Hopping through summer in the Carolina Children's Garden

While Peter Rabbit spends much time in Mr. McGregor's garden, he often squeezes through the white picket fence to see his neighbors at 11 other theme gardens in the two- acre Carolina Children's Garden. This summer McGregor is growing gourds, a crop rabbits don't especially savor.

Peter gathers herbs in the Growing Healthy garden so his mother can prepare soothing teas. The family of Flopsy bunnies gathers sweet ripe blueberries there too.

Peter's feathered friends in the bird garden reserve a special spot under the nest bench for him to hide. His nose twitches while watching the feathery pink blooms of the mimosa tree and counting the nuthatches entering and exiting the dead tree condo.

On occasion Peter has even hidden in the watering can at the Alphabet Fence garden.

One garden Peter manages to circumvent is the dinosaur garden. He is not fond of encounters with hungry crocodiles, towering dinosaurs, or terrible tortoises.

Alert to the dangers for a cottontail rabbit in the garden, he stays away from butterfly girl so as not to be swept into her net. He avoids getting tangled in the yellow Jessamine in the Carolina fence garden. The millstone entrance to the historic crops cedar farmhouse is too rough on his soft bunny feet. Peter is cautious not to hop into the heffalump trap at Pooh's Corner.

Carolina Children's Garden is free and open daily. When invited to dinner at Three Bears Homestead, he thrills to call the family together by ringing the dinner bell. He prefers entering the homestead via baby bear's miniature doorway.

At Pooh's Corner he tunnels in the sand with Roo. Pooh, Piglet and Peter like to hide from Tigger in the hollow log. Sometimes Peter calls on kin living in Rabbit's Hole.

When Peter is tuckered out from exploring, he stretches under the pungent smelling Vitex tree in the butterfly garden or secures himself within the tea olive reading room. His senses remain alert to danger even when sleeping.

A pair of arboreal brown headed skinks living in the live oak entrance to the garden show Peter the moist grass for nibbling near the rain garden.

The Flopsy bunnies gather fresh berries in the Growing Healthy Garden. At night Peter and residents from each garden perform on the stage of the open- air amphitheatre with lighting provided by fireflies.

Children will love hopping through summer with Peter Rabbit at the Carolina Children's Garden.

Richland County Master Gardeners under the lead of Mary Kelly have spruced up the grounds for summertime visitors. Eagle Scout, John David Black, constructed a new swing support for youngsters. The garden, located at the Clemson University Sandhill Research and Education Center at Two Notch and Clemson Roads, is free and open seven days a week from 8:30am until dusk. Picnic tables and portable toilets are available on site. Visitors should bring their own drinking water.

Blueberries are among many delicious fruits growing throughout the garden. Peter visits Pooh's Corner. Millet grows in the bird garden. The Alphabet Garden features a children's flower gardening book by local author, JoAnn Stoker. Fearful of dinosaurs and tortoises, Peter circumvents the Dinosaur Garden. Peter gathered the lettuce for a salad. Visitor wiles away an afternoon in Roo's sandbox at Pooh's Corner.