Lost Boys serve up a garden

The Lost Boys The near perfect weather of September has been ideal for outdoor activities in Columbia city parks. One gem of a park is South East Park and Tennis Complex on Hazelwood Drive off Sumter Highway. The 62- acre park has walking trails, a six- acre fishing pond, award winning tennis courts, bird watching within a preserved natural forest, areas to picnic on a blanket or in a lawn chair, and a plant assortment for gardener's to covet. From entranceway to ranger's cottage to the tennis courts, plant companions escort visitors in every season.

One specialty garden along the length of tennis courts 1- 10 was donated by a group of about 20 appreciative tennis buffs. They play tennis three hours a day, three days a week for free. Ken Gehler, one of the tennis players and an avid home gardener, initiated the idea of giving something back to the beautiful park. Gehler wanted to see perennial flowers lining the outside of the courts. He collected donations from his buddies for the project and gave the funds to park ranger, Tony Brazell, asking him to secure plants that would fit the soil and cli- mate conditions.

Tony Brazell, park ranger, provided a sign to honor garden donors. Brazell, skilled in landscape design, installed grasses, shrubs, trees, and perennials that provide a dramatic landscape year- round. Currently beauty berry, lantana, hibiscus and Texas rose are blooming along the tennis courts. Brazell nicknamed the donors, whose ages average in the 70s, The Lost Boys and had a sign placed among the garden in their honor.

The park entranceway is lush with a groundcover of zinnia linearis, red cannas, elephant ears, and cattails. The ranger station is festooned in climbing red roses, white morning glories, and hyacinth beans. The park opens at 7 am and closes at 9 pm.

The Lost Boys also raise money for the Midlands Foundation for Foster Children serving forlorn children being processed into DSS. They receive a brand new tote bag and older students who are college bound receive scholarship monies from The Lost Boys.

Zinnia linearis Beauty berries are abundant along the tennis courts. Six- acre fishing pond Hazelwood Drive entranceway to South East Park. Vine- covered ranger station