WYFF: S.C. Botanical Garden Damaged by Heavy Rains
Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 9:31PM The heavy rains are creating major problems at the South Carolina Botanical Garden. The worst of the flooding hit Saturday morning, when Clemson saw almost 9 inches of rain in a matter of hours.
Officials said the water was too much for the sensitive beds of rare plants. The worst of the damage appears to have affected the Natural Heritage Garden, the Botanical Garden's newest and one of the most popular exhibits. Many of the walking bridges were washed away and a piece of history was threatened.
Officials said the foundation underneath the hunt cabin that was built in 1828 was nearly compromised.
"These are very sensitive and some endangered plants. These are things that you can't see anywhere other than the Botanical Garden, and in some cases, they are irreplaceable and we have lost some of that. It's going to take a lot of time, a lot of funding to fix this," said Patrick McMillan, director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden.
There is no estimate on how much repairs could cost, but McMillan said it is expected to be a lengthy process. Anyone interested in donating to the repairs is asked to visit the garden's website.
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