Bloom Charleston welcomes residents and visitors alike to experience the unveiling of the Idea Garden at Colonial Lake, inspiring talks from a slate of internationally renowned speakers, immersive horticultural experiences, and lively programming designed to inspire gardeners through beautiful public gardens and parks.
Friday, October 17 – Opening Night Garden Party | $275
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Colonial Lake, 46-54 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29401
An exclusive evening in the new Idea Garden with live music, floral installations, open bar, and hors d’oeuvres, plus the chance to meet Bloom Charleston’s featured speakers.
Saturday, October 18 – Bloom Charleston | Free
10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Colonial Lake, 46-54 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29401
A free, family-friendly celebration of parks and gardens with engaging activities, speakers, and hands-on experiences for all ages. This event is free and open to the public.
Bloom Talks & Demonstrations:
10:00 AM - Threading the Needle: Transforming site constraints into design strategies - Molly Hendry
11:00 AM - From Garden to Vase: A floral design masterclass for gardeners - Joan McDonald
11:45 AM - From Cottage Gardens to Charming Interiors: How to bring English style to a Southern home - Miranda Crowell & Lucy Hunter
12:30 PM - Gardening for Life: Cultivating biodiversity & pollinators - Stephen Eich
1:15 PM - Musical Interlude: A performance by Charleston Symphony’s Brass Quintet - Charleston Symphony
2:00 PM - Weird and Wacky Plants: Mr. Plant Geek’s guide to the unexpected - Mr. Plant Geek
2:45 PM - Gardening Sustainably - Catherine McGuinn
3:30 PM - Art in Action: A Live Topiary Demonstration - Mike Gibson
Additional Event Highlights:
The Plant From Your Parks Plant Sale features a curated selection of plants suited to Charleston’s environments, with proceeds benefiting the Charleston Parks Conservancy’s work in parks, gardens, and trails.
The SEWE Discovery Garden Kids Zone invites children and teens to dig, plant, play, and learn through fun, hands-on interactive gardening and nature activities.
Live Plein Air Painting by Mary Hoffman lets audiences watch an artist capture the landscape in real time through outdoor painting demonstrations.
Blooms Through the Lens with Photography by Anne offers tips and tricks to help visitors improve their smartphone photography of flowers and nature.
Live Topiary Shaping with Mike Gibson shows greenery being crafted into living sculptures and explains the artistry behind topiary garden design.
The Home & Garden Pop-Up by Elizabeth Stuart features a curated collection of items inspired by global travel, blending home decor and gardening.
Buxton Books Garden Bookstore will provide a selection of gardening, design, and lifestyle books authored by expert speakers, with opportunities for personalized purchases and author signings.
The Garden Club of Charleston Pop-Up offers attendees access to the newest Gardeners’ Guide for the Lowcountry, combining Clemson research, local expertise, care tips, and full-color imagery.
Ask An Expert Gardener, hosted by the Charleston Horticultural Society, allows visitors to bring gardening questions and get advice from local experts to help grow healthy plants and gardens.
Be sure to follow along on social media @bloomcharlestonsc to learn about exciting festival and idea garden updates, our panel of speakers, opening night ticket sales and much more!
