The Daniel Island School and Community Garden will host an event as part of their Grow and Learn Lecture series at the Daniel Island Public Library on Saturday, June 29 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. The library lecture will be followed by a tour of the Daniel Island School and Community Garden where lemonade and healthy treats will be served. The event is free and open to the public. (Donations are accepted and will be used to fund future events.)

Sharleen Johnson, the owner of Native Plants to the People LLC, will be the presenter. Sharleen, a native of Rochester, New York, has 13 years of experience gardening using native plants in the Charleston area. She has been gardening since childhood, starting in her mother’s backyard organic vegetable garden. Sharleen trained as a Master Urban Gardener in Boston and subsequently taught multiple sections of the course. She earned an M.S. in marine biology from the College of Charleston as well as a B.A. in biology and M.A.T. in secondary science education from Duke University. Her work experience includes nine years as a marine ecologist for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Sharleen began blending her expertise as an ecologist with her lifelong interest in gardening, and in March 2022, she launched her native plant nursery and habitat garden consulting business: Native Plants to the People. Her passion, and now profession, is helping people add natural beauty and habitat value to their home landscapes. Sharleen has served on the board of the Lowcountry Chapter of the SC Native Plant Society for seven years.