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January Lecture and Field Trip  Tuesday, January 20, 6:30 pm Lecture: Foraging Wild Herbs – Becoming the Ecosystem April Punsalan, Wild Herb Academy
Learn why foraging is integral for good health and which wild herbs you can easily form a relationship with along the Carolina coast. Learn the latest science about how – when we forage wild herbs – our mind, body, and spirit literally become the ecosystem. Foraging, when rooted in reciprocity, reinforces ecological restoration and fosters physiological and psychological alignment with the local ecosystem — reminding us that humans are not separate from nature, but embedded within. We are nature.
Tasty snacks will be provided for socializing before the lecture (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.
 Saturday, January 24 – NEW START TIME IS 9:00 AM Join us on Saturday, January 24 from 9 to 11 am for a walk along the Sullivan’s Island Nature Trail with herbalist extraordinaire April Punsalan. We will meet at the corner of Station 16 and Atlantic Avenue, walk along the Nature Trail towards the lighthouse, and circle back along the beach to wrap up our hike back at Station 16. April will teach us about the many wonderful medicinal properties of plants like Wax Myrtle and Life Everlasting, two plants we are bound to encounter on our walk through the dunes. Registration required at this link. February Lecture and Field TripTuesday, February 17, 6:30 pm Crystal Anderson, Wildlife Biologist and PhD student, Clemson University’s James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center 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 the community garden at Howard AME Church in McClellanville by wildlife biologist and Clemson University PhD candidate Crystal Anderson. Participants will walk through the garden space, see what has been done so far, and have opportunities to provide input. The group will then travel to Hampton Plantation where, for anyone interested, there will be a chance to observe how surveys and research activities are carried out in the field. Registration opens two weeks before the field trip at this link. |
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Spring 2026 Native Plant Grant Program
It’s time again to further our mission of supporting the local community in spreading the love of native plants – Applications are now being accepted for our Spring 2026 Community and School Grant Program!
The Lowcountry Chapter of the South Carolina Native Plant Society (SCNPS) is pleased to offer our community and school grants program in 2026. Part of our mission is to promote native plants through planting, outreach, education, and the removal of invasive, exotic species. Our grants program gives us the ability to support local projects that align with this mission. If your organization, community group, or school is interested in working with native plants in any capacity, we invite you to consider applying 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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 Would you like to treat a loved one to something sweet — or hand-pick a well-deserved indulgence for yourself — while also helping to support the educational outreach efforts of the SC Native Plant Society? If so, we’ve got you covered!
From now through January 30th you can place an order through our See’s Candies “Yum-Raising” fund-raising page (https://www.yumraising.com/store/valentines-day-2026-sc-native-plant-society-lowcountry-chapter–64ec/ShaJoh6827) for gourmet sweet treats in either standard packaging or fancy Valentine’s attire, and approximately 20% of your order will help fund community grants and native plant educational outreach in your community. Thank you for your support!
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 SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 9 AM – 12 NOON |
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Register Now! Spring 2026 SC Native Plant Certificate Classes Available in Charleston area & Upstate  The South Carolina Botanical Garden, in partnership with the South Carolina Native Plant Society, is excited to offer a Certificate in Native Plant Studies based on South Carolina’s rich botanical heritage. Through hands-on field-based classes, students learn about the diversity of native plants, plant communities, and the habitats that define South Carolina from the mountains to the sea. Participants will learn about the significant role that native plants play in ensuring biodiversity and how they improve soil, water, and air quality. The Certificate in Native Plant Studies program is composed of 7 core courses and 4 electives (depending on their length, some electives are counted as 2 classes). Upon the completion of all core and elective components, participants receive a Certificate endorsed by the South Carolina Botanical Garden and the South Carolina Native Plant Society. South Carolina Native Plant Society members receive a 10% discount. Contact Sue Watts at watts9@clemson.edu for the discount code or for more information. https://www.clemson.edu/scbg/learn/native-plant-certificate.html |
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© 2026 South Carolina Native Plant Society, All rights reserved. https://scnps.org/ |
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