Located on a former 19th century plantation, Kalmia Gardens is a 38-acre public botanical garden and historic house open to the public. The Thomas E. Hart House, built in 1820 with timber cut from the property, and surrounding gardens are on the National Register of Historic Places. Kalmia Gardens boasts a wide array of rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, tea-olives, dogwood and the Gardens’ namesake: Kalmia latifolia, the Mountain Laurel. Kalmia Gardens is part of the scenic SC Cotton Trail and is the gateway to the 796-acre Segars-McKinnon Heritage Preserve.