Hatcher Gardens-Spartanburg, SC

Gazebo in Garden of Hope and Healing

Hatcher Gardens holds a very special place in my heart. It's where I proposed to my wife, and 3 years later, it's where my very pregnant wife and I walked for hours on end in order to jump start her labor (it worked). Now I visit almost daily due to the demands of a particularly opinionated 2 year old girl named Olivia.  I will admit that the frequency has a lot to do with the fact that it's less than 2 miles from my front door, but that doesn't mean this place isn't amazing. The short drive just really helps when Olivia is done with her car seat approximately 2.5 seconds after being strapped in. When you pull in to the small 8 car parking lot you are not exactly overwhelmed by this place, which may tempt you to put it in reverse, but that would be a mistake I assure you.  All you need to do is walk 20 feet down the first concrete path to lose all the sounds of the (cough) sprawling metropolis (cough cough). All you hear is the splashing of a fountain and the running of a small pebbled stream. Once over the first wooden bridge you come to the first fork in the path. I am not really sure why, but we always take the path to the right. First it was out of habit I guess, but now, should I even begin to form the thought of going left, a proper fit is thrown on the part of Olivia. Hatcher Gardens is not particularly large and though you can most likely walk the paths in about 10 minutes, you won't. You can't resist stopping to look at the amazing assortment of plants and wildlife, and conveniently enough every time you find yourself wondering what type of plant you are looking at, you have only to look at the base where there is almost always a marker that will tell you. 


Bridge over looking a must-see waterfall

When you take that first right and walk past the bald cypress pond you are suddenly aware that all you hear is nature, water running and what seems like every bird song observed in nature.  My daughter always looks over the edge of the pathway to see all the fish swimming in the pond and the occasional turtle poking out his head only to be terrified at the company. We continue down the path and come to a small pavilion with arbors and stone benches. There is also a sand pit that I believe was originally meant as a zen garden, but through the visits of many children (Olivia not exempt), it is now used as an area to dig and build and bury. Recently this is where we spend all of our time, as apparently there is nothing more fun to a 2 year old girl then running in circles around the pavilion, broken up by periods of yelling at bugs (of course).  If, however, you are lucky enough to keep walking, I suggest you make your way around to the observation deck overlooking the lower pond.  On the deck there is plenty of seating as well as a picnic table. And, as always, nothing but the sound of nature. 

Observation Deck

Hatcher Gardens has become a staple in my life and if I should not make it there one week I find myself actually missing it.  With plenty of out of the way benches and gazebos it can be a truly romantic place (like one where you might propose to your girlfriend, for instance), while also being a great place to bring your entire family.  I firmly believe that we need to get today's children outdoors, and Hatcher Gardens is a great, safe place to do that while still offering learning and teaching opportunities for you and your family.


http://hatchergarden.org/