The Sasanqua Garden Club is continuing its long-term effort to transform Beeland Park Gardens into a destination that celebrates Greenville’s camellia heritage while providing new opportunities for recreation, education and tourism.
The park, a historic property owned by the City of Greenville, was gifted to the city in 1933 by R.A. Beeland. The Beeland Park Camellia Gardens were recognized in 2023 by the American Camellia Society as the 65th garden on the American Camellia Trail.
A 2024 partnership between the Sasanqua Garden Club, the City of Greenville and the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce was formed to renovate and improve the Gardens.
“We have been working on this for, I guess, two years now,” past president Steadham McGowin said, crediting renowned camellia expert Bobby Green of Fairhope with developing the master plan for the gardens. She said completed improvements include a commemorative brick walkway, a salt kettle fountain, stone pillars, an iron camellia sculpture, picnic tables and expanded camellia plantings, with additional phases planned as funding becomes available.
McGowin said the work has been made possible through corporate and private donations, along with proceeds from fundraising efforts such as the club’s commemorative brick campaign, allowing new features to be added as support grows.
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