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Kalmia Gardens

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Kalmia Gardens of Coker College has been open to the public since 1935 and includes many exotic ornamentals planted by Mrs. David Robert Coker, the garden’s founder. When the Coker family acquired the land in 1932, “Miss May” began transforming what was then a desolate area into a place of tranquility and beauty, creating many trails that lead down to Black Creek. She gave Kalmia Gardens to Coker College in 1965 as a memorial to her late husband. In 2002, her daughter established the Joslin Education Center at the Gardens.
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An Afternoon at Kalmia Gardens

June 18, 2019

By Edward Leitgeb, ‘19, Coker College marketing and communications intern.

Kalmia Gardens is 38 acres of untouched nature and history. The gardens are available for everyone and anyone to enjoy. It is the perfect location to relax after a long day, explore with friends and family, take your pet for a walk, or have lunch at the Joslin Education Center.
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Our Latest Story!

An Afternoon at Kalmia Gardens

Edward Leitgeb, ‘19, explores the Pee Dee’s oldest and only public garden.
June 18, 2019
By Edward Leitgeb, ‘19, Coker College marketing and communications intern. Kalmia Gardens is 38 acres of untouched nature and history. The gardens are available for everyone and anyone to enjoy. It is the perfect location to relax after a long day, explore with friends and family, take your pet for a walk, or have lunch at the Joslin Education Center.
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ABOUT COKER UNIVERSITY

Coker University is a student-focused, comprehensive institution of higher education with a strong liberal arts core, located in Hartsville, South Carolina. Coker combines round table, discussion-based learning with hands-on experiences to encourage active participation in and out of the classroom. A supportive, close-knit community prepares Coker students with the confidence and practical life skills they need to reach their personal best, in college and beyond.

Founded in 1908, Coker is a bachelor’s and master’s degree-granting institution and competes in 21 NCAA Division II sports. Coker is included among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review, and by Washington Monthly as a “Best Bang for Your Buck” college in the southeast.