The South Carolina GARDENER - StarChapter€¦ · Gardener’s, I think, dream bigger dreams than...

The South Carolina Gardener | Spring 2014 | 1

GCSC | SPRING ISSUE 2014 | VOL. 92 NO. 3

The South Carolina

The Official Publication of The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc.

GARDENER

A South Carolina Champion Tree

The 418 year old Southern Red Cedar

Honey Horn Plantation

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“…these trees shall be my books….”Shakespeare. As You Like It. 3.2.5

Dear Members of The Garden Club of South Carolina,

Since the colonial period, South Carolinians have valued trees, not only for their natural beauty, but as sources of income. Using them

as logging and lumbering cash crops, they also produced naval stores of resin, turpentine and pine tar, along with massive masts necessary

for sailing ships. Despite the demise of naval stores’ production and poor management of our resources, our once-dying logging and lumbering industries

have flourished, primarily because of innovative conservation and environmental practices. Currently, we have 12 million forested acres, roughly 2/3 of the state, producing approximately $876 million for the largest cash crop, according to the SC Forestry Commission. We learned and we work to educate.

“…these trees shall be (our) books….”How do we educate? We have devised one statewide project, Historic Trees for Historic Places, to involve GCSC and the larger statewide community, inclusive of all ages, in identifying these treasures. Not only are we joining hands with individuals and entities outside GCSC to accomplish the project, but also we are combining resources to educate the public about viable conservation and environmental practices. These partners include architects, landscape architects, SC Forestry Commission, SC Department of Natural Resources, Clemson University Extension Agents, statewide conservation groups, urban planners, arborists, historians, civic clubs and nursery owners.

“…these trees shall be (our) books….”We are teaching children about trees, nurturing a lifelong commitment to effective conservation practices. They learn identification, proper planting and care, as well as economic benefits of effective management of forest resources. On March 29, GCSC will hold our Youth Symposium at Saluda Shoals Park, using hands-on learning activities focused on trees and forest resources. GCSC Youth Clubs and schools have joined hands to concentrate on various aspects of our program. In June, we join hands with SC Department of Natural Resources to conduct our exceptional conservation camp for high-school students, Camp Wildwood, held in Kings Mountain State Park, which is a protected forest. At The Fair, held on June 14, all GCSC members will have opportunities to learn practical techniques to unite GCSC projects. For example, clubs can combine HTHP with Arbor Day, Blue Star, Youth Gardening, Garden Therapy, landscape design, historic preservation and horticulture. And, National Garden Week, June 1-7, is an ideal time to include the community in HTHP. Have a Tree Party! Join hands with local groups, youth groups, assisted living facilities and others to celebrate an historic tree or stand of trees or camellias. Get the band to play patriotic songs and dedicate a Blue Star Marker! Have fun!

“…these trees shall be (our) books….”Go to your GCSC District Meeting in March! Learn about the valuable work in your district and join the fun! Register early for the GCSC State Meeting on April 24 at Forest Lake Club in Columbia. Did you notice the name of the club? This meeting is open to every member, so you certainly want to register quickly, to join this fun! Include the SAR Convention in Roanoke, March 23-25 and the NGC Convention in Oklahoma City, April 30-May 3. What a marvelous collection of opportunities!

“…these trees shall be (our) books….”Generously support our scholarship programs, both in your district and in GCSC state scholarships. Young scholars need our financial support. Your generous contributions enable qualified applicants the opportunities to learn. You are vital to our commitment to save our resources: our young people.

With thanks for your excellent support,

Judith Dill

President’s Letter

Gardener’s, I think, dream bigger dreams than Emperors ~ Mary Cantwell


Contents

2 PRESIDENT’S LETTER

4 Simple Elegance Yields Timeless Beauty Amanda A. Huggins, RLA, ASLA

6 HORTICULTURE PATHLongleaf Pine Jerry W. Weise

7 Success with South Carolina Citrus Darren Sheriff

10 GREEN GARDENING & SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONSTrees, Plants & Our Air Gail Jeter

11 Five Star Honor

12 GCSC State Meeting

13 BLUE STAR MARKERSKerry’s Kids

14 HISTORIC TREES FOR HISTORIC PLACES WEST LOWCOUNTRY DISTRICT

The Amazing Oaks of the Lowcountry Norma MillerHistoric Red Cedar at Historic Honey Horn Sandy Stern

21 Arranging Flowers: What You Need andWhat You Need to Consider Terry Ritchen

24 INSPIRATION & MEDITATIONSpring Joan Danforth

24 Club AnniversariesBlythewood

25 ROOTSMore on the Cork Oak Helen Goforth

26 Club AnniversariesHillcrest

27 At Home in the Shade Garden Jeanne Karmiel

28 Club AnniversariesAzelea & Camellia, Pyracantha

29 HERBS ARE SUPERBTHYME: Thymus spp. Eleanor Hickman Durgee

31 Editor’s Note Kathy Hall

SPRING 2014 | VOLUME 92 | NO. 3

4 | What a man needs in gardening is a cast-iron back, with a hinge in it ~ Charles D. Warner

Simple Elegance Yields Timeless Beauty

By Amanda A. Huggins, RLA, ASLA

As a practicing landscape architect, I have found that aesthetic preferences can vary greatly amongst designers and clients. However, a life lesson that I carry with me is to keep things simple yet elegant in all design. No matter the scale of the landscape design, simple always creates the most memorable impact. The element of repetition is a designer’s most useful tool when trying to adhere to this goal of simple elegance.

Designing with massing and sweeps of color are my two favorite ways to utilize repetition in the landscape. Massing of shrubs and ground covers can be extremely effective design tools. A carpet of vinca under a mature shade tree or groupings of azaleas along a woodland border are beautiful sites to behold. I am a firm believer that the designers of traditional Southern landscapes understood this as well as anyone. I am reminded of the way my grandmother and father used repetition of boxwood and holly in our foundation plant-

ings to achieve this simplified beauty. And, despite my knowledge of ivy as an invasive plant, I cannot seem to part with the lush ivy carpet I have behind my family’s 114 year old home; I adore the aesthetic it offers. Massing is not a landscape trend but rather a classic, enduring design strategy. This simplistic beauty will never go out of style or look dated in appearance.

Repetition is not limited to shrubs and ground covers, but this concept can be extended to ornamental and shade trees in the landscape and beyond. Think of an allele of trees lining a plantation driveway or an orchard of SC peach trees; these can be breathtaking views that create visual memories of a place or experience. Even walking through a stand of pine trees on my family’s seventh generation farm offers a simple pleasure based on the rhythm their trunks create on the forest floor.

Color is something that I always prefer to use in repetition rather than variety. In selecting flowering shrubs or bulbs, the design will always yield more “bang for your buck” when found in a monotone color scheme. Massing of yellow daffodils or orange daylilies creates a sweep of color that can carry/guide the eye


between garden elements. In this way, you can see how powerful this tool can be when used strategically in the landscape.

Ornamental grasses are another wonderful vehicle for creating simple elegance. The repetition of this unique texture can offer year round appeal. The slender foliage of purple muhly grass that transitions into a stunning sweep of graceful purple plumes in the autumn is amplified when found in groupings

of seven or more. Even the dwarf grasses, including mondo and liriope, can enhance the ground plane when massed together or used between pavers in a formal design. In a landscape that is constantly evolving, these episodes of repetition give the eye a place to rest and often amplify the interest in a space.

Even container gardening, where variety is often used or even preferred, can be a place where repetition creates elegance. A pot of only green and white is one of my favorite takes on compact gardening; it is such a clean look. The simple combination of variegated ivy, white petunias, white begonia and euphorbia gives a stunning glow to any dark corner of your garden.

While variety has its place in design, I am a strong proponent of the philosophy that simple equals timeless elegance. We are often faced with design dilemmas that seem complex in nature; my advice is to approach each of these decisions with simplicity in mind. The result will surely be a classic design that is aesthetically pleasing. I encourage everyone to take a moment to appreciate the timeless beauty that is created around you through the simple use of repetition in the landscape.

About the Author

Amanda A. Huggins is a native South Carolinian who grew up on her family’s farm in Latta, SC. She attended Clemson University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree in 2005. Amanda is an Associate with The Lawrence Group, a Town Planning & Architecture firm located in Davidson, NC, but currently works from her home office in SC. As a Registered Landscape Architect in SC and NC, Amanda brings commitment to design as a process, actively involving all stakeholders in building consensus to reach design solutions. She has experience in site planning and analysis, comprehensive planning, neighbor-hood planning, small area planning, downtown master planning, park master planning, graphic design, project management and landscape design. Her abilities to communicate both graphically and verbally enable her to work successfully with a wide variety of clients & consultants. Amanda is a wife and a mother of a three year old son named Luke.

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About the Author

Jerry W. Weise is a life-long learner who studies some aspect of plants and gardening almost daily. She is an Accredited NGC Flower Show Judge and holds a B.A. in mathematics from Southwestern in Memphis, known today as Rhodes College and a M.A. in teaching from The Citadel. You may not know that in her career Jerry was an engineering assistant in the Flight Propulsion Lab for General Electric, doing performance studies on jet engine design and aircraft design.

The Horticulture Path

Longleaf PineBy Jerry W. Weise, GCSC Horticulture Chairman

Longleaf pine, Pinus palustris, is the ancient giant of southern forests. The longleaf ecosystem is estimated to have historically covered at least 93 million acres. Clues from place names and old botanical records suggest longleaf once grew along the Atlantic coastal plain inland to the fall line from Maryland south to cover about 2/3 of Florida and then west along the Gulf coast. Longleaf grew in a large portion of Georgia, Alabama, south Mississippi and parts of Louisiana

and Texas. Today the longleaf ecosystem has been reduced to about 3 million acres. Conservation and restoration efforts are offering some hope that acreage in longleaf is increasing.

Longleaf is easily recognizable when young. As a seedling a longleaf looks like a tuft of grass. The seedling can stay in this ‘grass’ stage as many as seven years. While in this stage with no above ground trunk the seedling is growing a long taproot and

root network that will nourish it in the rapid upward growth or ‘rocket’ (bottle brush) stage. The seedling now resembles a scaly broomstick covered top to bottom with long green hair. (Bad hair day in the forest?) Over thousands of years longleaf coexisted and flourished with lightning-produced natural fires. This rocket stage lifts the vulnerable whitish growth bud (called a candle) above the reach of flames. Historically, natural fires occurred frequently enough to clear out the flammable build-up of duff and waxy leaved understory forbs that cause such towering infernos today. After years of fire suppression, humans are realizing the value of natural fire and are imitating it with controlled burns. What will the future of the longleaf ecosystem be?

Like the longleaf, the topic is too large for one article. Coming next time: Longleaf maturity, biodiversity in longleaf forests, rare and endangered species, more on the role of fire, forests for the future.

Perennial: any plant which, had it lived, would have bloomed year after year ~ Harry Beard


Success with South Carolina Citrus

By Darren Sheriff

There has been a huge increase in the past couple of years of people wanting to grow their own food. Be it vegetables, like Tomatoes and Cucumbers, or fruits like Strawberries and Blueberries. It could be from all the scares of different bacteria born illness’ or folks just want a good old, completely ripe piece of produce. Being that my expertise is in Citrus type fruit, naturally, I have been receiving many calls about how to grow it here in South Carolina, both in ground and in containers.

Citrus are subtropical or warm temperature plants adapted to growing in sandy soils along floodplains. To a degree, many parts of South Carolina greatly resemble the native habitats of citrus. The rainfall patterns are similar to Southeast Asia, where of course, Citrus originate from.

Like many plants, citrus prefer well drained, loamy soil. They can succeed in heavier clays, like those of you in the upstate have, as long as they are well drained. Fear not, if you don’t have well draining soil, I will cover containers here too. With that being said, citrus need to be well watered at all times. They can be somewhat drought tolerant depending upon variety, but all will do better if given sufficient moisture. There is an old adage that says, plants need 1 inch of water per week. I hate that saying! It all depends on your soil type. If you have a sandy soil, like along the coast, how long do you think that 1 inch will last? 10 minutes, maybe? In a heavy clay soil? 6 months, perhaps. These are exaggerations I know, but you get the point. For in the ground, I use my finger. If it is dry to the second knuckle, I water. If not, wait a couple of days. In a container, it is also possible to use the finger method. I prefer the tip or lift method. With this, I water the tree until I am sure it is well watered. Then I either lift or tip the pot and get an idea of the weight. After a few days, I do the tip/lift again. If it still feels heavy, I wait a few more days and repeat. If it feels light, I water.

Oranges in North Charleston

Drought! Water Me

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In the case of containers, the potting mix you use is really a personal choice. Any good, well draining mix will work. I have found that a Cactus soil works well. A good blend of Peat, Sand, Perlite and Vermiculite will suffice. I have heard of people using Coconut Husk Chips, this author has no hands on experience with this however.

A couple of things that you need to remember about container growing. Be aware that plastic containers retain moisture longer than other types of pots. The

temperature in a black pot, outside in 8 hours of sunlight can easily reach 120 degrees, which can damage the fine roots.

It is always a good idea to have your soil tested before any kind of new planting. Citrus appear to be more sensitive to soil deficiencies and when they enter a new flush of growth, the new growth will immediately show these deficiencies. Correcting them is a challenge after that! Slow release fertilizers with a ratio of 8-8-8 are excellent, especially if it also contains micronutrients such as iron, magnesium and manganese. A foliar feed (spraying the plants so the leaves absorb the food) with fish emulsion is also a good idea. I am huge fan of a product put out by Espoma, called Citrus Tone. In the ground, I feed every 6 weeks, starting about Valentine’s Day, stopping about Labor Day. In a container that you will be protecting all winter, it can be fed throughout the year. Otherwise, it is the same as in the ground.

When it comes to where in your yard you should plant a citrus tree, there are a few factors that can come into play. South Carolina does occasionally have some really coldsnaps, below 28 degrees. If you can place it on a southern or western exposure that is the best location, incidentally, that southern or western exposure will also give you the 8-10 hours of sunlight that citrus enjoy most of the year. If you can plant it close to the house or a brick wall, this will give you some extra protection. The building or wall will absorb heat during the day and give it back to the tree at night. A mature citrus tree will handle down to 28 degrees or even a few degrees lower for a brief period of time. All of this is subject to how long the freeze is and how much time the tree had to go dormant prior to the freeze event. This is a good time to tell you, Citrus trees do not go fully dormant, like say an Oak or Maple, it is more of a semi-dormancy. They are

Never UnderestimateGrowing Citrus in Pots

Nitrogen Deficiency Nutrient Deficiency

A man doesn’t plant a tree for himself, he plants it for posterity. ~ Alexander Smith


evergreen trees. The “dormancy” will be determined by the weather preceding the freeze event. If it has been relatively cold, it will be better off than if it has been warm to moderate.

There are many varieties that will do well in our zone 8, given the help and protection listed above.

Kumquats will do very well because they actually can handle much lower than the 28 listed above. Satsumas are actually a “class” of mandarin oranges. There are several cultivars that do well in South Carolina. Some examples are Kimbrough, Owari and Early St. Anne. There are many other early sweet oranges, sour oranges, limes, lemons and grapefruit that will do just as well. It is just a matter of finding the right cultivar that ripens early.

The majority of pests that bother your Citrus tree can all be taken care of with Neem oil or insecticidal soap. The biggest nuisance is the Citrus Leaf Minor. This nocturnal moth lays eggs on the underside of the leaf. Then the larvae burrows it way between the epidermis layers and creates squiggly tunnels. It is more of a cosmetic damage than anything else.

I hope this article gets you motivated to try and grow your own Citrus. I promise it is very rewarding to go out and pick your own breakfast grapefruit or orange. If I can ever be of any assistance, either with a problem or helping to locate a source for your “grove,” please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected].

Happy Growing!Darren

Kumquat in Full Fruit

Mealy Bugs

Leafminor Larvare

About the Author

Darren Sheriff is a SCNLA Certified Professional Nurseryman, A Charleston County Master Gardener and works for Lowcountry Nursery. He is an active member of the Coastal Carolina Camellia Society as well as the founder of the Lowcountry Fruit Growers Society. He currently has some 65 varieties of Citrus in his yard as well as many other common and exotic fruits.

10 | Weed: a flower growing in the wrong place ~ George Washington Carver

Green Gardening & Sustainable Solutions

Trees, Plants & Our AirBy Gail Jeter

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Air is the name given the Earth’s atmosphere, a layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. Air is one of the basic needs for life, and all living organisms need air to survive. We may not be able to see the air, but we cannot live without it. Humans cannot live without air for much more than three minutes, whereas, we can live without water for three days and food for three weeks.

Our air is approximately 78% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, with much smaller amounts of water vapor, argon, and carbon dioxide. We take our air for granted until we visit a place like Bejing, China.

Here the air pollution is obvious. What is it? The most common types of air pollution are ozone, commonly known as smog, and particle pollution, commonly

known as soot. These contaminants make the air look brown or gray, and the air seems to hover over the area. The specific composition of the air pollution in an area depends on the source of pollution – automobile exhaust, coal-fired power plants, industrial factories, etc.

We know that all green plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen through photosynthesis, but they do more to cleanse the air. They capture airborne particles and absorb ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, and other greenhouse gases, those that absorb infrared radiation. A single tree can absorb about ten pounds of air pollutants and produce 260 pounds of oxygen a year. The kind of tree that is planted is not as important as just planting the trees; however, research has indicated that some house plants are better than others for cleaning the air in our homes.

NASA did research on indoor plants that are best at cleansing the indoor air for the space missions. They developed the following list of houseplants that are best to filter the air (not only producing oxygen from CO2, but also absorbing benzene, formaldehyde and/or trichloroethylene).

A Clear Day in Bejing

A Single tree can absorb about ten pounds of air pollutants and produce 260 pounds of oxygen a year.


• English ivy (Hedera helix)

• Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

• Golden pothos or Devil’s ivy (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)

• Peace lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’)

• Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)

• Bamboo palm or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)

• Snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata’Laurentii’)

• Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium, syn. Philodendron cordatum)

• Selloum philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, syn. Philodendron selloum)

• Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)

• Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)

• Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragans ‘Massangeana’)

• Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’)

• Warneck dracaena (Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckii’)

• Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)

• Gerbera daisy or Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

• Pot mum or florist’s chrysanthemum (Chrysantheium morifolium)

• Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

BECOME A FIVE STAR HONOR CLUB~ Deadline April 1, 2014 ~

Any federated garden club can earn the distinction of being a Five Star Honor Club by contributing a minimum of $40.00 to each of the five GCSC projects listed below. Desig-nation will be drawn from the GCSC President’s Report. Clubs attaining this distinction will be honored at the Annual Meeting/Convention. The club name will be engraved on a plaque to be displayed at GCSC Headquarters. Each of these projects has a separate account and therefore we ask that the checks be written individually to GCSC.

You may send the five checks (write in the lower left the project name) to:Maureen Minner, GCSC Treasurer

P.O. Box 2848Summerville, SC 29484-2848

[email protected]

The deadline is April 1, 2014. Garden Clubs will be recognized based on the list of par-ticipating clubs at the close of business that day.

BLUE STAR MEMORIAL HIGHWAYS GCSC HEADQUARTERS CAMP WILDWOOD GCSC MEMORIAL GARDEN

THE SOUTH CAROLINA GARDENER

(Trees, Plants & Our Air ... Continued on page 12)

12 | The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness ~ John Muir

About the Author

Gail Rawls Jeter lives in Columbia, South Carolina and is an active member of the Columbia Garden Club. She has worked professionally in the environmental field for more than thirty years. Gail serves as chairman of the GCSC Standing Committee for Conservation and Environmental Education.

Scientist believe that the oldest tree in the world is a 5,062-year-old bristlecone pine, named Methuselah, in the White Mountains of California – that means that this tree has taken 50,620 pounds of pollutants from the air and contributed 1,316,120 pounds of oxygen to our environment. Those historic trees that GCSC is documenting have had and continue to have a powerful impact on our environment. It may be interesting to calculate the environmental impact of all those trees that we document over our two year period!

Referenceswww.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/stories/best-air-filtering-houseplants-according-to-nasa

Hossler, Lisa, Scribol Staff; Staggeringly Tall and Mind-Blowing Old: Some Incredible Examples of Trees; www.scribol.com/news-how-trees-many-live-so-onlg-and-grow-so-large

Photo Rodolfo Araiza G.

The Garden Club of South Carolina State MeetingApril 24, 2014

The Garden Club of South Carolina will be hosting its 24th Annual State Meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2014. All Club members, including Voting Delegates (delegate number determined by Bylaws according to club membership) and members of the Board of Directors are invited and encouraged to attend.Location: Forest Lake Club, 340 Country Club Drive, Columbia, South Carolina 29206

Cost: $55.00 (includes registration fee and lunch)

Special Guest: SAR Director Martha Morgan

Featured Speaker: Amanda McNulty, Star of ETV’s Making it Grow!

Lodging: Hilton Columbia Center, 924 Senate Street, Columbia, SC 29201 (803-744-7800) Group Rate $159

Registration: Visit www.gardenclubofsc.org for registration form and additional information

Additional Info: Contact Amy Rauton, 3rd VP & State Meeting Chair at [email protected]


Kerry’s Kids

Not only do GCSC Garden Clubs establish Blue Star Memorials, they also take pride in maintaining them. Fountain Inn Garden Club is taking their efforts one step further, they are teaching youth about what these memorials mean and involving them in recognizing those incredible men and women for whom the markers are established.

In a Pre-Veteran’s Day event, held on November 8, 2013, the youth garden club begun by the

Fountain Inn Garden Club (FIGC), Kerry’s Kids, honored our nation’s heroes. This was also an honor for Kerry Ann Younts Culp, a beloved teacher, wife and mother who died of leukemia in the early 1990’s. Her mother, Dolly Younts, is a member of FIGC. The formation of the youth garden club in Kerry’s name was done to remember Kerry’s love for children and to honor her mother.

The children planted red/white and blue pansies around the base of the Blue Star Marker on Main Street in Fountain Inn. This site, which was started in 2006, now has over 125 engraved bricks remembering veterans from the Revolutionary War to present day conflicts. Sheila Miller, President, FIGC, read The Wall, by Eve Bunting to the children. Kerry’s Kids each placed an American flag around the marker and then they assisted in actually placing four newly engraved bricks into the Blue Star Memorial Garden to honor local Veterans. Afterwards, they toured the Fountain Inn Historical Museum to see a display of clothing,

materials, flags and articles from local residents related to service during WWII. President Miller said, “It is by sharing our past with our youth that we will best pass on our legacy.”

Those youth participating in the day’s activities included: Paige Owings, Riley Owings, Claire Owings, Campbell Holzwarth, Kelsea Holzwarth, Brittany Evans, Savannah Evans and M.J. Evans.

Blue Star Memorial Markers

Kerry Ann Younts Culp

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The West Low Country is the largest of the 7 districts, stretching from North Augusta to Hilton Head Island. Not only does it stretch from our southernmost tip to the Western edge, it borders the Georgia State line for the entire distance. The district contains more than one climate and more

than one horticultural area. The district has the oldest “Winter Colony” in Aiken and has the largest island, Hilton Head Island, in the state. There are 47 garden clubs and five councils in the West Low Country District.

The district has some of the most beautiful, old trees in the entire state. Historic sites abound, with tabby ruins, rice plantations and old cotton plantations. In the 1920s, wealthy Northern businessmen purchased some of these venerable plantations, creating popular hunting reserves, complete with various types and sizes of hunting lodges.

Historic homes abound, from Aiken to Beaufort, with each area sporting a regional twist to architecture. Camellias are the pride of the entire area, along with live oaks, Spanish moss and, in the lower part of the district, Sagal Palmettos, our State Tree.

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Historic Trees of the West Low Country

The Amazing Oaks of the Low CountryBy Norma Miller

Did you know that there are approximately three hundred species of Oak trees growing across the United States, thirty-five of them common to the Low Country? Of course the one variety that is known best in our area is the Live Oak. During the days of the great sailing ships, the large arching limbs of the Live Oak were highly prized for their sturdiness and were used for the ribs of these great ships. The USS Constitution, built in 1774, was built using this tree. In 1994, 200 years later, those involved in the restoration of “Old Ironsides,” returned to South Carolina for timber. Interestingly, some of this timber came from oaks removed from the Parris Island entrance when the new bridge was built. The Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station paid to have the timber sent to Massachusetts for the restoration. On July 21, 1997, the USS Constitution, the oldest warship still afloat, set sail for the first time in 116 years.

Timber from Low Country Live Oaks was also used in the restoration of the slave ship, Amistad, now located in Mystic Seaport, Connecticut. It was just 14 years ago, in July 2000, that trees from Lady’s Island, being removed during the widening of Route 21 were sent to be used for this restoration.


While the timber from the Oak has played an important role in nautical history, there have been other uses of this magnificent tree. Tannin, a yellow dye pigment has been extracted from these trees, as well as oil from their acorns that has been used for cooking. However, one of their most valued uses has been for the shade they provide on hot summer days, the pleasure they bring to kids of all ages who climb in their branches and the striking beauty that holds the attention of locals and visitors alike.

As part of the HTHP project the West Lowcountry District is working laboriously to identify as many historic trees as possible in Beaufort County which dates back to 1526, with the first settlement on what is now Parris Island. All the GCSC Garden Clubs in Beaufort County are busy identifying, trees, their location, coordinates, and their relationship to historical events.

This past December, Beaufort County’s oldest documented Oak tree, estimated to be between 350 to 400 years old was awarded The Heritage Tree Award by a non profit group that fosters stewardship of South Carolina’s urban and community forests. The award recognizes remarkable trees, and helps people appreciate the benefits of these trees. (See Box for Other South Carolina Heritage Tree Award Winners) This beautiful old oak sits in an open field in Port Royal SC on what was originally the Coffin family’s Cherry Hill Plantation. This magnificent tree, with a circumference of 30.1 feet, a height of 55 feet and a canopy of 114 feet, is larger

than the Angel Oak in Charleston. It is considered by many to be the grandest old oak in the entire state. It may be viewed by driving along Parris Island Gateway, and turning onto Oakview Drive. The tree will be on your right in an open field. Decades ago, a lightning strike during a massive storm took out part of its canopy. It is said the original canopy almost covered the entire field.

Underneath the canopy, is a cracked grave stone nestled by tree’s trunk, marking the final resting place of Mary M. Pope (circa 1848). Ms. Pope was a former slave who loved to read and spent many hours in the shade of the tree’s canopy. An old wooden basketball backboard and the stories of a tree house built high in the tree’s branches indicate that Ms. Pope was not the only person who enjoyed this wonderful tree.

On the Naval Hospital grounds in Port Royal, the site of the former location of Camp Saxon and Fort Frederica, one can see an amazing canopy of grand

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oaks under which the Emancipation Proclamation was read to over 5000 people, giving these trees the name Emancipation Oak. These trees have been part of the National Register of Historic Trees since 1995. Sea Island church’s still observe “Watch Night” each December 31, to mark the event of the Emancipation Proclamation.

A second Emancipation Oak can be found at St. Helena. The Emancipation Proclamation was read to the St. Helena slaves on January1, 1863, under this massive Oak. Over the years the community has worked to preserve and protect this important tree. When the plans for widening Route 21 in Frogmore were announced the community protested because the proposed road would be too

close to the tree. As a result, the highway was re-directed, away from the tree.

St. Helena is also the location of a magnificent canopy of oaks that can be seen approaching Penn Center, down Martin Luther King Boulevard. Penn Center is the location of the first school for black children. Today, it houses a museum and conference center depicting the Gullah culture.

Dataw Island is home to another historic oak, said to be over 400 hundred years old, and which can be seen at the 1798 Sam’s Reeve Cemetery. The Sam Reeves family were early owners of Datha; however history states Datha Island was home to King Datha and his tribe long before the settlers arrived. (The name of the Island was changed to Dataw with the 1983 purchase of Datha by Alcoa.)

Along Bay Street in Beaufort, high on the Bluff overlooking the bay, there is a very large and much photographed oak. If this tree could talk, it would be able to tell us many stories about the town of Beaufort, which was founded in 1711. Before leaving the town of Beaufort, visitors should take a short visit to the cemetery surrounding the church of St. Helena, founded 1712, there are more large and amazing oaks shading the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers. This area was used as a hospital by the Union soldiers and the crypts of the cemetery were used as operating tables.

Traveling north on Route 21 toward the Marine Corp Air Station is a huge Beaufort Oak that is a movie star. That’s right! This incredible tree was featured in the 1994 movie, co-staring Kevin Costner, titled The War. It later appeared in the film, Forest Gump. This is an amazingly photogenic tree is located at the

“Novels and gardens,” she says. “I like to move from plot to plot” ~ Bill Richardson


entrance to Carolina Shores at the end of Carolina Avenue, off Bruce K. Smalls Drive.

Visitors to Beaufort can enjoy “The Tree Walk,” a self guided tour created by The Lady’s Island Garden Club, and located in what is known as The Point (part of the historical section of the town). Visitors may stop at the Visitors Center, located in the old Arsenal, for a brochure.

About the Author

Norma Miller moved to South Carolina in 1992, and currently resides on Dataw Island, Beaufort. She is a retired nurse and has been a garden club member for over 45 years. She is past President of Dataw Garden Club, past President of The Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs and former West Lowcountry District Director. She is currently the local liaison for HTHP.

18 |

Historic Red Cedar at Historic Honey HornBy Sandy Stern

H ilton Head Island has a long, illustrious history chronicled by a number of historic trees, serving as living

historians, and found all over the island. One particular tree is the Southern red cedar (Juniperus siliciocola) located at historic Honey Horn Plantation. This magnificent tree is registered on Clemson University’s South Carolina’s ‘Champion Tree’ list as being the oldest and largest Southern red cedar in the state, with a circumference of 186”, diameter of 58”, height of 45’, and branches spreading over 48’.

This Southern red cedar is on record of having an estimated germination date of 1595. It was privileged to have witnessed over four centuries of events that shaped

the diversity of culture and people of the island. At the very beginning of its life, it welcomed Spanish and French explorers who first set foot on the island and found Native American tribes living here.

In 1663, Capt. William Hilton, the island’s namesake, sighted the ‘headland’ of this barrier island near the entrance of Port Royal Sound and wrote of its large trees in his sea journal. The red cedar was over 100 years old when Beaufort County was founded in 1711. During the early 1700’s, the tree noticed the skirmishes between the English and the Yemassee Indians, as well as the arrival of West African slaves brought to the island by wealthy English land owners to work the large plantations of indigo, rice, sugar cane and sea island cotton. For the next 150 years, the tree observed the harsh treatment of slaves.

In 1781, during the Revolutionary War, the red cedar heard the story about the wife of Lt. John Talbird, Forced from her home with her newborn, she stood by a huge Live Oak and watched as her home was being burned to the ground, in retribution for her husband’s service as a Patriot. (This historic Talbird Live Oak still stands today at the back entrance of Hilton Head Plantation.) In 1792, when landowner John Hanahan sub-divided his property and created Honey Horn Planta-tion, the red cedar turned 200 years old.

By 1860 when South Carolina seceded from the Union, the tree had grown into the permanent landscape of Honey Horn

Regarding tree problems -You have met the enemy and he is us ~ Pogo


Plantation. On April 12, 1861, it heard from afar the Civil War’s first shot, fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston. Again, on November 7, 1861, the tree was startled to hear the sound of gunfire nearby, during the Battle of Hilton Head. It soon learned of the defeat of the Confederate army, the arrival of Union troops, and the establishment of the first freedman’s village of Mitchelville. After the war, the tree watched as soldiers left and most of the island was sold to land speculators. Those who remained, freed slaves and their descendant, are known as Gullah.

The tree stood tall from the mid-1800’s to the late-1900’s while Honey Horn Plantation was sold to as many as 18 different landowners, many using the land as a private hunting retreat. When a category-3 storm hit the Sea Islands on August 27, 1893, the tree considered itself very lucky to have survived the devastating floods and destruction by the 16-foot storm surge. It felt sad however to learn of how many Gullah islanders had lost their homes and lives to this 4th deadliest hurricane in US history.

By 1950, logging had become a major industry on the island, as lumber mills were built to harvest the timber from thousands of acres of forested land. At first, the 350-year-old tree felt threatened, but soon realized lumberjacks had no plans of chopping it down.

When the James F. Byrnes Bridge was constructed in 1956, it opened the island to automobile traffic from the mainland. The red cedar saw rapid changes. Since 1956, many changes have altered the landscape of the island, as well as the people who call it home. The tree recalls when the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce was established; the Hargray Telephone Company office was opened; and when the island’s first golf course first opened. Also, the venerable tree remembers when the Hilton Head Airport opened; the Island Packet newspaper was first published; and when the Hilton Head Island Hospital was completed. In 1982, when the two-lane swing bridge was replaced by a four-lane bridge, the tree noticed an even greater growth in population and land development. It watched for years as visionaries transformed the island from a hunting retreat into a vacationer’s paradise.

In 1983, the Town of Hilton Head Island incorporated as a municipality with the residents electing Ben Racusin as its first mayor. Four years later, the Town Council passed the Land Management Ordinance offering protection to the island’s trees. Now, before a large tree is cut down, owners must seek approval from the town or property owners associations. In 1987, the Hilton Head Land Trust, a non-profit corporation was founded to preserve and protect critical natural habitat and significant historical parcels of land on the island for the enjoyment of future generations. What a great achievement, from the tree’s point of view. Furthermore, the tree felt proud each year, when the Arbor Day Foundation designated Hilton Head Island as a Tree City USA.

In 1998 the red cedar was pleased to learn that the Town of Hilton Head bought the property of Honey Horn Plantation to protect it from future development.

20 | The Earth laughs in flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The tree’s future was now secure. The mature Southern red cedar could continue to record the history of the island - its tragic events, joyful ceremonies, modern-day accomplishments, as well as, stories of generations of people who live, work, play and visit Hilton Head Island.

The historic tree is currently enjoying the good life and being cared for by the folks at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn Plantation. Every year, thousands of residents, school children and tourists visit historic Honey Horn Plantation, marveling at this beautiful specimen. In addition, for centuries, more than 50 species of birds that have enjoyed this incredible red cedar, using it as a food source of fruit and berries.

2013 marked the 350th anniversary of Capt. William Hilton’s sighting of Hilton Head Island and the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Hilton Head. There were special events planned throughout the year and a final week of celebration in early October. Later in the month a group of The Avid Gardeners who volunteer at the Hilton Head Island School for Creative Arts took members of the Jr. Gardeners Club on a field trip to Honey Horn Plantation. One of the highlights of the visit was the honor 12 children paid the tree. All stood, facing outward and joining hands around the base of the tree, while their picture was being taken. Today, the 418-year-old red cedar continues to thrive. It loves the attention it receives from those who stop along the path to admire its beauty and reflect on how it has endured over the years.

On Arbor Day, December 6, 2013, another group of youngsters from the Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts planted a 10-year old, 7-foot tall Southern red cedar tree at Hilton Head Island’s historic Fort Howell. This young tree is taking its place in history. Who knows what it will witness in centuries to come? Only time will tell!

About the Author

Sandy (a.k.a. Alexandra S. Ebe Stern) resides on Hilton Head Island, SC with her husband Edward. Sandy is a member of The Avid Gardeners of Hilton Head Plantation and serves as the club’ Award Chair. She is also a member of the Hilton Head Island Council of Garden Clubs. She has been dubbed the ‘Cactus Queen’ by island residents due to her extensive cactus and succulent garden which had its true beginning back in an apartment in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY. Sandy developed a love of gardening at the age of six, while helping her mother plant flowers in their backyard garden on Long Island, NY.


Arranging Flowers: What You Need and What You Need to Consider

By Terry Ritchen

Welcome to the world of floral arranging. If you’re intersted in getting started, or perhaps honing your skills and want longer lasting arrnagments then by all means please read on. Listed below are some helpful hints.

The Tools of the TradeBasic tools: The Six essentials

• Pruners: Essential for cutting woody –stemmed flowers and branches.

• Clear floral tape and/or green tape. The clear is good for creating a grid on clear glass vases to keep stems where you want them. The green tape is used to hold the oasis (floral foam) in a container and keep the flowers from tipping over.

• Floral knife (optional) can be used cutting the stems and removing thorns.

• Kitchen knife: used to cut/ shape your floral foam

• Floral Shears: For clipping stem ends

• Hammer: For crushing woody stem ends after cutting on a diagonal to encourage water uptake.

• Floral foam: Essential for holding flowers in place in a container.

• Regular shears are not to be used for cutting flowers. The blades are too thick and they tend to compress the stems.

Housekeeping tips:• A bucket or buckets are a necessity to own. They should always be clean and

free from bacteria. Soap, any cleaning agent, or bleach works best. Towel dries the inside if you have one then one bucket and you wish to stack them. It prevents them from sticking together.

• Glass containers must be dust free, without finger prints, or water marks.

• Your tools - should be cleaned after each time there used with steel wool for tough stains, rubbing alcohol, or a light cleaning fluid may also be used.

How and where to buy flowers:Supermarkets: Questions to ask. Are they fresh? How would you know? See the person who takes care of the flowers and find out when they get their

22 | A flower blossoms for its own joy ~ Oscar Wilde

deliveries. Be sure to look at the color of the water inside the container to see if it looks clean and clear. Lift the flowers out of the container and if the bottoms of the stems are white they have been sitting there for a while. Not a good sign. All petals and leaves should look fresh.

Farmers Markets: Chances are the flowers are fresh and pick either the night before or early in the morning. Watch for bugs on the heads of the flowers or under the leaves.

Floral Wholesalers: Know when their flowers come in. If you want a special type flower they need to be ordered ahead of time. Give them at least a four work day time frame or go visit their coolers and select your flowers. There will be someone there to help you. You must re-condition the flowers as soon as you get home. Flowers for the most part have been on a long trip out of water from the grower, to the supplier and finally to you. It’s a good idea to give them a fresh cut. Why re-condition flowers? Simply because after the initial cut the cells start to close and water can’t be absorbed into the stem.

How long do you want your flowers to last?Helpful hints to prolong the life of your fresh cut flowers.• Things you need: Hydrogen Peroxide(HP) is your best friend. A few drops

will prevent bacteria from growing inside your container.• Floralife, a powdered white substance, called plant food that contains bleach

to prevent bacteria from forming in your arrangement.• If you don’t have any Floralife, a mixture of sugar, HP or bleach in water

will be as effective. (To one gallon of water mix half teaspoon of sugar and a tablespoon of HP or bleach.

• Cut flowers very early in the morning or when the sun goes down and place flowers immediately in water before you begin conditioning them. When cutting greens they should be completely submersed in water for at least an hour or preferably overnight.

Conditioning:• Conditioning roses - stems must be cut underwater. If possible all other

flowers should be cut underwater.• Remove excess leaves off the stems. Leaves should

never be place below the water line particularly in a clear glass container arrangement.

• The water in your arrangement should be replaced every three or four days.

How to plan a good floral design:• How do you come up with an idea? Ideas can come

to you in many ways; from a painting, the color of a room, a theme, the type of celebration, seasons or just a feeling.


• Where is it going to be place? It is important to know whether only one side of the arrangement will be seen or if it will be seen in the round. An arrangement on a dining room table will differ from one

designed for a side table, stands, mantle, door or staircase.

• What type of container should I use? There are endless choices of containers to consider for example you could select a glass or plastic dish, a basket, wreath, vegetables or gourds.

• What are other things to think about? It is important to consider the size, shape, form, type of flowers and greens to use. Take a look at your garden and see what type of greens you have. Greens are essential to any arrangement. They can start you line, shape and be used for filler. Ligustrum, boxwood, Aspidistra, holly most any Fern and Pittosporum are very popular. The list is endless.

Floral Foam: Gently drop the floral foam in a small bucket of water and let it sink naturally. Do not force it under by pushing on it. When totally submerged it’s ready to use. DO NOT OVERSOAK THE FOAM or RE-Use already soaked floral foam. Place foam in a container of choice and secure it with green floral tape.

Have lots of courage and fun. Flowers are so beautiful on their own that there is really nothing you can do that will make a flower look bad.

About the Author

Terry Ritchen is an award winning floral designer who is a NGC Accredited Flower Show Judge and Master Gardener. She has served as President of the Garden Club of Charleston and is currently First Vice President of the Counsel of Garden Clubs of Greater Charleston. Terry is the Chair of the 2015 Garden Club of South Carolina Convention. In her spare time she lectures and does demonstrations on floral design.

24 |

About the Author

Joan Danforth serves as the GCSC Chaplin. She has been a member of the Columbia Garden Club

for more than 35 years. Joan is a member of the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and chair of the 30

member flower guild. She is a master gardener and is always happy when digging in the dirt (“soil”

to master gardeners).

Inspiration & Meditation

SpringBy Joan Danforth

Spring—an experience in immortality.

—Henry D. Thoreau

‘Tis like the birthday of the world, When earth was born in bloom; The light is made of many dyes, The air is all perfume: There’s crimson buds, and white and blue, The very rainbow showers Have turned to blossoms where they fell, And sown the earth with flowers.

—Thomas Hood

Flowers don’t tell, they show. ~ Stephanie Skeem

Blythewood Garden Club Turns 60The Blythewood Garden Club turns 60 years old this year and celebrated with a gala reception attended by former members, their families and numerous dignitaries. Blythewood Mayor, Mike Ross declared the day to be “Blythewood Garden Club Day” and he and members of the South Carolina Legislature presented a number of Resolutions commending the clubs achievements.

Scrapbooks, pictures, memorabilia and a slide show chronicled the clubs many years of beautification projects, flower shows, and service to the community. Judith Dill, President of the Garden Club of South Carolina, and Ouida Ott, President of the Garden Club Council of Greater Columbia each brought greetings.

The current officers are Karen Bickley, President; Lori Landmeyer, 1st Vice President; Kristi Coggins, 2nd vice president; Dale Cogan, secretary; and Dallas Schmidt, treasurer. Lyn King serves as Chairman of the Anniversary Committee.


Roots

More on The Cork OakBy Helen Goforth, Historian

An article written by Clara Frierson of Union Garden Club was featured in GCSC Bulletin No. 42, September, 1949, continued the story of cork trees in South Carolina.“South Carolina has been rather prominent in the planting and growing of cork trees (quercus suber) for nearly two hundred years. The earliest reference to a cork oak in this country was made by John Bartram in 1765. While on a visit to the state, he reported a cork oak tree growing near Charleston.The first, although unsuccessful, cork oak planting in our country, of which there is a definite record, was made in South Carolina in 1787. Thomas Jefferson, while in France, sent a package of cork oak acorns to William Drayton of Magnolia, near Charleston. The acorns were planted but did not germinate.”A report from “Winnsborough, SC” in 1875 to the U.S. Forestry Division, recorded “quantities of acorns were obtained from Spain in 1858 and were distributed to parts of the country where it was thought they would grow. “Other records show that only a few trees from plantings in 1859 and a second distribution in 1880 grew to large size. There are now sixteen large old cork oaks scattered over South Carolina in Aiken, Columbia, Edgefield, North Augusta, Shelton, Society Hill, Strother and Union.”Governor Olin D. Johnston, speaking at an Arbor Day celebration on the State Capitol Grounds, December 3, 1943 said: “Our state is the first to have cork trees planted in every county. We are the first to celebrate Arbor Day by the planting of a cork tree in a statewide program. I, as Governor of South Carolina, am happy and proud to be the first governor to plant a cork oak at Arbor Day ceremonies. Through the cooperation of our foresters, cork oak trees will be made available to all the people,

year after year, and I urge the people of this state to take advantage of the offer.”

Interest in the success of creating a viable, even thriving, new agriculture venture in SC intensified and progress of the “experiment” spread rapidly through the publication of GCSC Bulletins. Neighboring garden clubs added interesting news and history of their existing cork oak trees.In the GCSC Bulletin No. 44, March 1950, Mrs. B. H. Bunch of Terrace Garden Club in North Augusta, wrote: “The town of North Augusta is proud that within and near its borders live five very handsome cork oak trees. The four oldest are on an avenue

26 |

About the Author

Helen Goforth resides in Gaffney, SC with her husband Jim. The two of them are self proclaimed

“history buffs,” which makes Helen a perfect Historian for the Garden Club of South Carolina. They

met on a blind date in Washington, D.C. and have been married for 42 years. They began planting

trees early in their married life and continue to do so. When their church began to improve the site

of its historic cemetery, Jim and Helen planted trees to provide year round color. Perhaps you could

call them “tree huggers,” too.

leading to the old McKie homestead on the Martintown Road. The grandfather of Mr. George Andrew McKie made a trip to Spain during the latter part of the 18th century. While there he admired the handsome cork oaks and wondered if they would thrive in a climate comparable to their native state. On his return to America he brought back seven acorns which were smuggled in, for Spain—at that time—had a monopoly on cork. The seven acorns were planted and seven seedlings rewarded the patient, eager man who planted them. Only four of the trees are living today (1950).”“The fifth tree is located in North Augusta in the garden of Dr. and Mrs. C. E. Blandenburg. This tree came from an acorn from the old McKie home. It was planted by Mrs. Blandenburg’s mother, Mrs. Mealing.”

Perfumes are the feelings of flowers ~ Heinrich Heine

Hillcrest Garden Club of Greenville Turns 65In December the Hillcrest Garden Club of Greenville, SC, celebrated its 65th year as a federated garden club at the home of Carolyn Moseley, president. The Club theme, “The Joys of Gardening Shared with Friends.” More than thirty members and guests enjoyed a short program highlighting the early work of the club and its members. Many well-known Greenville gardeners have been members of Hillcrest, and several went on to become Greenville Council Presidents. Some of the early women who helped shape our club included: Betty Kittrell, Helen Fuseler, Lillian Peterson, Nekoda (Mrs. Jack) McCauley, Reba Wall, Mrs. Aubrey Shives, Mary (Mrs. John) New and Alleene Crawley to name just a few. Scrapbooks documenting the club’s history were available to enjoy. Everyone

laughed at the retelling of a story of Nekoda McCauley and Dr. Bob Jones. One morning Dr. Jones came to Mrs. McCauley’s door, he told her that God spoke to him and said that she was moving away and might want to leave some of her property to the University. Mrs. McCauley, always with a quick wit, told him that God had not spoken to her yet but she would let him know if this happened.


At Home in the Shade Garden

By Jeanne Karmiel

Gardening in the shade in the South can ultimately be more satisfying that in a sunny environment. My garden in August, remains looking good despite our simmering climate, and is a cool retreat in which to sit and enjoy.

The focal point in my garden is my 100 year old live oak which provides an opportunity to create drama and mood in the garden setting. The back drop to this brick walled sloping garden is a symphony of pink, white and red color provided by winter camellias and spring azaleas and dogwood. If you are lucky enough to have towering shade trees, understory trees like red bud and dogwood provide depth and imagination to the landscape. The many varieties

of enchanting Japanese maples create texture and beautiful fall color and winter silhouettes. Since I have no grass, additional foliage shrubs are layered with blue variegated hydrangea,

sago palms, iris, ferns and ground cover of English ivy, ajuga and a mondo grass parterre. One problem that I have is with the many tree and plant roots, which make planting flowers tedious and difficult. This dilemma is easily circumvented by pot plantings, lovingly arranged like a pearl necklace in the brick terraced garden rooms and on the stepped pathways. Oversized pots are

Japanese Maple Creating Texture

28 | In joy or sadness flowers are our constant friends ~ Kakuzo Okakura

About the Author

Jeanne Karmiel has lived in the low country of Charleston for the past 18 years. She previously resided in Pennsylvania where she was also an avid gardener tending her three acre English garden and orchard.

overfilled with shade charmers as begonias, impatients, columbine, coleus, astilbe, caladium and elephant ears in favorite shades of purples, blues, white and pink.

We all know the many elements to good gardening design and success. However, I think the most important thing to remember is to never take it too seriously and to enjoy the process. What could be better than to dig in dirt, to sit and to savor the shade garden!

Pyracantha Garden Club Celebrates 60th AnniversaryThe Pyracantha Garden Club of Saluda, SC celebrated their 60th Anniversary on December 7, 2013, at St. Paul UMC fellowship hall. The fellowship hall was beautifully decorated with pyracantha and magnolia arrangements designed by Mrs. Julia Wills. The festive drop-in was attended by friends, former club members, and members of the Saluda Garden Club. Mrs. Joye Johnson, the club’s first president and two original charter members, Mrs. Allene Able and Mrs. Mary Helen Duffie, were in attendance. Tom Brooks, Administrator of Saluda, presented the club with a resolution expressing appreciation for 60 years of service to the Saluda Community.

Azalea Garden Club & Camellia Garden ClubCelebrate 65th Anniversaries

In March of 1948, members of the Manning (SC) Garden Club invited local ladies to form a new club. There was enough interest for two new clubs to be formed. These became the Azalea Garden Club and the Camellia Garden Club. On November 14, 2013, these clubs

celebrated with a joint tea at the home of Anne McFaddin Sauls, President of the Azalea Club. Mrs. Sauls is the daughter of the lone surviving Azalea Garden Club charter member, Mrs. James Hugh (Amelia) McFaddin. Mrs. Lannes C. Prothro (Jean) is the only surviving charter member of the Camellia Garden Club. Over 200 members, former members, and guests attended the tea.


Herbs are Superb

By Eleanor Hickman DurgeeHerb Chairman

THYME, Thymus spp.“I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows;Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,With sweet mush-roses, and with eglantine”.

William ShakespeareA Midsummer Night’s Dream, II, 1

It’s thyme to grow thyme!

Thyme, a member of the mint family, is a striking evergreen herb grown in temperate regions of the world. There are many varieties of thyme, with the two primary ones being creeping and upright. Low-growing creeping thyme is most attractive as a groundcover on banks, hills, and between stones in walkways, where its delightful scent is further released as it is brushed up against. Upright varieties of thyme grow from around 10 to 18 inches in height and are especially lovely in rock gardens and beds.

Thyme is easy to grow with gardeners frequently growing it in flower and herb gardens and in pots adding a stunning display of color. Depending upon the variety grown, the small flowers stand thick at the tips of the branches proudly displaying their beauty and array of color ranging from white, pink, lavender, purple and red.

Thyme is usually planted in the spring, and thereafter grows as a perennial. Thyme can be grown from seed, by cuttings, by dividing rooted sections of the plant, or seedlings can be purchased from a nursery. It contains an aromatic essential oil and all of the plant has a delightful fragrance. Honeybees love the nectar of thyme.

It’s thyme to use thyme!Thyme is sold both fresh and dried. The tiny leaves dry quickly, and the whole sprigs can be stored for use during the winter. Of course, fresh straight from the garden is the ultimate! Snip and clip the flowers and leaves making sure to leave some of the stem to allow regrowth.

In French and Italian markets neatly wrapped bunches of fresh thyme is available much like Americans buy cilantro and parsley. Dried sprigs of thyme are a common find in madam’s bouquet garni and herbs de Provence.

Thymus vulgaris, common thyme, is usually used in cooking being added near the end to maintain its delicate flavor. It pairs well with lamb, poultry and tomatoes, and is often used in soups, stews, stocks and sauces.

30 |

Thyme, I found you just in thyme!The essential oil of T. vulgaris, contains 20-50% thymol.4 Before modern antibiotics, oil of thyme was used to medicate bandages.1 Thymol can also be found in some all-natural, alcohol-free sanitizers.5

The ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks believed thyme was a source of courage and used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples. The spread of thyme throughout Europe was thought to be due to the Romans, as they used it to purify their rooms and to “give an aromatic flavour to cheese and liqueurs.”1

In the European Middle Ages, the herb was placed beneath pillows to aid sleep and ward off nightmares.2 In this period, women would also often give knights and warriors gifts that included thyme leaves, as it was believed to bring courage to the bearer. Thyme was also used as incense and placed on coffins during funerals, as it was supposed to assure passage into the next life.3

Thyme is on our side!As we sow and grow thyme, we sing joyfully. Our songs create laughter, happy times and memories that are forever treasures in our hearts!As we reap and eat thyme, we leisurely savor the flavor of thyme on spaghetti, thyme on lasagna, and heavenly hors d’oeuvres with thyme!As we restfully relax, we enjoy the scent of thyme on our hands as we grow our happy, healthy herb gardens!

Sun-worshipper thyme likes its feet kept well drainedand an early spring start in a sun-splashed domain.

It will return next year just in thymeto put in your favorite recipes and sachets and be most divine!

References:1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/thyme#cite_note-Maud-1 1Grieve, Maud (Mrs.). Thyme. A Modern Herbal. Hypertext version of the 1931 edition. Accessed: February 9, 2008. (Wikipedia)2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/thyme#cite_note-Huxley-2 2Huxley, A.,ed. (1992.) New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan.

3http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/thyme#cite_note-3 3Thyme (thymus), The English Cottage Garden Nursery.4http://en/Wikipedia.org/wiki/thyme#cite_note-vulgaris-5 4Thymus Vulgarus. PDR for Herbal Medicine. Montvale, JF: Medical Economics company. p.1184.5http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/thyme

About the Author

Eleanor Hickman Durgee serves as the Herb

Chairman for GCSC. She enjoys traveling and

most recently traveled to Asia where she got up

close and personal with tigers. She is a member

of The Garden Club of Charleston.

A gardin is where you can find a whole spectrum of life, birth and death ~ Tiffany Baker


Editor’s NoteOh, the promise of spring! After many weather challenges over the past few months, I know everyone is anxious to get outside and garden. Once again, my thanks to each of the writers in this spring issue of The Gardener. I know you will find new ideas and perhaps some challenges as you delve into reading about citrus, flower arranging and shade gardening, as well as much more.

The West Low Country has provided some exciting information about historic trees in that district. Maybe you will want to plan a road trip to visit some of these historic specimens and sites.

I want to draw your attention to the bottom of the even numbered pages. Beginning in the fall issue a variety of quotes about gardening, trees and flowers have been placed at the bottom of each of these pages. I invite you to share your favorite quote, or perhaps one of your own to be included in an upcoming issue. Simply send them to me at [email protected].

As always, thank you for the privilege of serving as your Editor.

Kathy Hall

Editorial StaffManaging Editor:

Kathy [email protected]

Proof Readers:Sue LawleyJudith Dill

Contributing Writers:Joan DanforthEleanor Hickman DurgeeHelen GoforthGail JeterJerry Weise

The South Carolina Gardener is the official publication of the Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc., published quarterly and funded in part by membership dues. The South Carolina Gardener has made every effort to insure listings and information are accurate and assumes no liability for errors or omissions.

For advertising information and editorial inquiries, contact Kathy Hall at [email protected].

© 2013. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reprinted without the express, written consent of the publisher.

Submission Deadlines:Summer 2014 ....... April 15Fall 2014 ............... July 15Winter 2014 .......... October 15Spring 2015 .......... January 15

Send materials for publication to:Kathy Hall, [email protected]

Photos should be a high resolution and sent as a separate jpeg, tiff or related file.

Printed by Midlands Printing, Inc., Camden, SC

The Official Publication of The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc.

The South CarolinaGARDENER

GCSC | SPRING ISSUE 2014 | VOL. 92 NO. 3

32 | Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago ~ Warren Buffett

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The South Carolina GARDENER - StarChapter€¦ · Gardener’s, I think, dream bigger dreams than...

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Transcript of The South Carolina GARDENER - StarChapter€¦ · Gardener’s, I think, dream bigger dreams than...