South Carolina Festival of Roses

Edisto Memorial Gardens is a place of history and beauty. In 1865, a force of less than six hundred Confederate soldiers gathered on the land that is now the Memorial Gardens to defend the Edisto River Bridge. Occupying rifle pits, these soldiers temporarily halted the advance of the Union Army. On February 12, 1865, outflanked by a much larger force, these defenders were compelled to withdraw to Columbia. A marker honors this site.

This site was first developed in the 1920's with some azaleas on 5 acres of land. A playground was added in 1922, and a greenhouse and nursery facility in 1947. To extend the season of beauty, the first rose garden was planted in 1951. Currently, there are more than 50 beds of roses ranging from miniatures from grand flora to climbers on over 150 acres of land. The fountain was moved from the Memorial Plaza and placed at the entrance to the Gardens in 1950 to honor the brave individuals who gave their lives in WW I, WW II, Korean War, and the Vietnam Conflict. They changed the name of the Gardens to the Edisto Memorial Gardens at that time. The Gardens attract visitors from all over because they are filled with All America Rose Selections award-winning roses, azaleas, and other flora and faunas. The South Carolina Festival of Roses, one of the Southeastern Tourism Society's top twenty events, is held in Orangeburg the last weekend in April to celebrate the blooming of the City's roses.

The Fountain The Edisto Memorial Gardens displays past and current award winning roses from the All-American Rose Selections. Some 4,000 plants representing at least 75 labeled varieties of roses are always on display in the Gardens. This site is also honored to be one of only 23 official test gardens in the United Sates sanctioned by the All-America Rose Selections, Inc. This test garden, which was established in 1973, is dedicated to recognizing up to five of the most desirable hybrid rose introductions each year.

The Children's Garden Christmas is an annually lighted display coordinated by the City of Orangeburg, the Department of Public Utilities, the Council of Garden Clubs, and the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation. This event features a one-half mile vehicular trail through the Edisto Memorial Gardens featuring 21 animated displays, 9 stationary displays, 60 lighted cherry trees and a kids walk with an additional 16 displays. The lighted displays vary in size from 6 feet to 20 feet tall. There are 53 lighted Leyland Cypress trees and 18 lighted Crepe Myrtle trees included in the display also. The Gardens are illuminated seven days a week from the Monday before Thanksgiving to New Year's Day for everyone to enjoy free of charge.

The Gardens also feature a butterfly garden and a newly developed sensory garden. Also, a beautiful terrace garden has been developed on the river side of the Arts Center. The Edisto Memorial gardens are open seven days a week from dawn to dusk. Admission is free to the public.