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The Soon to Bloom project was unveiled at the Wendell Mitchell Conference Center on the Campus of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College on May 8, showcasing ongoing beautification efforts in Greenville. 

Mayor Dexter Mclendon delivered opening remarks, discussing the city’s plans to hire a new city horticulturist to replace Jennifer Stringer, who recently retired. Following Mclendon, landscape and design expert Bobby Green, owner of Green Nurseries, presented a detailed outline of the project.

“Soon to Bloom is a long-range project between the City of Greenville, the Sasanqua Garden Club and the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce,” said Chamber of Commerce Director Tracy Salter. “It is designed to improve the beautiful 8-acre camellia garden located at Beland Park,”

Beland Park Gardens was accepted into the American Camellia Society and the American Camellia Trail in April 2023 and is home to hundreds of well-established camellia trees as well as many planted in the last decade. 

“There are truly so many wonderful beautification and community betterment projects in the works right now within the city and the Chamber is thrilled to be a part,” Salter said.

Nancy Idland, director of the Greenville Area Arts Council, expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming project. 

“It’s so exciting to hear all the plans for Soon to Bloom,” Idland said. “The new looks all around the community are really going to enhance the already quaint beauty of our town.”

The Soon to Bloom project represents the latest step in ongoing efforts to improve the city’s aesthetics and community spaces through collaboration between local government, civic organizations and community members.