The Isle of Palms Garden Shop has the accessories needed to personalize your garden.

ocated just off Isle of Palms Connector, the Isle of Palms Garden Shop is the kind of tailored gardening shop the low country of Charleston is looking for. Penny Fraipont opened the shop during the troubling times of September 2001. "Not a day goes by without a customer referral. The best advertising I get is the word of mouth advertising from customers who patronize the shop, referring friends and relatives," said Fraipont. "My shop is neat and unique, offering the basics in nursery, bedding plants, baskets, pots, trees, shrubs, yard art and a great gift shop. I try to provide gardening themes and many unique items so my customers can develop a personality garden that fits their character and lifestyle."

For the low country of Charleston, Fraipont recommends island gardening, especially for those who live on the islands. "Island gardening is different from Mt. Pleasant or the Charleston Peninsula gardening because an island garden must consider the salt, sand, soil, wind and beach. Plants must be able to endure the wind. I recommend using native plants, and if a customer is at Wild Dunes, or an area where deer can be an annoyance, I suggest deer resistant, salt tolerant plants."

"Learning by trial and error, most garden enthusiasts should visit garden shows, network with colleagues and interact with folks who share the knowledge and fun of gardening," said Fraipont. "The best time to plant perennials is in the springtime. Don't plant in the heat of the summer, or in the cold of winter. My preference is to have a garden with a variety of perennials and annuals, because annuals add such vibrant color."

Fraipont encourages gardeners to visit the nursery and gift shop to see the fountains, arbors, gazebos, wooden boats, bird baths, and stainless steel palm trees available at the Isle of Palms Garden Shop. Many of the gardening items are created by low country artists and are unique and kind of funky."

She encourages a gardener, "not to be afraid to try new things. Put your personality in your garden. Consider all factors when deciding what to plant in your yard. Do the plants need to be salt tolerant, deer or wind resistant, or do the plants need full sun, full shade, or a combination? Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Take a few chances when planning your garden. What works in your neighbor's yard, might not work in your garden. If a plant isn't thriving, move it to another location."

Fraipont adds, "Most important to all gardeners is to remember to have fun and be creative. If a lover of gardening likes funky things, place something with an offbeat theme in the garden. It never hurts to have a bit of yourself in the garden."