Kitteridge had paths and walkways put in to join the dikes of the original rice reservoir. Five years later he opened the grounds to the public and it still continues to bring in people to this day.

The grounds were first used as a rice plantation in the 1720’s according to historical records. It was a flourishing business that grew for years. The structure on the estate was known as the Nesbit House. A hundred years later Dean Hall was built.

According to Sweet, this annual Breath of Spring Flower Show won a National Garden Club award in 2010 for both the show and the flower show schedule.

“The clubs have been advised their awards application for the 2011 show won the State of South Carolina and has been forwarded to National for 2011 awards consideration,” she added. “The awards are presented at the National Garden Club convention being held during May in Washington, D.C.

“We won over all the other states - not bad for our small area,” Sweet said. “Guess you can say we are as proud as a peacock.”

Hours are daily March 1-4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission to the flower show is covered in the $10 park admission. For more information about the Breath of Spring Flower Show contact Cypress Gardens at (843) 553-0515.

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