Mepkin Abbey Botanical Garden

Mepkin Abbey Botanical Garden is a large garden space set within the grounds of a Trappist monastery in South Carolina, featuring different plant collections and natural landscapes. The garden includes mature oak trees, a dedicated camellia garden, and sections showcasing native plants that thrive in the local climate.

The land was originally a plantation established in the early 1700s and later became the home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It was transformed into a Trappist monastery in 1949 and has since functioned as a place of prayer and horticultural work.

The landscape design by architect Loutrel Briggs shapes how visitors move through the gardens and experience the connection between nature and monastic life. This thoughtful layout creates spaces that feel both cultivated and contemplative.

The garden welcomes visitors six days a week, closing only on Mondays, and the grounds are easy to walk through. Signage throughout helps guide visitors through the different plant sections and themed areas.

The monks operated an egg production facility for many years before transitioning to mushroom cultivation in 2007. This practical shift demonstrates how the monastic community adapted its agricultural work to modern circumstances.