How to Landscape With Shrubs in the Garden

The stunning circa 1850 home of Dr. and Mrs. John Boatwright is situated in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Charleston. Each of the three successive owners of the property have been avid gardeners, meaning there is lots of established old growth. The Boatwright garden has been featured on the annual Charleston garden tour as part of the Garden Conservancy's Open Days program. Private Charleston gardens are included in the tour each year during the internationally known arts festival Spoleto Festival USA. "I like the older garden feel," says homeowner John Boatwright, "we've preserved and protected what was here." Local plant expert Beth McGinty contributed her expertise to this garden tour, identifying many flowers and plants.

A beautiful brick fountain flanked by hydrangea bushes provides a tranquil feature in this Charleston garden.

A variety of aquatic plants add visual interest and texture to this Charleston garden fountain.

A fixture in any Southern garden, hydrangeas do well in the partial shade of the Boatwright garden. With the right balance of pH in the garden, flowers can sport pink, purple and blue flowers on the same inflorescence.