If you find yourself in the parking lot of the West Columbia entrance, be sure to take a stroll along a path of river rocks through the Dry Garden. Built in 2002, the Dry Garden contains a wide array of plants that can tolerate extended periods with very little water.
These plants are indicative of what you would find in desert to semi-desert regions. They are adapted to hot summers with little or no rainfall each year. Many of these plants are succulents, meaning they have thick leaves that store water. Others perform very well in a milder environment but can adapt to the harshness of the desert.