 February 2026 |
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Chapter News
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Spring 2026 Grant Program Accepting Applicants  The Lowcountry Chapter of the South Carolina Native Plant Society is pleased to continue our community and school grants program. Part of our mission is to promote native plants through planting, outreach, education, and the removal of invasive, exotic species. If your organization, community group, or school is interested in working with native plants in any capacity, we invite you to apply for one of our grants! We have two windows each year when grants can be submitted. Our winter/spring window is open now; applications are due by February 10th. Please see our website for details on how to apply. For questions, please reach out to Matt Johnson, Grants Coordinator, at lowcountry.grants@scnps.org. |
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Volunteers Needed for Outreach Events Calling all Lowcountry Outreach Volunteers! Tabling is one of our most powerful outreach tools – it’s where curiosity turns into connection and native plant awareness takes root. Whether you love talking about plants, enjoy meeting new people, or just want to support our mission in a meaningful way, we’d love to have you join the team! You can volunteer as often or as occasionally as your schedule allows. First-time volunteers are always welcomed and supported. No experience required – just a willingness to share why native plants are important to you. Your time and enthusiasm will make a real impact!  NEW this year! You can easily sign up to volunteer for our events using our shared Google form.
February 21 – Backyard Resiliency Workshop – Mt. Pleasant After you sign up for an event, you will receive a Google Calendar invite with more details. This is a new process, so feedback is welcome! Feel free to contact Paula Carr at lowcountry.outreach@scnps.org with any questions or concerns. |
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NEW! Lowcountry Chapter Community Project
Volunteers Needed for Demonstration Garden Installation  Sunday, March 29, 1 to 3 pm Join the South Carolina Native Plant Society’s Lowcountry Chapter board members for a hands-on native plant demonstration garden installation at Quarterman Park in North Charleston! The Lowcountry Chapter is partnering with the City of North Charleston and Keep North Charleston beautiful to support their Adopt-a-Flowerbed program. Volunteers will learn how to select native plants for landscaping, as well as gain practical experience in garden design, installation, and ongoing maintenance. Space is limited and registration opens two weeks before the event at this link. |
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Chapter Programs
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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’s Byrd Hall Auditorium, 2 Jones Ave, Charleston, SC 29403. Enter Byrd Hall from Jones Ave or Richardson Ave. The auditorium is on your right at the end of the hall. Free parking is available after 5:00 PM in the parking lot south of Richardson Street, accessible from Mims Ave.  Field trips are generally the Saturday following the lecture. Registration is required and opens two weeks before the trip. See photos here from January 24 Field Trip! Medicinal Plants along the Sullivan’s Island Nature Trail with April Punsalan  Tuesday, February 17, 6:30 pm Crystal Anderson, Wildlife Biologist and PhD student, Clemson University’s James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center The Citadel Byrd Hall Auditorium, 2 Jones Ave. Crystal’s incredible research has so many insights about community, native plants, and pollinators across our coastal landscapes. She will share her experience transforming a community garden into a learning space, strengthening food security, and inspiring people of all ages to notice and support pollinators. Her research also investigates the impacts of climate on pollinator ranges and highlights conservation planning considerations for the saltmarsh ecotone.  Saturday, February 21, 10:00 am Join us Saturday, February 21 at 10 am for a tour of Hampton Plantation State Historic Site by wildlife biologist and Clemson University PhD candidate Crystal Anderson to observe how surveys and research activities are carried out in the field. The group will then travel one mile to the community garden at Howard AME Church to walk through the garden space, see what has been done so far, and provide input. Registration opens two weeks before the field trip at this link. Tuesday, March 17, 6:30 pm Lecture: Gardening with Natives for (Almost) Year-Round Blooms & Maximizing Ecological Benefit Sharleen Johnson of Native Plants to the People LLC Saturday, March 21, 9 am – 12 noon |
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 SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 9 AM – 12 NOON Co-sponsored by the Town of Mount Pleasant and SC Native Plant Society Lowcountry Chapter. The spring sale will be farmers-market-style with these sellers offering a variety of natives:
Each seller will handle their own check-out process (cash, check, or credit card). Shoppers should bring a box, cart, or wagon to carry plants. Volunteers will be on hand to help you. Admission to the Native Plant Market is free. There are restrooms on site. For more info, please contact Eddie Bernard at edlbernard@aol.com. To volunteer before or at the sale, please contact Melody Lane at melodylane88@gmail.com. Plant Sale volunteers and SCNPS members can start shopping at 8:40. Master Gardeners and other organizations will also be tabling. |
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SCNPS Statewide Survey
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Tell us what you love ❤️(or don’t💔) about the SCNPS! As we begin a new year (our 30th!) with a new State Board, we would like to enlist you to help guide our growth and development. Whether you are a longtime member, just joined, or have never been a member but follow our work, your feedback is important to us! The SCNPS Engagement Survey consists of 16 questions and four optional open-ended questions which takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Survey participants will be entered to win one of three prizes:
Anonymous survey submissions are permitted, but you must enter your email to be entered to win. The survey will close for submissions on February 28th. Fill out the SCNPS Engagement Survey today! |
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Additional Programs of Interest
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Volunteer Opportunity! 
Register to assist planting Spartina seedlings into their starter pots for the From Seeds to Shoreline® program! This year’s seedling planting will be held on Tuesday, February 17 from 10 – 11:30 am and Saturday, March 7 from 10 am – 12 pm at College of Charleston’s Greenhouse.
Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VolunteerS2S2026
Members of the following organizations are invited to participate in this volunteer opportunity:
– Coastal Master Naturalist Association – SC Marine Educators Association – Environmental Education Association of SC – The M.A.R.S.H. Project / Students of the Marsh – SC League of Women Voters – SC Native Plant Society
Registration will close on 3/4/26. Any questions may be directed to Morgan Treon at morgan.treon@scseagrant.org |
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Volunteer with Mount Pleasant Waterworks to remove Chinese privet and improve the forest along the Marsh View Trail! Lend a hand – and make a difference – at Mount Pleasant Waterworks’ Privet Pull on the Marsh View Trail on Saturday, February 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. What’s a Privet Pull? During a Privet Pull, volunteers will help identify, flag, and remove Chinese privet, an invasive tree that can crowd out Lowcountry native tree species and threaten wildlife habitat. The Marsh View Trail is part of a public park and is permanently protected through a conservation easement between Mount Pleasant Waterworks and the Lowcountry Land Trust. It is located at the end of Fred McKay Way near MPW’s main office (1619 Rifle Range Road). What to Know: Participants should plan to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and closed-toe shoes. Bring work gloves and a water bottle. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Parking is available along Fred McKay Way. Questions? Email cgwallover@mpwonline.com. |
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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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