Recently, the Golden Hearts group of Pyerian Baptist Church visited the world famous Pearl Fryar Topiary Gardens in Bishopville, SC.
 Started thirty-three years ago, as an attempt to have his yard recognized for Garden of the Month, Mr. Pearl Fryar is now a sought after public speaker.
He was featured in the award-winning documentary “A Man Called Pearl” and in a Super Bowl commercial.  He has also inaugurated the Pearl Fryar Scholarship for junior and technical schools.  His vision is to grant scholarships to “C” students who may be gifted in areas other than academics. 
As Pearl says, “Lawyers and doctors need plumbers and heating and air-conditioning technicians.” 
The son of a share-cropper, his true goal is to keep kids out of prison and guide them into higher pursuits.

The garden itself is composed of “rejects,” plants that have been discarded by a local nursery. Mr. Fryar uses no fertilizer or irrigation. 
His only “Formal” training was a three minute lesson at a hardware store.
He has been told by experts that he does it all wrong and this is not possible.  Now they ask him to give lectures.
While there, other groups also toured the gardens (actually the Fryar’s yard which they have opened to the public.)  Some were from as far a way as California. The Golden Hearts made a contribution to the scholarship and individuals made contributions to the maintenance of the garden.
The Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden is on the left, only 1 mile off I-20 at exit 116.  the garden has made such an impact that Bishopville has incorporated Mr. Fryar’s designs into their downtown revitalization and a living work is featured on the grounds of the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. 
The State Museum is the next planned destination for the Golden Hearts.