THE GARDEN AT ORTON 
Within the past thirty-five years the unique gardens at Orton Planta- 
tion have been developed increasingly. The ancient Live Oaks still 
enframe the gleaming portico of the mansion which, from the bluff still 
looks outward over rice fields to the river. Such is the setting for the 
year ‘round glory of the garden. 
The approach reveals the evergreen charm of the Low Country, its pines 
and wide-spread oaks, its black waters and thickets of bays and hollies, 
its smother of grape and smilax, jessamine and trumpet creeper, and, 
frequently, the silvery gray of Spanish moss. After crossing the causeway 
one glimpses the dark lake ringed with dogwood and Indian azaleas, 
the golden field of daffodils, the white chapel in its camphor grove and 
finally the garden itself with its vistas. 
Camellias in their hundreds sparkle with color from late autumn to 
early spring when the Japanese azaleas bring them brilliant carpets. 
The specialist will come from afar to see one of the finest collections in 
the country but the casual visitor will follow the lure of new pictures, 
new flowered or berried shrubs. Then comes the flood of Indian azalea 
and dogwood, wisteria, rose, and redbud to be followed by the true 
Southerners, mimosa, bay, crape myrtle, and gardenia. Each season is 
marked by its peculiar fragrance: loquat, tea olive, osmanthus, and 
‘japan allspice’ precede the long winter of the heavy scented daphne 
and roses and jessamine carry on to the gardenias and sweet bay of 
high summer. 
Each separate garden about the broad sweep of verdant lawns has its 
own charm; the quarter mile of camellia bordered path, the formality of 
the house terrace, the neat garden scroll of interwoven azaleas and dark 
yew, the reflections of quince and wisteria, rose and holly in the long 
lagoon, the festoons of moss in the old graveyard, the cathedral arch 
of oaks above the green circle, all appeal and each in its season holds 
its sway. In rich greens or blaze of bloom Orton embodies the romance 
ef the South. 
(Garden design under the supervision of Robert Swan Sturtevant, M.L.A.) 
AID TO GARDENERS 
We will be glad io help you with your azalea and camellia problems. 
Send us a portion of diseased plants together with any information which 
you think might be helpful. We will attempt to diagnose the trouble 
and suggest corrective treatment. Include a self-addressed envelope for 
our reply. If you are in doubt about your soil, send a sample of about 
two pounds to your State College of Agriculture for a soil test, and send 
their findings to us. Their report will enable us to understand your 
problems better. 


