Keith Bradley, “Conservation of South Carolina’s Botanical Heritage: A special Flora and its Future”

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South Carolina’s Heritage Preserves, most open to the public for fishing, boating, hiking, etc.

For the Upstate Chapter’s June meeting, State Botanist Keith Bradley presented “Conservation of South Carolina’s Botanical Heritage: A special Flora and its Future,” a talk dedicated to a discussion of the importance of South Carolina’s 77 Heritage Preserves (H.P.), which protect a whopping 111,575 acres statewide.

Where once King Cotton threatened South Carolina’s native landscapes, now King Loblolly is outgrowing and overtaking our Longleaf Pines, which are home to a number of unique species. The Midlands and Lowcountry host other unique plants, such as the May White Azalea. And new plants, such as a sunflower found at the Cartwheel Bay H.P. and a mint found only at the Brasstown Creek H.P. and one other place in Georgia, are still being found.

“We are THE ONLY CUSTODIANS of several species,” Keith told us, “and if we know where the plants are, we can do something about it: We can buy properties, we can do controlled burns, we can implement restorations.”

Watch the entire talk, HERE.

Spring 2023 Lowcountry SCNPS Pre-Orders

Members will be able to pre-order plants between Wednesday, February 22 – Tuesday, February 28. If you are not a current member, you will need to join on or before Tuesday, February 21 or renew membership online at https://scnps.org/scnps-membership on or before Tuesday, February 21 to participate in this pre-order.

After reviewing the plant list, you can place your order by emailing Eddie Bernard at edlbernard@aol.com. Write “Spring Native Plant Order” in the subject line, include your full name and phone number in the message and who (if not you) will be picking up your order. Please also include which day you anticipate picking your plants up, either Friday or Saturday. For each plant ordered, please include:

• Common and Botanical Name of plant (variety if applicable)
• Size of pot
• Quantity

There is a minimum of 10 plants and a maximum of 25 plants per order and a maximum of 20 orders taken. You will receive an email confirming the order and stating the total cost by the second week of March. Note: Quantities are not guaranteed. Orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and if we reach a maximum capacity we will stop taking new pre-orders.

You will be able to pickup your pre-ordered plants at the back parking lot at Charles Towne Landing on Friday, March 24 from 12:00pm-1:00pm or Saturday March 25 from 9am to 11am during the sale.

Cash or checks made out to “SC Native Plant Society” will be the only payment methods taken on Friday. Cash, check or credit card will be accepted on Saturday.

If you are not able to pick up your order within these dates and times and make payment by noted methods, please do not place an order! Final cost will be provided with confirmation email for order.

2023 Lowcountry SCNPS Spring Pre-Orders

Apply for a Spring 2023 Lowcountry SCNPS Grant!

The Lowcountry Chapter of the South Carolina Native Plant Society is pleased to offer our Lowcountry Chapter Grant Program. Part of our mission is to promote native plants through planting, outreach, education, and the removal of exotic species. Our Lowcountry Chapter Grants Program gives us the ability to support local projects that align with this mission. There are two separate funding opportunities: one for School Projects and one for Community Projects. 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!

Spring applications will be accepted January 1 — February 10, 2023. For application guidelines, please refer to this Lowcountry Chapter Grant Program document. If you have questions, contact Matt Johnson (email address provided in linked document).

Community Grant Overview
Community Projects must be directed at protecting, preserving, restoring, and/or educating the public about native plants or plant communities in the Lowcountry of South Carolina (we are currently only considering projects in Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, and Horry counties). Priority will be given to those projects involving public land, cultural significance, rare species, or the removal of invasive/exotic species. The maximum award amount for Community Grants is $1000.

School Grant Overview
School projects must be directed at educating students about native plants or plant communities in the Lowcountry of South Carolina (we are currently only considering projects in Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester Georgetown, and Horry counties). Priority will be given to those projects involving cultural significance, rare species, or the removal of invasive/exotic species. The maximum award amount for School Grants is $500.

Lowcountry: Looking Ahead to 2023

The Lowcountry Chapter of the SCNPS is excited to announce that we will return to in-person meetings in January! We will be back in our traditional location pre-COVID: the Biology Auditorium in Duckett Hall at The Citadel (2 Jones Ave, Charleston, SC 29409). Mark your calendar for these Tuesdays at 6:30 pm: 1/17, 2/21, 3/21, 4/18 and 5/16. Program speakers and field trips will be announced in the new year.

Congratulations and thanks to our Lowcountry board members for 2023:

President: Samantha Porzelt
Vice President: Austin Trousdale
Lectures: Sharleen Johnson
Field Trips: Amber Von Harten
Plant Sale Chair: Eddie Bernard
Publicity: Laura Moses
Hospitality: Jennifer Bremer
Membership: Caroline Wright
Education and Outreach: Lauren Boyd
Grants Coordinator: Matt Johnson
Representative to State Board: Montana Feix
Board Members at Large: Colette DeGarady & Katie Ellis

Lowcountry Spring 2022 Grant Announcements

The Lowcountry Chapter of SCNPS is proud to announce the next round of Community Grant Program.  There are two separate funding opportunities: one for School Projects (individual award not to exceed $500) and one for Community Projects (individual awards not to exceed $1,000).  If you have any questions, please contact Matt Johnson (email address provided in below documents).

2022 Community Grant Annoucement – Schools

2022 Community Grant Annoucement

 

Lowcountry Spring 2022 Plant Sale Pre-Order

SPRING 2022 NATIVE PLANT SALE PRE-ORDER ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Members will be able to pre-order plants between Tuesday, February 8 – Sunday, February 13.  A plant list will be posted on the SCNPS website. If you are not a current member, you will need to join on or before Monday, February 7 or renew membership online at https://scnps.org/scnps-membership on or before Monday, February 7 to participate in this pre-order.

After reviewing the available plant list, you can place your order by emailing Eddie Bernard at edlbernard@aol.com.  Write “Spring Native Plant Order” in the subject line, include your full name and phone number in the message and if not you, who will be picking up your order. Please also include which day you anticipate picking your plants up, either Friday or Saturday.  For each plant ordered, please include:

  • Common and Botanical Name of plant (variety if applicable)
  • Size of pot
  • Quantity

There is a minimum of 10 plants and a maximum of 25 plants per order and a maximum of 20 orders taken. You will receive an email confirming the order and stating the total cost by the end of February. Note: Quantities are not guaranteed. Orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and if we reach a maximum capacity we will stop taking new pre-orders.

You will be able to pickup your pre-ordered plants at Charles Towne Landing on Friday, March 18 from 12:00pm-1:00pm or Saturday March 19 from 9am to 11am.

Cash or checks made out to “SC Native Plant Society” will be the only payment methods taken on Friday.  Cash, check or credit card will be accepted on Saturday.

If you are not able to pick up your order within these dates and times and make payment by noted methods, please do not place an order!  Final cost will be provided with confirmation email for order.

2022 SCNPS Spring worksheet for posting 1.31.22