Generations of locals have layered their wisdom into the book, first published in 1949 by The Garden Club of Charleston
It’s appropriate that the latest edition of The Gardeners’ Guide for the Lowcountry—one that elevates the legacy tome to a charming, modern workbook—began with a note dropped by one Wagener Terrace gardener onto the doorstep of another.
The Garden Club of Charleston had asked past president Joan McDonald to helm the fourth significant revision of the book, first published in 1949. As the owner of floral design firm The Gardeners Green and former Charleston magazine garden editor, McDonald certainly had the skill set. Still, she was daunted.
Knowing she’d want to give the guide a more user-friendly design, she dashed off a note to her neighbor Marshall McKinney, who had spent years as the creative director of Garden & Gun. Could she get some “sage advice?” she asked. “Come on over!” was his reply. Soon, he’d signed on as the designer.
The Gardeners’ Guide is a treasure trove, sharing localized advice on everything from garden preparation to window boxes to vegetable gardening. The “Plant Selections” chapter delves into annuals and perennials, covering azaleas, camellias, palms, citrus, vegetables, and more, with charts that detail the varieties best suited to the Lowcountry. Green thumbs will keep returning to the month-by-month charts suggesting tasks to stay on top of throughout the year (don’t forget to dig and store caladium bulbs in October!).
Over the decades, generations of Charleston gardeners have layered in their knowledge, and their voices shine through the writing’s reassuring, conversational style. “The book has character and patina and soul,” says McDonald. She convened a supergroup of Garden Clubbers who made changes to the USDA zone information, composed guidance on sustainable garden practices, and enhanced the reference section with helpful terminology.
McKinney brought color to the historically green-and-white book, working with illustrator Michael Hoeweller to reinterpret the original cover art into a vibrant image bursting with Lowcountry flowers, fruits, and wildlife. To allow for easier referencing, the designer added tabs that mark each chapter and two bonus sections: “The Proper Care & Conditioning of Cut Flowers,” a tract first published in 1990, and a walking guide to gardens that the club cares for. “This book is truly meant to be a tool—the gardener’s best friend,” says McDonald.
