The Future of Johns Island’s Iconic Angel Oak Tree

 

 

At April’s Seabrook Island Garden Club meeting, Samantha Siegel, Angel Oak Preserve Director at Lowcountry Land Trust, provided members with an overview of the plans to preserve this beloved Johns Island landmark. The tree is a popular tourist destination, largely due to the claim that it is the oldest living tree east of the Mississippi River. While the exact age of the tree is unknown, estimates of its age range from 400 to 1,500 years old. The beloved Southern live oak stands 66 1/2 feet tall, with a 28-foot trunk circumference and large sloping branches that shade an area over 17,000 square feet. Resurrection ferns grow along the limbs, giving the tree a lush green appearance year-round. Each year an estimated 400,000+ people come to view the tree and enjoy the site.

 

As a young college student, Samantha often drove out to Johns Island to sit under the Angel Oak and enjoy the tranquility of the small city park surrounding the tree. In 2008, after learning the wooded area surrounding the Angel Oak was on track to be leveled and developed as a 600-unit apartment and retail shopping complex, Samantha founded the “Save the Angel Oak” organization. She garnered a lot of support from individuals and conservation groups to block the development and explore options for conserving the land. In 2013 she partnered with Lowcountry Land Trust to raise $7 million to purchase 35 acres of land that surrounds the tree on three sides. More than 12,000 donors, plus contributions from the South Carolina Conservation Bank and the Charleston County Greenbelt Program, enabled them to quickly acquire the land. This purchase and the nine-acre park owned by the City of Charleston formed the new proposed 44-acre Angel Oak Preserve.

 

Plans for the Preserve include raising awareness of the Gullah-Geechee and Native American history of Johns Island. Some of the artifacts found on the property are believed to date back 8,000 years, and some speculate the tree might have been a ceremonial meeting place for the Native Americans that inhabited the Sea Islands. Significant portions of the land surrounding the tree were acquired by the Waight family in the late 1600s. By the early 1700s, the family was operating a large plantation where they grew corn, cotton, and rice. Records indicate the plantation had about 80 slaves; historians believe some of their living quarters were near the tree. One of the Waight daughters eventually married into the Angel family, and it is believed this is how the tree came to be known as the Angel Oak.

 

Following the Civil War, the Angel family continued to grow cotton until 1904. After that, they left the portion of the property where the tree was located open to the public. According to Charleston civil rights activist Septima Clark, who was a teacher on Johns Island, the tree was a gathering place for all. “Segregation was at its height, but the tree was not segregated,” she recalled. She would bring her school children out for the day to picnic and play under the tree. According to Septima Clark’s account, some believed angels brought spirits to the tree, and the spirits could see the things that happened there during slavery. Others believed the tree was part of the Underground Railroad system that helped slaves escape by hiding in the lush branches during the day and continuing their journey at night. Rather than being named after the Angel family, many believe it was named after the angels that frequented the area and protected the people.

 

Samantha has not only worked to uncover the property's history but continues to secure additional funding to move forward with a master plan for the site. The plan includes a boardwalk designed to protect the tree's root system, walking trails, an information center, improved parking, signage to celebrate the history and significance of the land, and an outdoor educational area. The Angel Oak Preserve is expected to break ground in 2025, with an estimated total cost of around $8 million. Additional fundraising efforts are currently underway. To donate, please visit give.lowcountrytrust.org.

 

—Submitted by Susan McLaughlin

Rain Gardening in the Lowcountry!

 

The Seabrook Island Garden Club’s March meeting was entitled Rain Gardening in the Lowcountry! and featured guest speakers Lee Bundrick and Sean Cannon from the Kiawah Conservancy. Given the increasing concern about flooding caused by stormwater runoff, communities and individuals are interested in exploring what can be done to mitigate flooding in low-lying areas. Rain gardens are a simple nature-based strategy that can be implemented to help address flooding.

 

Lee Bundrick began with an explanation of the “science” behind rain gardens. Since rainwater is the primary source of freshwater in coastal areas, the Conservancy and the College of Charleston initiated a groundwater monitoring program on Kiawah Island to assess changes in the water table caused by rising tides and more frequent flooding events. While most of the rainwater on the island is captured by the forest and vegetation, the water table is relatively shallow (2-3 feet) and can only hold a limited amount of water. If rainwater cannot infiltrate the ground quickly enough, it begins to run off or pool in certain areas. As an increasing number of impervious surfaces such as houses, roads, driveways, and sidewalks take over previously forested areas, water pooling and flooding become more problematic. Unfortunately, this runoff water often contains pesticides, plastics, fertilizers, petroleum-based particulates, etc. These contaminants end up in the local waterways and can impact the wildlife and local ecosystems. One mitigation effort that grew out of this study was a recommendation to educate local communities and residents on the benefits of establishing rain gardens to mitigate flooding.

 Sean Cannon’s role with the Conservancy is to help communities and individuals design and implement rain gardens. He offered the following instructions on how to establish a rain garden on your property.

 1. At its core, a rain garden collects rainwater, holds it for a limited amount of time, and filters it before slowly releasing the water into the ground. The first step is to determine where water pools on your property. This is often a dip or depression in a low-lying area of the yard. Rain gardens, however, should not be placed in areas where water pools but should be located upslope of such an area to capture the water and eliminate the pooling.

2.    Rain gardens should not be placed too close to foundations since they do collect and hold moisture. Ideally, a rain garden should be at least 10 feet away from any type of structure on your property.

3.    It is important to amend the soil in the area using two parts sand and one part topsoil to maximize drainage. The rain garden should be at least 12-24 inches in depth with a 3-4 inch topping of cedar mulch.

4.    Ideally, the garden should be planted with native plant species. Some examples include river oats, scarlet sage, beautyberry, canna lilies, blue flag iris, and cardinal flowers. Plants should be drought-resistant but able to tolerate damp conditions for extended periods.

5.    Once established, rain gardens are relatively low-maintenance areas. They require weeding but generally do not require irrigation.

The Kiawah Conservancy staff members are willing to help communities and individuals design and establish local rain gardens. Most designs are very simple. The key is finding plants that will thrive in your area. Please feel free to contact Lee and Sean for assistance.

 

M. Lee Bundrick is the Senior Ecological Health and Conservation Coordinator for the Kiawah Conservancy and has been working on Kiawah Island since 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Clemson University, a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from the College of Charleston, and a Master in Public Administration from the College of Charleston.  He works primarily in the areas of land protection, land stewardship, and environmental research, with a focus on the Kiawah River Watershed region covering Kiawah, Seabrook, and Johns Islands. He is a Certified Master Rain Gardener and is also an Adjunct Professor at the College of Charleston where he currently teaches the introduction to environmental and sustainability studies for the graduate school. Lee’s contact information is: lee@kiawahconservancy.org.

Sean Cannon is the Restoration and Enhancement Specialist for the Kiawah Conservancy. He earned a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and a Master's of Science in Environmental Studies from the College of Charleston. Sean focuses on the implementation of Nature Based Solutions, habitat restoration, and community outreach and education. He is a Certified Master Rain Gardener and received a letter of Completion in Stormwater Pond Management through Clemson Cooperative Extension. Sean’s contact information is: sean@kiawahconservancy.org.

Sea Island Savory Herbs

 

The January 2024 meeting of the Seabrook Island Garden Club featured presenters Ella Cowan and Danielle Spies, co-owners of Sea Island Savory Herbs plant nursery on Johns Island. They began their presentation by providing some history about the property. The herb farm has been in existence since the 1970’s and is located along Church Creek. The original owner and his wife had a special interest in growing herbs, and the wife was known locally as the “Herb Lady.” Prior to taking over the business about ten years ago, both Ella and Danielle worked on the farm and came to view it as a unique place.

 As the name implies, Sea Island Savory Herbs specializes in selling herbs, with a focus on culinary herbs. Additionally, they sell succulents, perennials, and seasonal vegetables. They are looking to add medicinal herbs to their current offerings. Most of what they sell is grown on the property from cuttings taken from existing plants. Unlike large nursery centers, they specialize in plants that thrive in our local climate. As an example of this, they sell an herb called culantro. It is similar in taste to cilantro but is easier to grow in this area.

Danielle spent a portion of her presentation explaining how to propagate herbs through cuttings. At their farm, almost all their plants are propagated this way as it is much more cost effective than purchasing seeds, plugs, or live plants. She encouraged home gardeners to do the same as propagation is relatively simple—take cuttings, strip off the bottom leaves, use a root hormone to stimulate growth, plant the cuttings in soil, and water daily. Once the cuttings take root, they can then be transplanted to larger pots.

Both Ella and Danielle encourage people to visit the farm. They are more than happy to answer questions about the plants they sell. They want gardeners of all ages to be successful with whatever they grow. Although their farm is relatively “deer proof,” they can offer advice on plants that can be grown in areas with large deer populations. In particular, they have had success with salvias and offer a wide selection of salvias in the spring.

 The farm welcomes visitors of all ages. Even if you are not interested in growing plants, the farm has 15 acres of camellias for viewing. Sea Island Savory Herbs is located at 5920 Chisolm Road, Johns Island, SC 29455. Their hours of operation vary seasonally and are posted on their website: www.seaislandsavoryherbs.net.

                                                                            Submitted by Susan McLaughlin

Light Up Contest December 2023

Thank you for entering the Holiday Light Up Contest.   The displays ranged from classic designs to whimsy and everything in between.  For the first time, we have a tie for 1st Place. 
The winners are:  

• 1st Place  3076 Marshgate Dr 
• 2540 The Bent Twig
• 2nd Place 3028 Marsh Haven
• 3rd Place 2525 Pelican Perch
• Honorable Mention: 3227 Middle Dam and 2779 Little Creek

 

Wreath Making

 Lucie's Very Own

Wreath Making with Lucie Kulze, using native and naturalized plants from the forest and fields around Lucie's home in the ACE Basin of South Carolina.  

Ann Bavier

Carol Price

Julie Minch

Robin Aaron

,Debbie Daskaloff

, Beth Wright

Hydroponic Gardening

 

 

Rogers Kyle, a Seabrook Island resident and former MUSC teaching faculty member, discussed Hydroponic Gardening at the November Seabrook Island Garden Club meeting. Kyle, a do-it-you selfer and gardener, built a simple but efficient hydroponic system to grow lettuce and herbs from seeds year-round. Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil.  

 

With minimal technical skills and by watching a YouTube video, Kyle said any of us could build a hydroponic system. But we could also purchase a complete system on Amazon. He said you need plants or seeds, a container, water, a way to anchor the plants, nutrients, and a light source to grow hydroponically. The basic system suspends the plants above a water tank, and the roots hang into the container where they absorb water and nutrients. Every system has pros and cons; some are simple and a good fit for the amateur gardener, while others can get very complex and are suitable for commercial operations.

 

Once planted, the hydroponic gardener must diligently manage the crop to ensure the plants receive the proper nutrients and pH. A pH meter makes this easy to do. Other challenges are keeping out algae and deterring the birds, marsh rats, squirrels, and deer that also like his lettuce.

Dr. Kyle’s system is in the sun on his deck during the summer and under LED lights in his garage in the winter. Within a year, Kyle successfully harvested several lettuce crops without ever having to pull any weeds. 

 

                                                                                                Submitted by Carol Price

Growing Orchids in South Carolina

 American Orchid Society. The mission of the CCOS is to provide people in the Charleston area with opportunities to learn more about orchids and with a forum to interact with other orchid enthusiasts.

 

While most people are probably familiar with the Phalaenopsis orchid commonly sold in nurseries and grocery stores, participants in the workshop were surprised to learn there are over 28,000 different types of orchids. While widely viewed as tropical or semi-tropical plants, orchids grow in many climates. They are found on every continent in the world. The United States alone has over 250 native species of orchids, with each type having differing growing requirements.

 

According to Ms. Greenwood/Koch, with so many different species, it can be hard to generalize orchid care, but she did offer the following tips on caring for orchids. Most orchids prefer indirect sunlight and do best in southeast-facing windows. While orchids like high humidity, it is important not to overwater or allow the roots to sit in water. She suggested never watering the leaves, only the roots. Their roots need aeration, so orchids are typically grown in sphagnum moss, orchid mix or orchiata (New Zealand orchid bark). Orchids also prefer to be root-bound, making transplanting unnecessary unless the potting medium has broken down or the roots have outgrown the pot. Orchids can be grown outside but should be brought indoors once temperatures approach freezing. Throughout her presentation, Ms. Greenwood/Koch emphasized customizing the care to find what keeps your particular orchid plant healthy. She repeatedly stated, “If your plant looks healthy, keep doing what you are doing.” She has a large collection of orchids at her home in Mt. Pleasant. She brought several of her plants to show some of the different types of orchids that can be grown in the Lowcountry. Her interest in orchids began as a result of her husband gifting her orchids for special occasions. She felt compelled to learn about their care, and this led to a lifelong passion and involvement with CCOS. Information on joining the Coastal Carolina Orchid Society is available at www.coastalcarolinaos.org.

 

The next meeting of the Seabrook Island Garden Club will take place on November 10 at the Oyster Catcher Community Center. It will feature Seabrook’s own Rogers Kyle, who will be doing a presentation on hydroponic gardening. Other upcoming events include a trip to the Barrier Island Oyster Company, a “pop-up event” bingo social at the Pelican’s Nest, and a holiday wreath-making workshop. Current members are encouraged to email photographs of their gardens to Debbie Daskaloff at ddaskaloff@aol.com. Anyone interested in joining the Seabrook Island Garden Club for the 2023-2024 year can find information at sigardenclub.blogspot.com under the “Join Us” tab. Membership will remain open until October 30.

 

Seabrook Island Garden Club 2023-2024 “Let’s Talk Some Dirt!”

 

 

Submitted by Susan McLaughlin, Seabrook Island Garden Club Publicity

Photo credits: Vivien Joklik and Susan McLaughlin