Tuesday, February 18, 6:30 pm
Lecture: Biocontrol Progress using the Giant Salvinia Weevil on the Santee Cooper Lakes
Judson Riser, Environmental Specialist III, Santee Cooper
Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta), is a free-floating aquatic fern native to southern Brazil. It is characterized by an aggressive exponential growth rate that quickly forms surface mats that alter the local ecosystem, reduce oxygen exchange, out-compete native vegetation, block water intakes, and impede navigation. Giant salvinia was first documented on the upper portion of Lake Marion near Bee Tree Lake in June 2017. Since then, giant salvinia has become one of the most problematic invasive plants to occur on the Santee-Cooper system and can now be found on both lakes. In summer 2021 Biological Services decided to incorporate biological control utilizing the giant salvinia weevil (Cyrtobagous salviniae) to the integrated pest management strategy for giant salvinia. This strategy involves the large-scale rearing and release of giant salvinia weevils to supplement the use of herbicides. This presentation will walk through development of the program and its progress to date.
MEETING LOCATION FOR 2025 (back to former location, Duckett Hall)
Lectures are typically held the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM, and tasty snacks will be provided during post-lecture socializing (BYO non-alcoholic beverage or water bottle). We will meet in The Citadel’s Duckett Hall Auditorium, 2 Jones Ave, Charleston, SC 29403. This is next door to our 2024 lecture location (Byrd Hall). Enter Duckett Hall from Jones Ave and go up the short steps to the Auditorium on your left. Free parking is available after 5:00 PM in the parking lot south of Richardson Street, accessible from Mims Ave.
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Saturday, February 22, 10 am to 12 noon
Field Trip: Invasive Removal Workday at Magnolia Plantation
3350 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414
Rebecca Fanning, Town Naturalist, Sullivan’s Island
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in many ways represents Ground Zero for invasive plant species introductions. The property was actively farmed as early as the 1670s and has been managed as a public garden since 1871. Woven among old rice ponds and rows of our oldest camellias are the usual suspects: popcorn tree, privets, and a number of other legacies of the horticultural trade here in the lowcountry. Join us Saturday, February 22 from 10 am to noon for an invasive removal workday. We will discuss removal strategies, learn to distinguish between invasive plants and their native look-alikes, and get to work using mechanical removal techniques.
Registration is required and will open two weeks prior to the date of the trip. Register at the SCNPS website here.
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 Lowcountry Spring Native Plant Market!
Saturday, April 19, 2025
10 am to 1 pm
Boone Hall Farms
2340 N Hwy 17, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
The spring sale will be farmer’s-market-style with several vendors offering a variety of natives. For more info, or to volunteer before or during the sale, please contact Eddie Bernard at edlbernard@aol.com.
Plant Sale volunteers and SCNPS members will have early access to shop prior to the market opening to the public. Members must join or renew by April 12.
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https://scnps.org/membership/ 
Membership in the South Carolina Native Plant Society provides opportunities for involvement in many activities including plant rescues, field trips, plant sales, continuing education programs, and more. Our members enjoy learning about native plant species and are eager to share their knowledge with others.
As a member, you are an integral part of an organization that plays a critical role in protecting and preserving our state’s natural habitats. If you are already a member, thank you! If not, please join us! JOIN OR RENEW HERE
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CALL FOR MEMBERS TO JOIN THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE
The Lowcountry Chapter Is forming an Outreach Committee to help expand the reach of our outreach into the community. Outreach activities vary throughout the year and may include tabling at local plant and environmental-related events, presenting information about the Society at meetings of local non-profits and garden clubs, and helping with preparing outreach materials about native plants. Members interested in participating in the new Outreach Committee are encouraged to contact us at lowcountry.president@scnps.org.
Volunteers Needed for Upcoming Outreach Events!
We will be participating in several local, native plant-related events this Spring and we need volunteers to help table at these events! It’s a great way to get involved with the Chapter and meet community members who are learning more about the importance of native plants and habitats. Tabling events are simple – we have a booth set up for a few hours with information about the Society and our activities and we share information about native plants and the chance to purchase some of our fun merchandise. We have events in March and April so far and would love to have some Chapter members represent us at these events! If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Lauren Boyd at laurenb@remarkstudiollc.com.
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ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING OF INTEREST
April 23-26, 2025
75th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This event features professionally-guided walks, exhibits, and other learning opportunities to explore the region’s rich natural and cultural resources. Pilgrims from more than 40 states and several countries make the pilgrimage each year to learn more about fungi, ferns, wildflowers, trees and shrubs, medicinal plants, insects (terrestrial and aquatic), salamanders and snakes, birds, mammals (bats to bears), journaling, art and photography, and park history. https://www.wildflowerpilgrimage.org/
July 16-19, 2025 The Cullowhee Native Plant Conference
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
Registration for the 2025 conference will open April 1. Don’t miss out on registering as soon as it opens as field trips fill up usually the first day of registration!
https://www.wcu.edu/engage/professional-enrichment/conferences-and-community-classes/the-cullowhee-native-plant-conference/
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