As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Sandhills Community College Horticultural Gardens invites guests to explore a small piece of what life in this region may have looked like in 1776—from a plant perspective.
Early settlers faced the challenge of adapting to the Sandhills’ sandy soils and unique ecosystems, quickly learning which crops could sustain life in this environment. Indigenous communities already possessed deep knowledge of these landscapes, shaping the agricultural and herbal practices that followed.
Through this self-guided tour, A Garden Journey Through 1776, you’ll discover how plants, ecosystems, and traditional knowledge connect the Sandhills to the Revolutionary Era. Along the way, explore topics such as longleaf pine ecology, cat face trees, native crops, and historic foodways…