Free native trees? Yes, please!

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Photo Credit: treesupstate.org

TreesUpstate, thanks to generous sponsors, has already given away over 24,000 trees and is continuing the initiative this spring with another 4,000 free trees up for grabs!

Here’s the breakdown:

  • Limit: 2 trees per household
  • Availability: First-come, first-served (pre-registration closed for some locations)
  • Species: Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), Pecan (Carya illinoinensis), Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata), White Oak (Quercus alba), and Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum).

Upcoming Events:

  • Giveaways coming soon to Hub City Farmers Market, USC Upstate, East Riverside Park, and Macedonia Baptist Church.

Don’t miss this very low cost opportunity to beautify your yard and contribute to a greener environment!

For more details and to register for events, please explore TreesUpstate’s offerings at TreesUpstate Free Trees.

 

Celebrate the First Day of Spring by Volunteering with the Pickens County Native Plant Garden

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Creeping Phlox in full bloom at the native plant garden.
Photo Credit: Judy Seeley

Join the volunteer crew on Tuesday March 19, the first day of spring!  Celebrate spring, learn about native plants, and engage with a community of plant lovers and conservationists.

Event Details

Dates: March 19 
Time: Meet at 9AM.
Location: Pickens County History Museum, 307 Johnson St, Pickens, SC 29671

As spring unfolds, the garden’s early bloomers, such as the Creeping Phlox and Green and Gold, are already in spectacular bloom. Volunteering at this event is not only about gardening but also is a great way to see the plants in all stages of growth and to learn about growing SC native plants. 

Green and Gold in bloom at the Pickens Museum
Photo Credit: Judy Seeley

What to Bring

Participants should bring their own gardening gloves, a hat, water, and hand tools. This preparation will ensure a comfortable and productive day in the garden.

A Collaborative Effort

The garden is a collective project supported by the South Carolina Native Plant Society, Master Gardeners of the Foothills, and the Upstate Master Naturalist Association. These groups come together to maintain and enhance the garden, creating a beautiful space for the community to enjoy.

How to Participate

To join or for more information, please contact Judy Seeley at judy_seeley@hotmail.com. Whether you’re looking to be added to the notification list or have specific questions, your inquiry is welcome.

 

Support Our Partners: Don’t Miss the Greater Greenville Master Gardeners Association Plant Sale!

We’re excited to share that the Greater Greenville Master Gardeners Association (GGMGA) is holding their annual plant sale on April 27th, from 8 am to Noon, at Jeff Lynch Appliance Center, 17 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville. This event is a prime opportunity for garden enthusiasts to find a wide variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, and more at reasonable prices. It’s the perfect way to support our community and add some greenery to your life!

Event Highlights:

Date & Time: April 27, 2024 | 8 am to Noon

Location: 17 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville

Features: Trees, shrubs, vegetables, herbs, and butterfly-friendly plants

Payments: Cash, checks, and credit (over $25)

For more details, visit www.ggmga.org/plant-sale. Let’s support our partners by making this plant sale a success. See you there!

Save The Date: Experience History and Natural Beauty at the Parks Mill Open House – May 18th

The South Carolina Native Plant Society and Naturaland Trust invite you to step back in time and into nature at the Parks Mill Open House on May 18, 2024. This event isn’t just an opportunity to marvel at the spectacular Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies in bloom; it’s also a chance to explore a piece of South Carolina’s history through the site’s late 19th-century water-powered grist mill.

Event Details:

Date: May 18, 2024

Times: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Location: Parks Mill Preserve on Stevens Creek near Plum Branch, SC

Host: Bill Stringer, Parks Mill Preserve Chair

The Parks Mill Spider Lily Preserve is a rare gem where the wonders of nature meet historical significance. In addition to being a refuge for the stunning Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies, the preserve is home to a beautifully preserved water-powered grist mill. This mill is not only a testament to the ingenuity of the past but is also actively being restored, allowing visitors to witness the progress of conservation in action.

Save the date and prepare to be inspired by the legacy of conservation and history at Parks Mill. Stay tuned for more information and consider joining us on a field trip in May.

In the meantime, for more information, see last year’s registration page!

Nature-Based Exchange Training: A Must-Attend for Environmental Professionals

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The South Carolina Native Plant Society is excited to highlight an exceptional upcoming event for our community: the Nature-Based Exchange Training. This all-day event, scheduled for April 25, 2024, at Moore Farms Botanical Garden in Lake City, SC, focuses on Native Plants, Soils, and Habitat Features, offering a deep dive into the essentials of nature-based design.

Event Essentials:

What to Expect: Engaging sessions on the integration of native plants, soil science, and habitat features into sustainable designs.
Professional Development: Earn continuing education credits while expanding your expertise.
Collaborative Initiative: Supported by The Nature Conservancy, Clemson, the City of Charleston, and others.

Registration Opens: March 25, 2024, with a fee of $125 (plus $25 for an optional compendium).

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and network with peers. For more details, visit the Nature-Based Exchange website or contact Nicole Pehl at nicole.pehl@tnc.org. Join us in fostering a more sustainable and resilient future through informed and innovative environmental practices.

 

 

Member Spotlight: Nia Thomas

Photo Credit: Nia Thomas

As part of our ongoing commitment to keep our community informed about news relating to our dedicated members, we wish to share that Nia Thomas, a familiar face to many of you through her years of volunteer work at our greenhouse, has embarked on a new endeavor.

Nia has announced her candidacy for Greenville County Council this Spring. We share this news to celebrate the diverse paths our volunteers take in their commitment to environmental advocacy and their communities. Nia’s dedication to the environment, demonstrated through her volunteer work with SCNPS, reflects the passion and commitment we all share towards preserving and protecting our native plants and habitats.

Please join us in acknowledging Nia’s initiative as she takes this step. As always, we encourage our members to stay informed and engaged in community matters that impact our environment.

Disclaimer: The South Carolina Native Plant Society is a non-partisan, non-political organization committed to the conservation of native plants and habitats in South Carolina. This announcement is shared for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate or political campaign. SCNPS does not support or oppose candidates for public office in compliance with our bylaws and the requirements of our non-profit status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

Cullowhee Conference Scholarships Available: Apply Now!

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The Cullowhee Native Plant Conference returns this July for its 40th anniversary — and if you’re a student, emerging professional, or K-12 teacher in the natural sciences, there are scholarships to be had!

Or: Sound like anyone you know? Please spread the word!

Applications for scholarships are due Sun, April 14th

What you will need in order to complete the scholarship application:

  1. A summary about why attending the Cullowhee Conference would be of value to you, your background/ research goals/ past experience/ current interest or involvement with native plants, and how your attendance would contribute to the conference; 
  2. a Statement of Financial Need; and
  3. the contact information for your Recommendation. Only one recommendation is required. Recommendations should be submitted via the form on the Cullowhee Conference website. Applications without recommendations received by the deadline will be deemed incomplete and considered late. 
    • Students, please submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member in your degree program. 
    • Interns, beginning professionals, and nurserymen/women are asked to provide a letter of recommendation from an adviser, employer, mentor, professional colleague, or client. 
    • Educators are asked for a letter from a fellow educator or their supervisor or principal. 

If a mailing address or a paper application are needed, please email Preston Montague at naturalistnc@gmail.com.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Silver Steps Falls

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Dan Gave Us a Mission We Heartily Accepted
What Happened on the February Field Trip to Silver Steps Falls 

by Jo Ann McCracken-Redding

One of the best reasons to take a field trip is the joy of expecting the unexpected. And this hike into the Mountain Bridge Wilderness, led by SCNPS President Dan Whitten, delivered on all fronts!

For starters, we expected rain and packed ponchos, but got perfect weather, with scattered sun rays illuminating our path. 

Then, you might expect tree identification to be difficult on February 10th in a mostly leafless forest (unless you’re an experienced naturalist as many in this group are). However, winter is actually an excellent time for tree identification, because as Dan says, “the buds tell the real tale.” And it’s easy to see them in winter.

Blocky bark is unusual for a Black Gum tree of this size.
Photo Credit: Jo Ann McCracken-Redding

He made stops along the trail to point out buds on twigs (the most recent growth) and asked us to note the bud arrangement, also reflected in the branches of the tree. 

Examples of the predominant arrangements we identified were the Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) with alternate buds emerging from the stem one at a time, and the Red Maple (Acer rubrum) with opposite buds. 

Another species indicator is bark. We saw blocky bark, sometimes called “alligator bark” on a Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica), but Dan explained you can’t depend on bark as an identifier because it often changes with age and even exposure to neighboring plants and water. 

Dan’s Favorites

Dan spotted an inconspicuous shrub, the Horsesugar (Symplocos tinctoria), and declared, “This is my favorite!” He invited us to chew the leaf like gum, get a sugar boost, spit it out. Probably better to try it in summer and fall when it’s the sweetest. Then he cautions, “This leaf looks a lot like the mountain laurel leaf, which can kill you.” Another good reason to take more field trips and learn your botany!

Then we encountered the Black Birch tree (Betula lenta), also known as Sweet or Cherry Birch. Dan exclaimed, “This is my favorite.” At that point it became clear that many plants on this trail might be THE favorite, and that his passion would make the outdoor class a lot of fun.

One of the reasons the Black Birch is Dan’s favorite is that he loves the wintergreen tea from its twigs and always keeps a pitcher of it at home. Strip the bark off, enjoy inhaling the wintergreen, pour boiling water over the twigs, and steep them. You can use yellow birch, too.

The Mission We Eagerly Accepted Was…

We were nearing Silver Steps Falls, where we planned to have lunch, and then, at a turn in the trail, Dan stopped, looked up at a Sassafras tree (Sassafras albidum), and announced he was on a mission. He’d like our help if we wanted to join in. Who wouldn’t? Climb the tree? Sure, whatever, all in. The field trip’s adventure quotient was ratcheting up.

All hands on tape! It was a group effort to measure this tree.
Photo Credit: Jo Ann McCracken-Redding

The mission was to document a new state champion! Dan’s eye had been on this Sassafras for a while, and he estimated it was taller than the current 49-foot-tall champion in Oconee County.

Then he emptied from his pack a two-foot level, a 100-foot tape measure, and a laser pointer.

To be a state champion, a tree must have the highest number of its species based on trunk circumference, tree height, and average crown spread. Given that Clemson University oversees the champion tree program in South Carolina, they offer a comprehensive guide on their website detailing various tree measurement methods. For those keen on understanding how trees are evaluated for such recognition, a visit to Clemson’s Measuring a Champion Tree page provides valuable insights. 

Measurement Teamwork

The tree height measurement applies the rule of triangulation. We were delighted to see the math we learned in high school put to real-world use. Laura Godfrey playfully suggested we call it ‘trigonome-tree’. 

A series of measurements were determined with the help of people holding the tape straight and level where the brushy forest made it challenging. 

Dan was scribbling measurements in his field notebook while others gathered around eagerly offering to confirm calculations on their phone apps. 

The height differential alone gave us confidence: 49 feet for recorded champion and “our” Sassafras at 109 feet! The final score cinched it, we’re leading 178 to 127.

Tree hugging our champion Sassafras (Sassafras albidum).
Photo Credit: Jo Ann McCracken-Redding

When will it be official? Dan will nominate the tree through Clemson. They’ll measure the tree to confirm, and the process may take some time. Meanwhile, we’ll enjoy the thrill of the SCNPS discovery of a champion – thanks to Dan’s eagle eye!

Final Discoveries on the Trail

Although the Sassafras tree stole the show, Silver Steps Falls captivated us with its beauty. We returned by same the same trail stopping to identify more trees and plants such as Mountain Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra acuminata), pagoda dogwood (Swida alternifolia), Shining Clubmoss (Huperzia lucidula), American basswood (Tilia americana), and  the herbaceous flowering ghost plant, also known as ghost pipe or Indian pipe (Monotropa uniflora). 

At the end of our 4.6-mile round-trip hike, from the height of the last switchback looking down on the parking lot, Dan and Carson Johnson tuned in the quacking of wood frogs. They lead a group that scampered down to find the water where the male frogs were trying to attract females. Some of us had to head back home, okay with missing that last moment of adventure. This trip had already well-exceeded our expectations! 

The Goats Did Their Part, Now See How You Can Help!

Photo Credit: wspa.com

This Thursday, March 14, from 8:30 – 11:30 am, dive into action at Cleveland Park with our friends at Friends of the Reedy River (FoRR). Goats have already been tackling the invasive villains. Seriously, check out their munching magic right here and see why we’re all about letting goats lead the invasives removal revolution. Now it’s your turn to plant the day away with over 200 native plants that need your green thumbs. These aren’t just any plants; they’re the superheroes of the plant world, ready to beef up our rain gardens and give the Reedy River a cleaner, fresher flow.

But wait, there’s more! Circle April 13th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on your calendar. FoRR once again needs your help for the 2024 Spring River Cleanup along the Reedy River. It’s a double-feature of environmental action!

Dive into details and sign up here. SCNPS + FoRR = Unstoppable Environmental Awesomeness!

The Fight to Save Travelers Rest’s Rare Piedmont Seepage Forest and Bunched Arrowhead

Bunched Arrowhead.
Photo Credit: NameThatPlant.net

The City Council of Travelers Rest is considering a proposed land development that encroaches on both a rare Piedmont Seepage Forest that flows into the Enoree River and contains more than one hundred Bunched Arrowhead plants.

In the past the TR Planning Commission has required a) protection of the headwaters seep; b) no development activities in the slope above the area where the Bunched Arrowhead are located; and c) consultation with the SC Department of Natural Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

The SCNPS and the SELC (Southern Environmental Law Center) have sent comments to the Council in support of these protections, and asking that the entire Piedmont Seepage Forest and recharge zone be set aside as a protected natural area.

We have been encouraged by the response of many Council members, and are optimistic about the outcome. That said, if you live in TR, make your voice heard! Contact your City Council member today!