Garden party at Governor's Mansion showcases nature and art
By Rachel Haynie

Barbara Ridgell of the Iris Garden Club welcomes guests to a cloistered garden that flanks the Governor's Mansion grounds.

The Lace House, the three- story house adjacent to the Governor's Mansion, has seen many uses since Columbia financier John Caldwell built it in 1845 as a wedding gift for his daughter.

The house evaded Sherman's torch and, over its years, has been home to multiple generations of the original family. It later served as a rooming house and even headquarters for South Carolina's branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

For one day last week the butter-colored house, whose name reflects the filigree ironwork that accentuates the balconies and porticos, became a showcase for art. The Columbia Garden Club claimed two of the three floors of the home refurbished a few years ago by the Governor's Mansion Foundation as gallery space.

Thirteen artists with ties to South Carolina added the beauty and creativity of their work to the effects of nature's paintbrush, evident throughout the sprawling campus that is home to the First Family and state guests.

Artist Linda English, in background, moves one of her paintings while Jaclyn Wukela shows emerging artist Joan Davis a technique for using oil crayons.

On the ground floor, with doors opening onto the walled garden where lunch was served at round tables, Jaclyn Wukela, Lynda English, Pollie Bristow, and Anna Coe had work on display.

The main floor was showcase space for Briggs Whiteford, Robin Smith, Miriam Mays, Cherrie Nute, Nica Sweeny, Tyler Anne Blanton, David Russell, Nola Burnett, and Harriett Brown.

The artist showcase was part of the garden club's tours, an initiative they shared with the Mansion Foundation Garden Tours. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Columbia Garden Club Foundation. A reception honoring the artists and other guests was held that evening.

The Columbia Garden Club was founded in 1926 to promote a love of gardening among amateurs and to encourage civic beautification.

Caroline Matthews of the Columbia Garden Club touches up one of the arrangements.

The Columbia Garden Club Foundation was established in 1983 with funs from the sale of property bequeathed in 1950 by Miss Janie Dent. The Foundation has contributed more than $300,000 to community projects.