Swan Lake Iris Gardens

Directional Map to Swan Lake Iris Gardens (PDF*)

For Frequently Asked Questions about Swan Lake, Click Here.

A Floral Wonderland

The beautiful black waters of Swan Lake form the setting for the spectacular Iris Gardens. The lake is dotted with colorful islands, and wildlife is abundant. The only public park in the United States to feature all eight swan species, Swan Lake-Iris Gardens is also home to some of the nation's most intensive plantings of Japanese iris, which bloom yearly in mid to late May and last until the beginning of June. The garden also boasts many other floral attractions, including colorful camellias, azaleas, day lilies, and Japanese magnolias. A Braille Trail enables the sight-impaired to enjoy the scents and sensations of the gardens. The gardens come alive with color during the Christmas season with the nighttime Fantasy of Lights display, featuring more than 1,000,000 varicolored sparkling lights in an array of colors and shapes.

Swan Lake-Iris Gardens began in 1927 as a private fishing retreat for Hamilton Carr Bland, a local businessman. At the same time he was developing the 30 acres of swamp on what is now West Liberty Street, he was landscaping the grounds of his home with Japanese iris. They failed miserably, and after consulting expert horticulturists from as far away as New York, he ordered his gardener to dig up the bulbs and dump them at the swamp. The following spring, they burst into bloom. The accidental garden, referred to by Southern Living magazine a "lovely mistake," has since been developed into one of the finest botanical gardens in the United States.

Following Bland's lead, in 1938 Mr. A.T. Heath, Sr., deeded the additional acreage on the other side of Liberty Street to the city with the stipulation that Mr. Bland develop this part of the gardens. Today, the Heath Gardens encompass most of the park's 120 acres. Mr. Bland deeded the Bland Gardens to the city in 1949. The two gardens are joined by the McDuffie Overpass, a gift to the city from the McDuffie family in 1994. The most recent addition is the Heath Pavilion, opened in 2002 at the rear of the Heath Gardens on property given to the city by the Heath family in 1998.

The magnificent swans are gathered from all over the world, representing Australia, North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Originally imported by Mr. Bland in the late 1920's, the Australian Black swans have been in residence the longest, and some of the birds living in the garden at present are their descendants. Other species were added over the years, with the donation of Bewick swans in 1997 by Yuasa-Exide Corporation completing the collection. Visitors are permitted to bring bread and crackers for feeding the swans, who are usually friendly except during the early spring mating season, when reasonable caution should be exercised as they become quite territorial at this time. Canada geese, mallards, egrets, herons and anhingas also call the gardens home.

Swan Lake-Iris Gardens contains the open-air Garden Street picnic shelter, the covered Heath Pavilion with seating for 200, and the enclosed Visitor's Center with conference or reception space for 125. Picnic tables are located throughout the grounds, and a large playground features an antique fire engine perfect for climbing. The Bland Gardens also feature a boardwalk, on which visitors may meander through a cypress swamp, and a gazebo that is popular for spring weddings.

The Heath Pavilion, Garden Street Shelter, Visitor's Center and gazebo are available for special events by reservation. Please contact the Visitor's Center at tourism@sumter-sc.com for more information. The gardens are handicap accessible.

MEET THE SWANS

Royal White Mute Swans (British Isles to Mongolia, North American, Australia, South Africa, China, and New Zealand)

The Mute Swan was introduced to North America, Australia, South Africa, China, and New Zealand after being bred in the British Isles to Mongolia. Most winter within their breeding range while others go South in the Southern U.S.A., Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. The female (pen) lays four to eight greenish blue eggs in a nest of huge piles of reed stems, leaves, roots and sticks. This material is located on a bank or an island, or in shallow water. Both birds gather the material, but the female builds the nest. Incubation is usually by the female alone within 35-40 days. Mute swans can weigh as much as 20 pounds, and are one of the largest birds known to the British Isles. Their normal life span is 6-7 years, but there have been records of Mutes over 20 years old.

Black Necked Swans ( South America, Falkland Islands )

The Black Necked Swan migrates to the Northern Hemisphere after breeding in the southern third of South America and the Falkland Islands. Generally those living in the Falkland Island area do not migrate. The female swan lays from four to eight cream colored eggs. After building the large bulky nest of plant material, the female incubates the eggs for 36 days. The average weight of a Black Necked Swan is 9-12 lbs.

The Coscoroba (South America, Falkland Islands )

The average weight of the male (cobb) Coscoroba Swan is 11 lbs. Females weigh an average of 8-8 1/2 lbs.. They breed in the southern third of South America and in the Falkland Islands. If a bad winter occurs, they may move north to Chile, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. The females lay from four to seven creamy white eggs. The nest are made up of mud and aquatic vegetation near the edge of the water. The female incubates alone for a period of 35 days. These swans have pure white feathers with a pink beak and pink legs.

The Whooper (Sweden, Finland, Northern Russia, Japan, China)

The Whooper Swan winters in Great Britain, Northern Europe, Asia Minor, Northern India, China, Japan, and Korea. The pen usually lays from 4-6 white eggs. They build a bulky nest of moss, aquatic grasses, and some mud on small islets, close to puddles in boggy areas, and along calm parts of rivers. The same nest may be built up and used for many years. The female incubates the eggs for 31-40 days. These swans are white with a bright yellow beak. The Whooper swan nests for the first time when it is 3-4 years old. The birds pair off when they are 2 years old. Although most swan pairs are for life, this breed has an unusual 6% divorce rate! The noisy Whooper was recently taken off of the endangered species list.

The Trumpeter (North America, Alaska, Albeta, British Columbia)

The Trumpeter Swans breed in North America, southern interior Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Generally they remain in the breeding area until the water is frozen. Alaska's population of Trumpeter Swans will migrate to the coast of British Columbia. The female lays four to eight white eggs. Their nests are made from sedge and other aquatic plants on top of muskrat lodges surrounded by water. Occasionally theses nests are on marshy ground far from the open water. The incubation period for the eggs is from 33-37 days. The Trumpeter is known for its unique call.

The Black Australian Swan (Australia, New Zealand)

The Black Australian Swan's breeding area is in Australia. The cobb generally will weigh up to 14 lbs., while the female weighs around 12 lbs. The female lays four to ten pale green eggs. They build their nests in colonies. The site for these nests is chosen frequently on a sedge island in a lake or lagoon. Incubation is shared by males and females for about 34-40 days. These Swans are the most social of the swans and during the breeding season will often nest in loose colonies. Most other swans will not tolerate other pairs anywhere near their nests.

The Whistler Swan (North American Tundra, China)

The average weight of the female is 13 1/2 pounds and males are 15 1/2. Their breeding area is the North America tundra. They are also bred in China. The Whistler Swans winter along both the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts and southern China. Making nests on tundra along shores of lakes or ponds, and occasionally on islands. The female lays from three to five white eggs, which take 30-32 days to incubate. These swans are white with a black beak and a yellow dot below the eye. Normally swans mate once a year and are very protective of their territory during this time. Whistlers mate with one partner for life and don't mate outside their own species.

The Bewick Swan (Northern Russia from the Kanin Delta to the Lena Delta, migrates to parts of Japan)

The Bewick swan is native to Northern Russia from the Kanin Delta to the Lena Delta. The swan has also migrated to parts of Japan and winters in the British Isles, Northern Europe, Denmark, and Ireland. Their nests are generally made on small islands in river estuaries and lakes, or near tundra pools. They usually lay three to five eggs, which are incubated by the female alone for 29-30 days. Bewick swans pair up for life, and the death of one partner usually leads to the death of the other.