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Lectures and Field Trips
Lectures are typically the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM, and tasty snacks will be provided for socializing (BYO non-alcoholic beverage or water bottle) We will meet in The Citadel Grimsley Hall Copeland Auditorium, 3 Jenkins Ave, Charleston, SC 29403. Free parking is available after 5:00 pm along Summerall Field (highlighted on map). See below for a parking pass if needed for surrounding lots (NOT needed for regular visitor parking).
Tuesday, May 19, 6:30 pm
Lecture: The Dale T. Morris Ecological Park at Barberry Woods
Biohabitats Founder Keith Bowers
The Citadel Grimsley Hall, 3 Jenkins Avenue
The Dale T. Morris Ecological Park (Barberry Woods) is a 19.4-acre nature-based resilience project on Johns Island, South Carolina, designed to address chronic flooding through engineered bottomland hardwood wetlands rather than conventional drainage infrastructure. At its core, more than 11 acres of restored freshwater wetlands move stormwater through three interconnected natural basins — capturing, storing, and slowly releasing water in ways that buffer surrounding neighborhoods from increasingly frequent flood events. More than 15,000 plants representing over 50 native species were designed and planted using both reference condition surveys and projected hydrologic regimes, establishing a structurally complex, self-sustaining ecosystem.
Saturday, May 23, 10 am – 12 noon
Field Trip: Barberry Woods
Katie Ellis of Biohabitats
This 20-acre site has been planted with incredible native plant communities to manage floodwaters for the surrounding neighborhoods. Following up on the May 19 lecture by Biohabitats founder Keith Bowers, this field trip is designed to explore the challenges and opportunities of a “living with water” approach to flood mitigation that provides multiple co-benefits for biodiversity.
Parking is limited on site, so we will meet at the Food Lion parking lot at the corner of Maybank Highway and River Road at 2770 Maybank Highway (Google Map | Apple Map) and carpool or caravan the short drive to street parking available on Bee Balm Road near the park. Further details will be available to registrants. Registration opens two weeks before the field trip.
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SCNPS Statewide Symposium 2026
Mark your calendars for September 18-20!
The Lowcountry Chapter is pleased to announce we’ll be hosting the annual statewide symposium of the SC Native Plant Society in Charleston, SC on the beautiful campus of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources at Fort Johnson! The statewide symposium brings together SCNPS members from across the state and chapters from the mountains to the sea providing an opportunity to meet, learn, and connect with your fellow members. And 2026 is the 30th Anniversary of the SCNPS, so we have lots of reasons to celebrate!
Located on James Island and overlooking the Charleston Harbor, the SCDNR Fort Johnson campus provides the perfect backdrop and home base for a fun-filled weekend of on-site presentations, workshops, and outdoor outings, as well as the site of our Saturday evening dinner and social event that you won’t want to miss.
Participants will also have the chance to venture out on Saturday afternoon and Sunday on expert-led field trips throughout the Lowcountry. Field trips will range from visiting a wide array of native ecosystems to tours of native plant gardens and projects that highlight some of the innovative, community-centered work happening in the Lowcountry related to native plants, habitat restoration, and resilience.
Plan on arriving Friday evening in time for our casual welcome party in downtown Charleston for light bites, drinks, and some surprise fun and games!
More information about the 2026 symposium, including the full agenda, registration, and details about accommodations, will be posted this summer at https://scnps.org/symposiums/symposium-2026/
The symposium is open to SCNPS members (from any chapter) only. If you are not already a member, please join us today!
Reach out to us with questions at lowcountry.president@scnps.org
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Here is the link to the recording of the OHM 96.3 radio show Lowcountry president Amber Von Harten did with Meeting Green on their show Get Planting in April. Listen to their discussion about the Society and native plants! (Interview begins at 2:48 after music intro.)
https://spinitron.com/WOHM/pl/22292080/Get-Planting-with-Meeting-Green
Tune in on the third Thursday of the month at 3pm and Get Planting with Meeting Green to learn all about gardening in the Lowcountry. Each month, host and Meeting Green owner Kendal will cover a different plant topic and chat with guests from the gardening community.
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Cullowhee Native Plant Conference
July 15-18, 2026
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
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Additional Programs of Interest
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| The Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center’s Beginner-Friendly Native Plants For South Carolina’s Coastal Plain factsheet is now published! This information will be helpful to new and continuing native plant gardeners.
Samantha Porzelt
Water Resources Extension Agent
Master Rain Gardener Program Coordinator
Cooperative Extension
Clemson University
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| Join Charleston Climate Coalition and Sierra Club Lunz Group on Saturday, May 16 from 9 to 11 am at the rain garden by the MLK Pool (corner of America and Lee streets) to plant some more plants! Register here. For more info, please contact Belvin Olasov at belvinolasov@gmail.com or Rebecca Fanning at lowcountry.fieldtrips@scnps.org
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Join the Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals (ANREP) and the National Extension Native Plant Initiative (NENPI) on the first Wednesday of each month from noon to 1:00 PM as we explore a variety of native plant topics. Whether you are new to the subject or a seasoned professional, this series offers an opportunity to expand your knowledge and engage with experts in the field.
Next Lunch and Learn: Wed. June 3, 12 noon
Topic: Non-native Earthworms and Their Effects on the Soil Ecosystem
Speaker: Katalin Szlavecz, soil ecologist and Research Professor at the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists may earn Continuing Education through these sessions. While the presentations are free, registration is required. Register to attend one or more of the upcoming live sessions.
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2026 Lowcountry Chapter Board Members
President – Amber Von Harten lowcountry.president@scnps.org
Vice President – Caroline Wright lowcountry.vicepresident@scnps.org
Treasurer – Sharleen Johnson lowcountry.treasurer@scnps.org
Lectures and Field Trips – Rebecca Fanning lowcountry.fieldtrips@scnps.org
Membership – Beverly Barfield lowcountry.membership@scnps.org
Education and Outreach – Paula Carr lowcountry.outreach@scnps.org
Grants Coordinator – Matt Johnson lowcountry.grants@scnps.org
Plant Sale Coordinator – Eddie Bernard
Hospitality – Valerie Torres lowcountry.hospitality@scnps.org
Publicity – Laura Moses lowcountry.publicity@scnps.org
Representative to the State Board – Samantha Porzelt lowcountry.rep@scnps.org
Board Member at Large – Katie Ellis
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© 2026 South Carolina Native Plant Society, All rights reserved. https://scnps.org/
The South Carolina Native Plant Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working to preserve and restore native plants and educate communities in South Carolina. Your contributions are tax deductible.
Our mailing address is: SCNPS Lowcountry Chapter, PO Box 71604, North Charleston, SC 29415 |
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