Growth & renewal

Butterflies and dragonflies are spreading their wings at Mepkin Abbey in greater numbers these days. The abbey's progress in developing a native plant botanical garden, while still in the its early stages, is showing signs of success.

In general, the goal of the project is to eliminate invasive species that crowd out native vegetation and to reintroduce native plants, says the Rev. Guerric Heckel, project director. More native plants means more food for area wildlife, he says.

"When you don't have native plants, there can be as much as 30 percent less food for the mature birds to feed their young," says Guerric "A lot of the birds feed their young on caterpillars, and the caterpillars do not grow on plants that are not native."

They are, however, attracted to plants now growing in the project's labyrinth, a 250-square-foot garden for those that can tolerate sun and drought.

"The labyrinth has sunflowers, native goldenrod, sweetgrass, Joe Pye weed, gaillardia, native canna lily and native verbena," says Guerric.

The labyrinth now serves as an experimental garden for studying native plants that are brought in from ditches and roadsides, cultivated and raised.

Unfortunately, says Guerric, a lot of people still associate native plants with weeds.

"In reality, they help identify one's sense of place," he says. "They can become very showy and don't require the work that a lot of exotics require. We think you should respect what already has been planted (in your garden), but then to start integrating native plants."

Mepkin, a member of the National Public Gardens Association, which observes National Public Gardens Day on May 7, hopes to develop an education program as the project progresses. The association's members strive to promote environmental stewardship, education, plant conservation and water conservation nationwide.

In addition to the labyrinth, the Mepkin project encompasses a meadow of native grasses.

"We have been propagating a lot of native grasses, Indian grass, state grass, broomsedge, sweetgrass, switchgrass and bear grass," says Guerric. The roots of the native grasses extend much deeper into the soil than non-native grasses and are good protection from soil erosion.

The project's next focus is on native plants that grow in shade. They will be raised from seed in a wooded area that has been cleared of invasives such as Chinese wisteria, popcorn trees, parasol trees and Chinaberry trees.

The native plant project depends on many volunteers, but landscape architects who specialize in native plants also have worked on it.

J.R. Kramer of Remark Studio in North Charleston designed a memorial to the Charleston firefighters who died in 2007's Sofa Super Store fire. The memorial, which is among the broomsedge in the meadow, is Kramer's interpretation of a council ring, nine blocks, one representing each firefighter. Visitors can sit there and place flowers.

Kramer, who specializes in natives, also says those who see the refectory garden near the cafeteria can witness the restoration done there. The invasives have been removed, and the new growth is evident. But keeping the invasives out is an ongoing effort, not something that's done and finished.

There always is something going on, Kramer says.

Thomas Angell of Verdant Enterprises in Walterboro says one of the most impressive projects at Mepkin is the clearing of exotics from the 15-acre ravine that goes down to the Cooper River. The ravine had been overtaken by exotics including wisteria, Japanese honeysuckle and tung trees.

Mepkin is considering building a columbarium, a vault with niches for urns containing cremated ashes.

Thomas Angell, a landscape architect from Walterboro, proposed a design for the columbarium that calls for more than 500 separate burial niches where urns can be placed. If the proposal were to be approved, the columbarium would be located above the ravine in the vicinity of native plants such as inkberry, Virginia sweetspire, dogwood and serviceberry.

There are six other South Carolina members of the National Public Gardens Association. They include Brookgreen Gardens; Crow Dog Company, Native Ferns & Gardens; Kalmia Gardens of Coker College; Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden; Spartanburg Community College; and the University of South Carolina.

Reach Wevonneda Minis at 937-5705 or wminis@postandcourier.com.