The Secret Garden at A.C. Moore Elementary School is a courtyard garden at the center of the school. The courtyard was formed and enclosed in 1994 during new construction of a classroom wing. At that time the garden became a parent- generated project and is to this day a project maintained by the Beautification Committee of the PTO. Virginia Postic currently chairs the Beautification Committee.
The 120′ x 60′ garden was originally designed in consultation with local landscape architects, building contractors, and horticulturists according to Christina Mandall, former A.C. Moore parent and chair of Beautification in 2001.
Brick pavers engraved with names of students and family members comprise the floor of the garden and were a project of the school’s Education Foundation.
The perimeter of the space is furnished primarily in southern evergreen trees, shrubs, and vines including eastern red cedar, crape myrtle, wax myrtle, loquat, azaleas, pittosporum, tea olive, American holly, fatsia, confederate jasmine, and evergreen clematis.
Plaque was made to commerorate the opening of The Secret Garden in 1994.
Groundcovers of English ivy, periwinkle, mondo grass, and oxalis carpet the beds. In spring bulbs peek through for brief tenure. Birds are attracted to the plants, nesting boxes, bird baths, and water in the Koi pond.
Over the years the garden has been used as a community space hosting PTO receptions, class pictures, choral performances, and Brownie troop ceremonies recalls Trace Ballou, former parent volunteer. One feature in the garden caters to outdoor performances. Two sets of brick steps are used either to seat the audience or as risers for chorus and band.
The garden has been part of the neighborhood tour of homes and gardens and won the Richland County 2008 Appearance Counts Award.
Teachers have used the outdoor classroom for art lessons, science experiments, pageants like the medieval feast, silent reading, and creative writing and dramatics. The school recycling club has a compost tumbler on the site.
Time-out for begonias.
The garden has been a retreat for teachers and for students in need of a change of scene before returning to the classroom. Bobcats (school mascot) tame their tempers here.
The senses are awakened and soothed in the garden. Aromatic cedar and rosemary are everpresent. Confederate jasmine and hydrangeas scent the spring. The mime of a mockingbird and gurgling of water cycling in the pond provide background music. Interesting colors and textures grab the eyes. The seat of a chair is planted in begonias. Fronds of the palmetto palm sway in the cool breeze which air conditions the space.
Several classrooms have doorways leading directly into the garden, but most Bobcats and visitors enter with a key like the storybook characters Mary and Colin did. Just as the book by the same name has enamored generations with its magic, mystery, and insights into life through the eyes of children and adults, the Secret Garden at A.C. Moore will continue to allure and inspire families.
Koi pond with papyrus in water and confederate jasmine grow along the back wall.
Brick steps serve double duty for performers or the audience.
Oakleaf hydrangeas grow well in the shade of other plants.
A poem is on a plaque in the garden.
Bobcat pawpr ints lead to A.C. Moore’s Secret Garden.
The Secret Garden was awarded the Richland County Appearance Counts Award in 2008.
Arbor with windchimes
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