Garden evokes natural era

Native species inhabit sustainable spot at Memminger Auditorium

In 1698, much of the land where Memminger Auditorium is wasn't really land at all. It was marshland that was relatively untouched by human hands.

Obviously the site can never return to that completely natural state. But Spoleto Festival USA wanted to evoke that feeling. So, the new garden beside the auditorium has a lot of native species: Tall White Top Sedge, Spider Lily, sweetgrass, Tulip Poplar trees, inland sea oats and more. The garden's designers installed blue lights in the planting beds, and the garden lobby walls are painted blue to inspire the feeling of water. Even the paving is local, with bits of oyster shell in the concrete pathways.

Robert Maerlender , one of the garden's architects, said the irrigation system will use cistern and rain water.

"The concept of sustainability has run throughout this project," he said.

On Monday, the garden was dedicated to Countess Alicia Spaulding Paolozzi, the philanthropist and businesswoman who was probably best known for helping to bring Spoleto Festival USA to Charleston. The event was a precursor to the grand reopening of Memminger Auditorium, which will hold its inaugural performance on May 22 with the opera "Amistad."

"The auditorium will hold about 800, so space in there is going to be tight. This will be a way for patrons to get a little bit of space," said Paula Edwards, Spoleto director of marketing and public relations.

The area used to be an unpaved parking lot for Memminger Elementary teachers. But no more.

"This sure beats that old parking lot," said Eric Friberg, Spoleto's chairman. "What this garden is supposed to do is re-create some of that feeling of water and marshland."

Nigel Redden, the executive director of Spoleto Festival USA, spoke fondly of the countess, who died in 2002.

"She was an extraordinary woman. Larger than life ... I feel as though this was a place she would have appreciated," he said.

Reach Sophia Rodriguez at 937-5538 or srodriguez@postandcourier.com.