Boone Hall Plantation, just outside Charleston, has a very good rose garden designed by Ruth Knopf. Also, in town, right by the gates to the Citadel, is Hampton Park, which has the Noisette Study Garden plots. I believe they are still there, although it's been a few years since I've visited.

The Charleston SC Garden Meetup Group will be meeting October 25th, 7pm at the Dorchester Road Library. We are going to do a mini-plant swap this time! Just bring two (or whatever you want) orphaned plants and we will have a plant discussion and plant swap. If you want more info you can contact me or check out our website http://gardening.meetup.com/4/ This is absoulutely free, bring friends, neighbors and ALL your Gardening friends. Here is a link that might be useful: Charleston Garden Meetup Group

I love hummingbirds, which is something that I have not seen here, but I can remember one in my uncle's garden in Greenwood, Ms. when I was a child. They are beautiful, aren't they? It sounds as though they like sun-loving plants. We like camellias as well and rhododendrons which we have had some success with in certain parts of our garden. We also have an area for shade loving plants where we grow hostas, ferns, hellebores, toad lilies and epimediums. Have you tried epimediums? I love their beautiful heart-shaped leaves. I would also like to try smilicena racemosa which has lovely scented spring flowers and does well in shade. I am currently looking for suppliers in my area. We have some blackspot on the roses but not as bad as further south, usually keep it under control. And yes, you are right, poison ivy is not something that we have to deal with, but stinging nettles can cause a nasty sting!

Agardenstateof mind - it probably is Deep Cut Gardens though the name doesn't ring a bell. Is it the one with the old hemlocks in back of the main house with the stairs going down? I surprised no one has mentioned it here before unless I just missed it. Birdgardner, thanks for the update. I wanted to recommend Arnold's Promise so I'm glad you got it. The scent is great and the blooms glow. I have Diane as well but I have been disappointed in mine. It doesn't bloom well though I can't say that about other Diane's I've seen. I just got a dud and I am thinking about shovel pruning it. Also, although I've caught a scent off it once or twice over many years, it mostly doesn't have a scent. As far as combo's, winter jasmine, helleborus foetidus, early purple, blue or yellow bulbs like iris reticulata and crocus, any evergreen, cornus winterflame, kerria and other colorful stems. There is a beautiful display at Brooklyn with a the collection of witch hazel heavily under planted with purple crocus tommasinianus and it's gorgeous.