The Swan Lake and Iris Gardens began in 1927 as a private retreat for local businessman Hamilton Carr Bland. At the time, he was landscaping his home with Japanese iris. The bulbs failed miserably and were dumped in the swamp. The following spring, they burst into bloom.

The “lovely mistake” garden, as referred to by the Southern Living magazine, has since become a worldwide attraction and one of the finest botanical gardens in the United States.

Fun and free things to do

• Come Memorial Day weekend to enjoy the annual Iris Festival, Sumter’s oldest and most sought after event. The garden is home to the country’s most intensive plantings of Japanese iris. Arts and crafts, children activities, food and music provide 3 days of continuous fun for the entire family. You can also purchase award winning iris flowers directly from Masters Gardeners.

• Delight yourself with the Fantasy of Lights Christmas display features more than a million sparkling lights in an array of colors and shapes.

• Let the kids loose to the playground featuring a signature fire truck, swings, and other age appropriate equipment. There are restrooms, picnic tables and benches in the area.

• Walk the scenic nature trails along the lake and swamp and through the forest. The path around the lake in the Heath Gardens is ¾ mile long and has several posts with educational audio recordings about the surrounding habitat. The shorter Bland Garden path features a Cypress Boardwalk that extends approximately 1,000 feet into the swamp.

• Admire the sea of vibrant purple, yellow, blue, pink and white iris flowers that bloom from mid May and to early June. The garden also boasts camellias, azaleas, day lilies, and Japanese magnolias. A Braille trail enables the sight-impaired to enjoy the scents and sensations of the gardens.

• Feed the swans, mallards and Canadian geese. Most likely the squirrels and the crows will join the feast as well. Bring white bread and crackers. Bird lovers will be delighted with 8 species of swans, blue herons, wood ducks, cardinals, egrets and anhingas.

Interesting Facts and Trivia (courtesy of www.sumter-sc.com)

• In 1938 Mr. A.T. Heath, Sr., deeded the additional acreage on the other side of Liberty Street stipulating that Mr. Bland develop the gardens. Today, the Heath Gardens encompass most of the park’s 120 acres.

• The only public park in the United States to feature all eight swan species: Royal White Mute Swans, Black Necked Swans, Coscoroba, Whooper, Trumpeter, Black Australian Swan, Whistler Swan and Bewick Swans.

• The Australian Black swans have been here since the beginning, and today you can still some of their descendants living in the garden. They are the most social of the swans that will often nest in loose colonies during breeding season. Most other swans will not tolerate other pairs anywhere near their nests.

• The Mute Swans can weigh as much as 20 pounds, and are one of the largest birds known to the British Isles.

• The Coscoroba Swans have pure white feathers with a pink beak and pink legs.
• The Whooper was recently taken off of the endangered species list and although most swans pair for life, this breed has an unusual 6% divorce rate!

• The Trumpeter lives mainly in North America and is known for its unique call. We saw one up close. I dubbed him Big Boy…he was such a show off. He refused to dance for me but we got a hint of his singing abilities.

• The Bewick, is the most recent addition to the garden. These swans live in Northern Russia and are very dedicated to their partner. The death of one partner usually leads to the death of the other.

The Sumter Swan Lake and Iris Gardens is located at 822 West Liberty Street (US 763) in Sumter and is oped year around from 7:30AM until dusk. You can get a docent-guided group tour by calling (at least 2 weeks in advance) the Visitors Center at (803) 436-2640.

Have a remarkable standing only wedding ceremony at Swan Lake Gazebo. Call (803) 436-2640 for rental information or visit the website.

Be inspired and enjoy the outdoors at the Sumter Swan Lake and Iris Gardens!

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