South Coast Chapter News

Southcoast Chapter Newsletters

Fall Newsletter for 2009 (.pdf file)
Winter/Spring newsletter 2010 (.pdf file)

February, 2011 - An Unlikely Place to Take a Field Trip (article written by Laura Lee Rose)

After one of the Southcoast Chapter meetings of the South Carolina Native Plant Society our speaker suggested that we take an impromptu field trip to a place nearby that he had collected rare plants. I’m a plant nerd so the idea appealed to my sense of adventure, but under a power line? About 18 people in 6 cars caravanned to the spot which was typical of a mowed right of way under power lines. As ordinary as it first appeared a very extraordinary plant community was there. Wooly groundsel, Senecio tomentosus, a.k.a. Packera tomentosa was growing here in the South Carolina lowcountry. This plant is found on rocky outcrops or “balds” and granite flat rocks. While it may rarely be seen in moist sandy soils in North Carolina or Virginia, it had never been collected in Beaufort County, and it is uncommon in South Carolina. At first we saw a few of the upright floccosed leaves. I had to look that one up, and guess what it means, clothed with tufts of soft hair or wool. Pretty soon we saw leaves everywhere! Our guide explained that they were all clones and connected by stolons to the mother plant. Stolons are modified stems that we usually call roots, but stems by definition have nodes, and at each node can grow both stems and roots. That’s why it is so hard to get some weeds out of our gardens and flower beds. They bring their cloning families to live with them.

The term Groundsel is from an old English word “grundeswylige” meaning to swallow pus. It is now synonymous with the Genus Senecio which has pretty yellow daisies growing on stalks. Daisy is another common term used for flowers in the sunflower family or Asteraceae. Historically many plants were used as pharmaceuticals and Senecio sp. were used to treat abscesses. Salt myrtle, one of our beautiful native shrubs which blooms along the salt marshes with white billowing flowers is called groundsel-tree or consumption weed. Baccharis sp. are also in the sunflower family.

Back to the half acre of amazing plants under the power line. We were already in the palm of our guide’s hand, and everywhere we walked were interesting grasses and herbs growing in this seemingly boring landscape. To my surprise it was full of life; it was sunny, wide open, moist and very biologically diverse. Plants need sun and water. The bonus plants for me were the tiny shimmering crimson dwarf sundews (Drosera brevifolia). These carnivorous little jewels bloom in April and May and the leaves have a clear sticky substance on the stalked glands which trap insects. It was as if a magician had cast a spell on the land as it glistened with colors and textures.

We live in such beautifully rare and uncommon place, and shouldn’t take for granted that it will stay diverse. It thrills me to know that there are places where we can walk and gawk (I already confessed my nerdiness) and see common and unusual plants right under a power line.

Did I mention it was February?

If you want to learn more about South Carolina Native Plants come take a walk on the wild side with our local chapter. Visit the website www.scnps.org or visit your nearest right of way.

Books to own:

A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina by Richard D. Porcher and Douglas A. Rayner

Garden Guide to the Lower South, Trustees’ Garden Club, Savannah, Georgia

Bringing Nature Home -How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Douglas W. Tallamy

May 2, 2009 - Donnelly Wildlife Management Area

	Sarracenia minor

Today’s self-guided tour netted an uncommon find - Sarracenia minor. The hooded pitcher plant is just beginning its spring re-growth. We even spotted one with a newly opened bloom. (G. Westerfield – hand model) The Donnelly Wildlife Management Area 11 mile Driving Tour has a variety of habits, from open fields, mature pine forests, wetlands, 18th century rice field remnants, an upland oak stand to bottomland hardwoods. The property is managed for wildlife and some areas are periodically burned to manage the understory. The diversity here is wonderful as are the spring birds – scarlet tanagers and blue birds in the woods, sand piper and egret in the wetland, to name a few. This is a recommended site for native plant habitats.

November 1, 2008 - Native Plant Sale is a Success!

September 27, 2008 - SCNPS South Coast Chapter plants sea oats at Hunting Island State Park

	Sea Oats ready for planting
	Volunteers at Hunting Island State Park
	Planting Sea Oats

It is our goal to spread this program to other Middle schools in Beaufort County. The middle school students raised these plants from seed. South Coast Chapter members babysat them over the summer until the fall planting

April 26, 2008 - SCNPS South Coast Chapter holds it's first native plant sale

Our plant sale was a success! A wonderful beginning for our small organization. Plants are still available at the nursery we chose for our first sale. Contact us if you'd like to place an order. Sorry, no deliveries - pick up only. Gail Clark: southcoastscnps@yahoo.com

January 13, 2008 - The Board of Directors of the South Carolina Native Plant Society at its regular meeting resolved:

• Whereas, a petition was submitted to create a new chapter, the South Coast Chapter,
• Whereas, the South Coast Chapter has a proposed slate of officers,
• Whereas, the South Coast Chapter has 34 members as of Dec. 27, 2007, has held three meetings and has a number of projects underway, and
• Whereas, the South Coast Chapter is developing chapter bylaws,
• It was moved that the South Coast Chapter under that name be recognized and is authorized to proceed with organization. The resolution was unanimously accepted.

Welcome aboard SOUTH COAST CHAPTER!