The retired social worker and his wife, Josephine, who died nearly two years ago, turned their back yard into a beautiful botanical garden almost three decades ago, and after years of real estate acquisitions, an arboretum that extends for acres along John B. White Sr. Boulevard is a testament of their hard work and love for their community. There are areas of the garden covered with hundreds of varieties of plants. Trails wind through the dense forest, taking you past lily-coated ponds. The terraced hills serve as training grounds for horticulture students.
Paths attract people looking for a quiet stroll or to observe the wildlife.
Among his current dreams for the garden is to have rhododendron plants blooming almost year-round. Spartanburg citizens, if not already bitten by the lure of the sights and sounds of Hatcher Garden, should pause to enjoy what has made this community a better spot in the world. At 94, Hatcher is looking for the next generation to continue his work, but it will be no easy task. And our lives and the lives of future generations will be richer for his sharing what began as a backyard dream and grew to become a community's dream place for enjoyment of the outdoors.