Warblers are easy to spot with their bright yellow colors. If you look at the trees, you'll first see them quickly darting in and out. Stand still and set your binoculars toward the edge of the branches. Viola! - Bear Island Trish Bender 2/20/2009

From the Great Outdoor Recreation website:

Some of the best places to see birds and wildlife happen also to be the most beautiful, don’t-miss spots in the Low Country.

The Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin is located in portions of Charleston, Colleton, Beaufort and Hampton Counties, South Carolina. The ACE is 350,000 acres of salt and brackish water marshes, maritime forest, upland pine and bottom land hardwoods. Birds and animals present are the wood stork, American alligator, peregrine falcon (fall only), and the bald eagle: The ACE is home to 19 species of waterfowl, 13 species of wading birds, deer, turkey and fox squirrels. The Basin is also recognized as a Bioreserve, a National Estuarine Research Reserve and a flagship project of the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture portion of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

The National Wildlife Reserve’s offices are in Hollywood, South Carolina, 25 miles south of Charleston.

South of the ACE lies Pinckney Island National Wildlife Reserve, near the famous resort of Hilton Head. Pinckney NWR is highlighted by more than 14 miles of trails for wildlife and bird viewing. If you are fortunate enough to have a boat, you may get a better view shore and wading birds, including the endangered wood stork.

Further south, the freshwater empoundments and dikes at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge date from the 1700s. They were built with slave labor to grow rice on the plantations that once occupied the land. The dikes are open to foot travel and provide excellent wildlife observation points.

South of Savannah, Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge offers volunteers the opportunity to help monitor the nesting activities of giant loggerhead sea turtles. Volunteers monitors work under the supervision of personnel from the Savannah Science Museum. Wassaw Island is one of the least developed of Georgia’s barrier islands and is accessible only by boat. Birding and beachcombing are excellent here. Visitors often launch boats at Skidaway Island and Isle of Hope in the Savannah area to get to Wassaw.

Ossabaw Island, Wassaw’s neighbor to the south, belongs to the State of Georgia as a Heritage Preserve, the strongest level of protection offered by the state. This wilderness preserve allows visitors and limited camping and hunting. Wildlife includes dolphins, osprey, herons, Abyssinian donkeys, wild boar, endangered loggerhead sea turtles and alligators. Visits are arranged through the Ossabaw Island Foundation in Savannah, Georiga.

Many of the Low Country’s wildlife refuges are somewhat hard to get to, but not Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge. It offers easy access and more than 15 miles of paved roads and trails. A highlight is the large concentration of ducks in wintertime.

The United States Navy purchased Blackbeard Island in 1800 as a source for live oak timber for ship-building. The island has been under continuous federal ownership ever since, and the dense live oak forests are still in existence. Within Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge lies a 3,000-acre wilderness area. Species present include wood stork, loggerhead sea turtle, piping plover, peregrine falcon, American alligator, West Indian manatee, and bald eagle. Blackbeard Island is accessible only by boat, which must be arranged privately.

Sapelo Island is open to the public and offers the opportunity to observe a typical barrier island natural community. The island’s rich ecosystems includes diversified wildlife, forested uplands, vast expanses of Spartina salt marsh and a complex beach and dunes system. Visitors can use an observation tower to make bird and wildlife-viewing easier. Also, there are trails, bridges, a marsh observation deck and boardwalks over sand dunes. Interpretive signs provide a self-guided tour with detailed information about the island’s flora and fauna.

The island is home to the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, which is managed by the Parks and Historic Sites Division of Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources. Hog Hammock, an historic African-American community, is on Sapelo Island. Contact the McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce, Darien, Georgia for more information. (See Practicalities page.)

Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wilderness area. The refuge’s thousands of acres of salt marsh and all beach and upland areas are closed to the public, but boating is permitted in its waters.

Birding and wildlife-watching in the Low Country need not be limited to official reserves and state-owned properties. Wherever you go, keep your eyes open. You might see a manatee swimming off the downtown waterfront in St. Marys. Dolphin frequent nearly all the beaches, and almost any quiet, open spot near water is a good place to watch birds.

Each year, pond owners all over the Lowcountry open their private water gardens to the public.  Thousands of visitors take advantage of the 1-day event, viewing beautiful backyard water gardens of every size, shape and style. 

This year the Charleston Showa Koi Club displayed 33 ponds and water gardens from Summerville to Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island to Johns Island and everywhere in between. For $10.00 per person, visitors received a ticket booklet that provided directions to and information about each garden, including specific details on the ponds and the fish.   Water gardens are open from 9AM – 4PM, followed by a Grand Finale Cook-out on John’s Island from 5PM to 7PM complete with information booths, raffle prizes and fun events for the kids.

A portion of the proceeds was donated to the Charleston Animal Society. For information about the annual tour go to: www.charlestonshowakoiclub.org

If you do the tour, here are some hints to make it a fun and successful day:

• Buy your book early and plan ahead – there’s no way you can see them all in one day.  Most folks do one or two areas per year and save the rest for future tours.
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• Pack your car for the whole day – It never fails that the day of the tour will be very hot, so pack a cooler of water and snacks. Bug spray too.
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• It’s more fun as a group – Caravan with friends to make the most of your day.
• Bring your camera – Unlike some tours, photos are welcomed. 
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions – Pond Owners love to show off their hard work, so if you’re considering building a pond or want to learn about koi keeping, ask lots of questions. 
• Make yourself at home – Take the time to sit and enjoy the ponds you visit.  Owners will welcome it if you sit and stay a few minutes to get a feel for how each yard feels.  There’s no better way to decide what kind of pond you may desire than by trying them on for size.
• Gardeners love gardeners – Many of the pond owners are also avid gardeners so again, ask about the plants you like.  Chances are you may get free cuttings or seeds. 

In addition to the high end performances, Piccolo Spoleto features family friendly events at little to no cost during this same tiem period. And if that’s not enough, there’s a myriad of Piccolo Fringe events by artists who take advantage of the crowds to strut their stuff.  You can find these in the City Paper or at www.charleston.net

For a full list of events, go to http://www.spoletousa.org

Happy Memorial Day Weekend,

Wandering around I was struck by the beauty and distinction of each artist’s style.  Some played it safe, copying the masters or creating classic, sellable pieces that any good citizen would display in their homes and gardens. Others stretched back in time, recreating age-old spiritual pieces from Celtic, Native American and Eskimo traditions.

A few jumped right out of the box and into the ether, playing with the twists and turns of movement and sound, a fun adventure. But my favorites were the stone abstractionists.  Transcending exact representation, these daredevils took a journey inward, to the center of the soul, past logic, past linear thinking or rationalization. Each piece was named for a state of being. 

There before me stood Regret, Grief, Exhilaration and What if. Yet, despite their cold, raw distortion each invited the warm touch of recognition. I visited each as if sampling God’s buffet of choices, then took my leave to sit and observe the masses. Staring from a safe distance through my lens, I watched as strangers journeyed passed the figurative invitations.  Although a few paused, momentarily drawn forward and inward, most remained content in the safety of their corporeal limitations. Save for the children.

Ah, the children: touching, reaching, questioning, smiling. Twisting their faces in curiosity, I laughed as they allowed themselves the full measure of emotional response. What a joy to behold.  Such lack of fear.  Reprised only by the cautious control of parental chaperones. Sadly, just as the enchantment unfolded, a “wise elder” removed little fingers from the emotional exercise, back into the safety of pockets or redirected to sweet diversions.

And then it happened.  Two wonderful parents gave three little girls full permission to explore. 

Dancing and climbing along the wall of bronze playmates, each child sought out a statue of equal measure.  I watched in awe as they stretched their petite bodies across the backs of their companions.  One loved an inanimate dog as another relished the opportunity of actually touching an eyeball, or hugging a stranger. They screamed with delight upon discovering that the tiniest among them was actually taller than something.  Mom and Dad kept a watchful yet liberating eye upon their fold. For a brief moment, I was captivated by the example they set of what it really meant to be a parent, safely watching out while allowing the full freedom of discovery.  

What joy. If you get a chance, go see the exhibit today from 10 – 5 on Main Street in Summerville. $5.00 per person, children free. If you cannot make it, do visit their website, http://www.sculptureinthesouth.com/

Happy day.

A Little Blue Heron

Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to Bear Island on a nature trek with friends. If you’ve never been, Bear Island is about 45 minutes South of Charleston off Highway 17.  You’ve probably passed it a million times on your way to Beauford or Hilton Head.  Unlike the artificial parks that house wildlife in cages or behind glass walls, Bear Island is open to the world and all it’s wonderful creatures.  Thousands of acres of reclaimed rice paddies dot the landscape separated by dirt roads skillfully planted with tall grasses and reeds. 

As we drove down the narrow two-lane road a giant Wild Boar slumbered across the road about a 1000 yards in front of us.  At first I thought it was the biggest, fattest Rottweilier I’d ever seen, but my friends with binoculars verified its true nature.  This was only the begining of an excellent day of sightings.

Over the next four hours we encountered more species than I’d seen in all the other place I’d visited in the last year combined.  Tundra Swans, Coots, Grebes, Moorhens, White Pelicans, Ducks of all varieties, all fed together in the waters to each side of the road. 

Pulling over to get a better look, we discovered that the tree-lined pathways were alive with countless Warblers and other songbirds.  Every swatch of grass held a new discovery. Red-winged Blackbirds chorled their unique calls as hundreds of Tree Swallows danced right by our heads.  The quieter we became, the more we discovered.

Going deeper into the island we found tracks of Deer, Raccoon, and other mammals and Scat evidence of Bobcat. 

On one of the tiny islands I spotted a nest about 4-5 feet wide about 20 feet up a pine tree. We could only guess at its inhabitants.

As glorious as it was, a mantra kept playing in the back of my mind.

“Paradise is no longer paradise once everyone moves in.”  A theory I’ve developed since I moved down here. 

Ask anyone down here over forty what the outdoors was like when they were a child.  They’ll tell you stories about Wild Boar swimming over to Peas Island, seeing Red Foxes along Hwy 41 in Mt Pleasant and catching Minks in the marsh grasses of James Island.  

Today housing developments have replaced grassy fields, retention ponds have replaced lowland swamps and water parks have replaced forests.

Of course, it’s too late to reverse this and I’ll be the last one to tell you to abandon your modern conveniences.  (I too enjoy my nice home, my clean yard, my civilized neighborhood.) But I will ask you to cultivate an awareness of your role in the overall scheme of things. 

Trekking through the wilderness of South Carolina, or anywhere for that matter, breeds an awareness of our impact on the world.  Everytime I come home from one of these excursions, I add more to the wildlife habitat in my own yard, maybe let the bushes grow a little taller or plant native, ornamental grasses for the songbirds who pass through.   I invite you to do the same.  Who knows, maybe if we all did just one more little thing, our grandchildren will once again be able to enjoy the wildlife we saw as children.

If you would like more information on creating your own backyard habitat, contact a local garden club or visit The National Wildlife Federation.

Cabbage in my garden

If you’re anything like me, when the cold weather hits all I want to do is eat.  Of course at my house that means cooking a big pot of soup with whatever I have growing in the garden, throwing some ingredients in the bread machine and finding things to keep me occupied while the savory smells fill the house.

There’s nothing like home cooked food to warm the soul.  But recently I’ve taken it one step further: Locally grown. We’ve all heard the slogan Think Globally, Act locally, but this year’s version of that saying is now:

Think globally, EAT Locally.  If you’re not into growing your own or just can’t seem to fill the pantry from your own yard, don’t sweat it. Now it’s easier than ever to get fresh produce from our own community farms. It’s called Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA’s for short. For a fraction of what you’d spend at Whole Foods or Earth Fare, you can get weekly bundles of locally grown produce at food stations all over town.

Many of my friends have gone this route and love it!  In fact, often they find they have to get creative just to use up the food or share it with friends and neighbors.  Some even split the cost and deliveries with a friend. Just another good way to save the planet and feed your soul. 

To find out more, check out: LowCountry Local First, a great website with links to local CSA’s and more.

OR if you’re not going to Boone Hall to shuck oysters, you may want to meet me at the Glass Onion

Sunday: January 25^th  4:00 – 6:00pm

as we Discover the Slow Food Movement

Glass Onion 1219 Savannah Hwy. in West Ashley

Free Meet and Greet Potluck  - just bring a snack to share

Live traditional roots music provided by The South Carolina Broadcasters.

Celeste Albers of Green Grocer Farms will be speaking about sustainable farming practices.  This is an excellent opportunity for all you gardening enthusiasts to learn more about Lowcountry Local First as well as meet like-minded folks. Hope to see you there.

Camellia japonica in bloom (don't ask me which variety)

Winter in Charleston, South Carolina just wouldn’t be the same without Camellias.  Okay I know they’re not natives.  Most were imported from China and Japan generations ago, but they have become a symbol of local beauty.  Last year I had the priviledge to take my garden club to the home of Rupert Drews, James Island’s own Camellia grower and breeder.  Rupert, or Rupie to his friends, has over 700 varieties of Camellias in his yard, many he grew from seeds, cuttings, air-layering and grafting.  Even he doesn’t remember the names of all of them but former teacher that he is, he thoughtfully tagged each one for easy identification.

If you get a chance, go by his house on Sparrow St off Mikell Drive and see them for yourself. You’ll be simply amazed at the sea of blossoms.  Chances are you’ll see Rupie too, out there trimming and fussing over his babies. Give him a hug from me.

If you want to add to your camellia collection, check out the Camellia Society’s Annual Show and Sale Saturday, January 24th at Citadel mall.  Get there early to buy the best of the best or just stop by anytime that day to see hundreds of beatiful camellias on display.

National restaurateur Bobby Flay will host two events during the 2009 festival. Flay, the star of multiple cooking shows, will also bring along five executive chefs from his restaurants. Purchase a raffle ticket for your chance to cook with Flay during the burger event.

Visit our Website at: www.charlestonfoodandwine.com

House Finch, I know it's really red.

 Early yesterday morning I noticed a flutter of red in my yard.  Amid a sea of black grackles and crows flying through, a singular finch arrived. “Cute,” I thought. By the afternoon the black sea had turned into an ocean.  Down here that many blackbirds means cold weather is coming, but we already knew that didn’t we.

Still, amid all the black the tiny red speck remained, undaunted by the crowd of bullies five times its size.  At one point I noticed it alight on the edge of one of my vegetable boxes where it remained for over an hour.  Doves came and went sharing its ledge but it never moved. 

This morning as I did my routine feeder fill-up, this little guy was first in line. Apparently it had spent the night in my shrubbery.  Once settled on a tube feeder, he held his ground against all the other birds, even the squirrels.

If this finch could talk I bet he would say, “Look, I flew all night to get here.  I’m tired, I’m hungry and I’m not in the mood. Find your own spot.”

I’m thinking about renaming my home to Charleston’s Backyard Bed and Breakfast, one-stop shop for birds and all God’s creatures.  What do think, too long?

A lot of you are seeing incredible birds right now as migration continues.  Send me your photos to share. If you want to learn more about birdwatching, I recommend visiting Wild Birds Unlimited at www.wbu.com. You’ll find lots of helpful information on how to attract and identify the wildlife around you. 

If you’re local, you may also wish to check out one of the many bird watching walks at the County parks, Cypress Gardens and Charlestowne Landing.  Or just call me and we’ll schedule a day with one of the local experts.

Happy Day,

Backyard Habitat of Dan & Joy Newlin

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of visiting a gorgeous neighborhood in the Wando/Cainhoy area near Daniel Island.  Beresford Hall is a 547 acre community off Clements Ferry Road built in 2004 around a central concept of conservation.   Unlike many developments that maximize density, (i.e. cram as many homes as possible per acre) DesignWorks chose nature first. The neighborhood was planned around the 583 grand trees and natural waterways that already existed.  

The designers also designated the most beautiful site as common area so that all 200 homes could share the gorgeous water views, water access and other neighborhood amenities like parks and nature trails.  Winding streets, large lots and well-built homes abound. But my favorite part of the entire plan, native plantings. 

At the core of every homesite is a native planting edict. All homes are required to utilize a majority of native plants in their landscaping plans and are strictly forbidden to plant exotic invasive species.

To make it easy on homeowners, Beresford Hall provides a comprehensive list of native plants and trees in their Covenants and Restrictions.  I found this list extremely helpful as a reference for my own yard.

Another rule they enforce is the prohibition of rounding shrubs to non-natural forms. Plants, shrubs and trees are encouraged to grow in their natural forms within areas called Nature Curtains, curving areas along the roadside that mimic nature’s corridors.  Natural, un-dyed mulch is recommended. 

You would think with all these restrictions to manicuring, that the neighborhood would look messy.  In fact, it’s just the opposite.  Wide streets allow for parking off the grass, sidewalks allow for great nature walks and yards look wonderfully inviting, especially to wildlife. As I walked around the yard I saw no less than 15 different species of birds darting in and out of the shrubbery.

If you get a chance, this neighborhood would make a great day trip for your garden club.  If your interest is homeownership, I’ll gladly show you around.  Homes are incredibly well built with large open floorplans that maximize views of the natural landscaping. They easily accomodate large families, usually featuring 4-5 bedrooms, formal dining, eat-in kitchen, den and formal living room, quality hardiplank exteriors, architectural shingled roof and 2-3 car garages. Starting in the mid 800’s. There’s nothing like seeing to believing. Take 526 Exit 23B towards Cainhoy. Beresford Hall is about 3 miles down the road on your right.