Investigators probe orange chemical as garden center opens after vandalism

A Greenville County nursery and garden center is back open five days after vandals attacked the business with an unknown chemical. The gates of Martin Garden Center, at 198 Martin Road off Mauldin Road near Fairforest Way, reopened Monday with employees and volunteers still working to repair the damage. Vandals sprayed an orange chemical on more than 15,000 plants last Wednesday, according to a police report. Tests were expected to determine the exact chemical that was used. In the days that followed, volunteers and employees had to scrub the orange residue off by hand, and some plants requiring leaf-by-leaf attention, owner Reggie Meehan said.