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The Lowcountry is a great place to live and play. Through editorial and advertising the Moultrie News will show you what makes living in the Lowcountry so special and why a vacation at home might be the answer. Oyster Roasts – The only party you're encouraged to bring a knife to. Shem Creek Park – How the locals have fun The Taste of the South – With summer in the air and picnic season with us, what better way to celebrate than with hearty and delicious tried-and-true southern dishes? And Much, Much More.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Lowcountry Life
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L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 2

Page 3: Lowcountry Life

Ruke’s Vegetable Stand on Mathis Ferry Road offers boiled peanuts ready to go as well as green peanuts to cook at home. Boiling peanuts is a folk cultural prac-tice in the lower South-ern United States.

L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 4

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L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 5

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How you can help preserve this

special species

BY JENNIFER WILSONMOULTRIE NEWS

Sea turtles are prevalent in Lowcountry waters, and unfortunately, sea turtle in-juries are common.

With the summer season upon us, Kel-ly Thorvalson says it’s the perfect time to educate Lowcountry residents and visi-tors about the animals.

“We have to be aware of sea turtles’ pres-ence on our beaches,” said Thorvalsen, the Sea Turtle Rescue Program Manager at South Carolina Aquarium.

With the sea turtle nesting season run-ning from May through October, one key component to help sea turtles thrive is simple: Keep the beaches clean.

In addition, everyone can pitch in with this familiar recylcing motto: Reduce, re-use, recycle.

“Trash is becoming more prevalent in the ocean and in our natural environ-ment,” Thorvalson said. “The easiest thing we can all do is reduce the amount of trash we have, and take part in recy-cling.”

What many people don’t realize is that trash on the roadways washes into storm drains and makes its way into the ocean. Sea turtles often eat plastics by mistake, which can kill the turtle or cause major problems in its intenstinal tract.

Another issue is that of boat strikes and fishing gear entanglement, and Thorval-son urges boaters to be aware and on the lookout for sea turtles from April to Oc-tober. The South Carolina Aquarium is home to the Sea Turtle Hospital, which

works to rehabilitate injured sea turtles. On April 29, the hospital held the season’s first sea turtle release, sending seven re-habilitated turtles into the Atlantic Ocean to hundreds of excited onlookers.

The hospital treats 20 to 30 sea turtles each year and has released 90 turtles back into the ocean since 2000.

Many visitors to Lowcountry beaches may see signs to turn lights off in the eve-nings.

This is for the sake of the sea turtles, as nesting females typically won’t approach an area with a lot of activity.

In addition, when the baby sea turtles hatch, they can be disoriented by lights and not be able to find their way to the ocean.

“Tourists just need to pay attention to the signs,” Thorvalson said.

“They are there for a reason.”Thorvalson says there’s a lot people can

do to preserve this special species, but it all goes back to this: Pick up your trash.

“Every little bit helps,” she said. “That’s what a lot of people don’t real-

ize. That’s one of the main messages we try to get across to folks when they come through our sea turtle hospital.”

Sea turtles: A staple of Lowcountry life

PHOTO BY JENNIFER WILSON

Seven sea turtles were released on April 29 at the Isle of Palms. It was the South Carolina Aquarium’s first sea turtle release of the season.

Turtle tips1. Turn off porch lights. Sea turtles use light reflected on the surface of the ocean to guide them. Lights on beach houses will lead them in the wrong direction.

2. Knock down sandcastles. Sandcastles can cause harm to sea turtles by creating a barrier for them to get around.

3. Pick up trash. Trash looks like food to a sea turtle, but eating it can cause sickness or even death.

4. Fill in holes. Large holes on the beach will keep nesting sea turtles from making it to the best spot and can trap hatchlings.

5. Call the SCNDR turtle hotline. Call the South Carolina Depart-ment of Natural Resources at 1-800-922-5434 if you find a sea turtle in trouble (strandings, rope and line entanglements, etc.) They can bring the sea turtle to the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital for care.

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L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 6

Page 6: Lowcountry Life

Artist carves out knife-making businessBY SULLY [email protected]

Only in the south are you invited to a party and asked to bring your own knife...an oyster knife that is.

Seasoned shuckers usually have an abundance of their own knives. They grab the first one they see, and they’re out the door.

The hosts of any backyard oyster roast always set out knives for the newbies who don’t even know what oys-ters are.

But once you’ve decided you are a connoisseur of oys-ters, it is game on.

You can’t just carry any old oyster knife. You’ve got to go in style.

We’re not talking just stylish attire like Carhart pants, a chamis shirt and duck boots.

We’re talking about custom oyster knives that rep-resent one’s personality, and are, of course, one-of-a-kind.

John David Hill, who was born and raised in the Low-country is a self-taught master knife maker.

He didn’t set out to be such a craftsman, but when one of his buddies told him that there was no way he could teach himself to make custom knives, Hill set out to prove him wrong.

Hill said he loves a challenge, and the end result was his new company, JD Blades.

It’s a perfect fit for a kid who grew up on the water,

loved to hunt and was a studio arts major at Charleston County School of the Arts.

In addition to having always have been an artist: painter, sculpture, designer and creator with a degree in graphic communications from Clemson, he never left home without his blade. This is just something all Low-country kids are taught.

So as Hill mulled around the idea of becoming a knife maker, mostly to prove his friend wrong, it dawned on him.

While enjoying himself at an oyster roast last fall, he decided to make oyster knives for his parents and fam-ily members.

Using the shop he already had set up in his garage, he outfitted it with a drill press, an old 1960s band saw and grinders. He built a furnace that reaches temperatures of higher than 2,000 degrees

Those few knives he made for his family were a hit, and the demand from friends for their very own knives was unreal. Less than a year later, he has filled more than 30 custom orders and created an entire new knife series, called the Defender series for tactical knife en-thusiasts.

Oyster knives are called Still Skuckin’ and he makes hunting knives, water sports tool knives and a survival knife.

Handles are custom made. Almost any color combina-tion can be achieved.

PHOTO PROVIDED

JD Blades creates custom made oyster knives from their lines called Still Shuckin’. The blades and the handles can be custom ordered so you can shuck in style.

L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 7

Page 7: Lowcountry Life

Blades: The rst one is hard to swallowContinued from page 7

As one can see, this has turned into far more than a hobby.

In fact, each knife, when shipped, is specially packed with a handy cord to tie to your belt loop be-cause if one of these pup-pies is left on the oyster table, you can bet it will get snatched up as quickly as the hot, steamy oysters.

And Hill’s success is all due to the beauty in the work and word of mouth.

Hill said it takes about a week and half to make each knife because he must allow some down time for heating and cool-ing processes.

Each knife is different, because the metal works differently on some days than others and the wood on each one is different.

He usually uses an onyx composite and hard woods that are durable and work well as tool handles. Color combinations are a popular request, for example many want the colors of their college alma mater.

Currently orders can be made via e-mail at [email protected] or visit JD Blades on Facebook.

Orders can be quite specific. Of course traditional shapes are avail-able, but some o y s t e r e a t i n g customers want longer, skinnier blades.

“As for custom-izing, there are numerous color combination op-tions,” Hill said.

“Each customer has an idea of where they want to go and we nar-row it down.”

Look for the JD Blades display booth at next y e a r ’ s S o u t h -eastern Wildlife Expo.

Aw shucks • Buy fresh, high-quality oysters. If you are buying them from a local seafood shop, place your order a few days ahead of time. Locals are the best.

• Wash the grit and mud off of the oysters before cooking.

• Set up a simple rustic table. Put out gloves and oyster knives for guests. Make sure you include moistened towels for guests to wipe their hands.

• Put large garbage cans around the table for guests to discard shells only.

• Roast or steam the oysters.

• Use a broiling pan if you are roasting the oysters in an oven. Fill the pan with an inch or so of water. Place the oysters in the pan and roast them in the oven for five to six minutes at 475 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are roasting the oysters outside and on an open grill, wait until the grill’s metal is searing. Spread a layer of oysters over the grill and cover them with soaked towels or burlap bags. Roast for five to 10 minutes. When using a steamer, partially fill the pot with water, drop the basket of oysters and remove when shells begin to open.

• Serve the oysters with cocktail sauce, hot sauces and crackers. Bal-ance the meal with fish chowder, beer and other beverages. Serve chili dogs for guests who don’t like oysters.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED

Hard woods serve as a durable handle choice for custom made oyster knives.

L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 8

Page 8: Lowcountry Life

Pier groupsStroll along Shem Creek or

the Cooper River

BY SULLY [email protected]

The new Shem Creek dock and pier opened in October and has attracted hun-dreds by land and sea.

Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park has had a long running success in popularity.

Mount Pleasant has truly become a des-tination.

Shem Creek ParkA $6 million price tag for property along

Shem Creek seemed hefty to some. But the beauty of the $2 million park that now sits on that land made the deal all that more appealing. The appeal is not only the beautiful scenery, but the proximity these docks have to two restaurants on the side of the creek. This project is the first phase of the new Shem Creek Park construction, which will provide the pub-lic with water access, commercial shrimp boat berthing and moorage for “day-trip”

recreational boaters.There are currently no shrimp boats or

commercial vessels docked in the four 60-foot spaces available for the double parking/berthing of four shrimp boats; and two 30-foot spaces available for the double parking/berthing of two crab boats. That’s because of the difficulty in obtaining insurance on some of these boats, according to local boat owners.

Otherwise people have been visiting the park nonstop. According to lead planner for the project, Kevin Mitchell, with the Town of Mount Pleasant Planning De-partment, “it is being used for wildlife observation, scenic views and a good percentage are using it for recreation, photography and painting. I’ve met a lot of people from out of town who have gone to the restaurants and taken a stroll out on the dock,” he said.

“It really complements the area and has officially become a destination. Word has gotten out and I think people frequenting the park in the evening and the morning are doing it as part of their routine. It has become an amenity for people to come and enjoy the outdoors and the wildlife.”

See Pier, page 10

STAFF PHOTO BY SULLY WITTE

With a simple reservation, you can hop onboard the 25-foot Dorothy Marie and spend an afternoon or early evening in the city. Whether you are going downtown for a carriage ride or to Shem Creek for a sunset cocktail the Wa-ter Taxi runs Thursday through Saturday from noon until 9 p.m. The last trip from Shem Creek is at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 round trip and reservations are required. Boats land at the Maritime Center next to Aquarium Wharf.

L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 9

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PHOTO PROVIDED

On April 25, Pete the Pelican made its de-but at Shem Creek Park at an event attend by the mayor, town council members and students who helped produce the marine sculpture. The piece was designed by Jen-nifer Mathis and Elsa Cline. Other students helped collect, clean, and assemble the sculpture as part of an effort to educate the public about the perils of marine debris and the need to reduce unnecessary pol-lution and litter. From the tires at the base of the sculpture, to his bottle-capped beak, Pete the Pelican is covered by marine trash to raise awareness of the ever-grow-ing problem of marine debris and how it affects local waterways and sea life. Pete provides a glimpse of the trash that per-vades coastal waterways. Trash that gets into the ocean eventually ends up ashore or trapped in ocean currents in a huge whirlpool created by converging currents.

These current convergences, or gyres, are places where garbage and wild-life both gather. Mixed with the seaweed are fragments of plastic which can entangle and hurt wildlife. When the plastic degrades and becomes brittle, it breaks down into smaller particles that are ingested by wildlife. Some parts of the ocean contain more plastic debris than plankton.

Pier: Memorial Waterfront Park undeniable successContinued from page 9

Mitchell expects boating day trippers to increase now that the season is upon us.

He said the single, most significant de-sign feature is the view at the dock termi-nus. “I think it is hard to match. At vari-ous times of the day you get a different angle at sunset and the viewscape is very unique out there. Visitors become a lot more intimate with shrimp boats and the industry and they will soon get a close-up grasp of the history of Shem Creek.”

Historian Carroll Poplin is helping the town create interpretive signs, with color graphics, explaining how the creek has evolved and how it has been important to Mount Pleasant.

“The overall impact to the town of hav-ing this park has been significant,” said Mitchell. “It is an amenity that is acces-sible and protected for public use. Shem Creek Park complements the entire Cole-man Boulevard improvement plan for the future and has tremendously improved the quality of life. As far as future phases we will continue with the master plan for Shem Creek by improving pedestrian ac-

cessibility along the creek.”

Memorial Waterfront ParkDust off your dancing shoes and get

ready for summer and Shaggin’ on the Pier! Live music will fill the air with local bands performing throughout the season at the Mount Pleasant Pier. Gates open at 7 p.m. and the music begins at 8 p.m. All ages are invited to let loose, breathe in the ocean breeze and dance the night away under the stars. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

June 16 - The CruiseomaticsJuly 4 - Uncle Sam Jam and Per-

manent VacationJuly 14 - Port Authority BandAug. 4 - The CoppertonesSept. 8 - Coastrunner

Advance tickets are $10 (or $8 for Charleston County residents). At the gate: $10 (based on availability)

Outside alcohol and coolers are prohib-ited. For more information, please call (843) 795-4386.

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L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 10

Page 10: Lowcountry Life

Sweetgrass Festival opens with ‘Real Taste’ of Gullah Celebrate the heritage of the Lowcoun-

try this weekend as the Sweetgrass Cul-tural Arts Festival takes place again at Mount Pleasant’s Waterfront Park. Enjoy Gullah cuisine Friday evening, along with a fashion show and informative talks by artist Jonathan Green and Ronald Daise. Learn about issues affecting the African American community in particular, such as education, heirs property and health with seminars on Saturday morning. Then get ready to learn from and be en-tertained by some of the most skillful and talented sweetgrass basket makers in the Lowcountry as the festival gets underway from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Starting Friday June 1, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Town of Mount Pleasant Wa-terfront Memorial Park Visitors Center, the “Real Taste” of Gullah promises to be an event to remember. The event will feature delicious Gullah cuisine provided by the Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College, Joe’s Cater-ing services, Café on Main and Cruncho Enterprise. Renowned local artist, Jona-than Green will present an illustrated talk with a look into the history of the Gullah Geechee people’s rice culture. Enjoy a unique fashion show featuring sweetgrass hats and evening purses designed and made by local sweetgrass basket makers and modeled by the Charleston Hat La-dies. Witness the ceremonial “Passing on the Tradition” of sweetgrass basket mak-ing to the next generation. Ronald Daise, chairman of the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor Commission will be the keynote speaker. Entertainment provided by songstress Zandrina Dunning, Deborah Horry, saxophonist, Devon Gary, and au-thors of “Sister to Sistah,” Akeba Ma’ at El and Yvonne Bondurant. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased at: www.atasteof-gullah.eventbrite.com

On Saturday June 2, the Gullah Geechee Group will host the Sankofa Preservation Society Seminar from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mount Pleasant Waterfront Memorial Park Visitors Center. Local scholars will provide information and engage partici-pants in discussions concerning health, education and heirs property issues within the African American communi-ties along the Gullah Geechee Culture Heritage Corridor. This event is free.

The Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival will take place on Saturday June 2, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Mount Pleasant Waterfront Memorial Park. The festival puts you up close and personal with some of the most skillful and talented sweet-grass basket makers in the Lowcountry. The public is invited to participate in

hands-on basket making demonstrations and techniques used to create the stun-ning works of art. Don’t miss out on the drawings for a chance to win one of these beautiful baskets. Browse the showcase of beautiful paintings, handmade quilts, arts and crafts on display and available for purchase. View the authentic slave artifacts exhibition and hear stories told by local basket makers in “Grass Roots” and “Bin Yah,” two locally produced doc-umentary films that give an inside look at the life and history of the local basket makers.

Sponsors include the Town of Mount Pleasant, the Market at Oakland, State Farm Agent Billy Swails, Berkeley Elec-tric Coop, The Berry Company, Dr. Joan Wynn-Taylor, Roper St. Francis Health-care, East Cooper Medical Center and Hughes Rental. The festival is designed to educate, entertain and expose visitors to the Gullah Geechee People’s history and culture through an assortment of folklores, gospel music, Adande African Drummers and Dancers and much more. The family fun atmosphere provides wa-ter slides, jump castles and an assortment of arts and crafts projects for children to enjoy. Savor mouth-watering delicious Gullah Cuisine dishes provided by Low-country food vendors and restaurants.

The 2012 Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival has been designated as one of the “Top 20 events” in South Carolina for 2012 by the Southeastern Tourism Soci-ety. Bring your chairs and blankets and spend the day for a Gullah Geechee good time. Admission and parking are free.

Visit: www.sweetgrassfestival.org or call 843-856-9732 for more info.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

African drummers will be on hand during the Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Fes-tival Saturday, June 2 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Mount Pleasant Waterfront Park. Participants can join in basket-making demonstrations. Two films, “Grass Roots” and “Bin Yah,” will be showing. The films give an inside look at the lives and history of local basket makers. On Friday, enjoy tasty treats from area chefs and culinary students during the “Real Taste” of Gullah at the Waterfront Park from 6 to 10 p.m.

The public will be able to participate in drawings for beautiful sweetgrass baskets such as this one during the festival on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.

L!"c!#$%ry L&f'~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 11

Page 11: Lowcountry Life

Join Fort Sumter National Monument as the Nation-al Park Service celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse on Saturday, June 16. The special public event takes place from 2 to 5 p.m. on the grounds of the U.S. Coast Guard Historic District at 1815 I’On Avenue on Sullivan’s Island.

The grounds, quarters cupola and boathouse will be open to the public. The program begins at 2 p.m. with live music by Ward and Joel of Sol Driven Train. Lighthouse architect Jack Graham will join local officials for a short formal program at 3 p.m. Martha Graham and Helen Hammond will release their new children’s book on the lighthouse, “Standing Straight and Tall, The Charleston Light at Sullivan’s Island and The Adventures of Scoops the Seagull.” They will sign copies of their book, along with local authors Cindy Lee (History Press: “A Tour of Historic Sullivan’s Island”) and Margie Clary and Kim McDermott (Arcadia Press: “South Carolina Lighthous-es”). The books will be available for purchase on site.

Enjoy light refreshments and take home a commemo-rative poster designed by Amelia Millar. A special invita-tion is issued to anyone with interest in the U.S. Life-Sav-ing Service or ties with the U.S. Coast Guard on Sullivan’s Island. The afternoon event will include opportunities for the public to have input on park management alter-natives for the Coast Guard district and the lighthouse. Because of serious health and safety concerns the light-house itself will not be open. All activities are free. For more information, call the park at 843- 883-3123.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse under construc-tion in 1962.

50 years bright

L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 12

Page 12: Lowcountry Life

Christine Osborne, owner of Wonder Works in Mount Pleasant, West Ashley and downtown Charleston, announces that the second annual Wonderfest, sponsored by Harris Teeter, WCBD News Channel 2 and The Post and Courier, is set for Saturday, June 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its West Ashley store in the St. Andrews Shopping Center located at 975 Savannah Highway.

This free family summer kick-off festi-val will feature hot summer toys in Won-der Works’ toy testing area, free games and activities, live music, entertainment, prizes, child and local entrepreneurs, free food and more. Every child who attends will also receive a free toy from Wonder Works.

This year, Wonderfest is supporting four local charities that were created by children to benefit children: Hugs for Harper, Happy Wheels, Abby’s Friends and Keys for Hope.

“Our first ever Wonderfest last year was over-the-top incredible, and we have so much more in store to make this year’s event even more amazing. This is Charleston’s biggest celebration for the end of school and the start to summer. We even plan on making it snow!” said Osborne.

“The charities this year’s Wonderfest are supporting are very close to my heart. Each charity was founded by children in community to benefit other children in need. We invite everyone and their fami-

lies to come to Wonderfest and support these local kids and have a great time at this wonderfuntastical festival!”

Admission is free to all Wonderfest guests. Each child will receive five free tickets to redeem at activity stations op-erated by Wonderfest’s select charities, Hugs for Harper, Abby’s Friends, Happy Wheels and Keys for Hope.

These stations include an obstacle course, jumpy castle, a dunking booth and a slide. Additional activity tickets may be purchased for a nominal fee, with all pro-ceeds benefiting the four charities.

Other free activities include Little Picasso arts and crafts, Brick by Brick Lego building, face painting by Carolina Party Artists, tattoos and hair spray from Charleston Children’s Boutique, LEARN equestrian activities and more.

In the Wonder Works’ toy testing area, kids may play and test out all of the sum-mer’s hottest toys. Wonder Workers will also showcase fun science experiments like making it snow in June! One lucky Wonderfest guest will also win a free Leap Pad from Kidz Club.

There will be a plethora of kid artists and entertainers, including musical per-formances by Karoline Rhett and The 3 Dudes; entertainment by the YOYO Kids; Charleston Youth Co.; Peace, Love & Hip Hop; Streamline Production’s cast of Annie; and special appearances from Charlie the Riverdog, Cupcake the Clown and Miss Teen South Carolina. Wonder-

fest will also feature more than 20 child entrepreneurs, five national toy compa-nies, child-run companies, local artists and authors.

Harris Teeter will provide free hotdogs, chips and water, while local food trucks Happy Camper Snoballs and Freezy Breezy will hand out free mini-snoballs and Hunter Farms ice cream.

Pet Helpers will also have puppies and kittens for adoption.

For all Wonderfest details, visit www.WonderWorksCharleston.com or Won-der Works’ Facebook page at www.face-book.com/WonderWorksToys.

Wonder Works was founded in Mount Pleasant in 1990 and currently operates three stores in the Charleston tri-county area.

The popular retail stores feature thou-sands of ‘wonderfuntastical’ specialized toys, gadgets, gifts and books for all ages of imagination.

The company supports many worth-while organizations and non-profits and is a proud member of Lowcountry Local First. Wonder Works is located in Belle Hall Shopping Center in Mount Pleas-ant; Savannah Highway in West Ashley; The Great Hall at City Market, downtown Charleston; and a new fourth location in Freshfields Village at the crossroads of Kiawah, Seabrook, and Johns Islands. For more information, visit www.won-derworkscharleston.com.

Celebrate summer with Wonderfest June 2

PHOTO PROVIDED

The second annual Wonderfest will be held Saturday, June 2 at the West Ashley location of the popular toy store.

Mount Pleasant Towne Centre hosts Farmers Market each SaturdayThis year marks the second season for

the Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Farm-ers Market.

The weekly event is held Saturday morn-ings through July 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be located on Theatre Drive.

Taste the local difference at the Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Farmers Mar-ket with in-season produce, specialty vendors, food artisans, music and give-aways.

Farmers include Freeman Produce and Owl’s Nest Plantation who offer organic farm grown produce selections.

Specialty vendors will be preparing Lowcountry Stew, Philippine egg rolls, sweets, hand dyed fabrics, accessories and more.

New vendors will be added weekly. Wando High School musicians and lo-

cal acoustic bands will perform and jump castles will be provided for the kids at the Farmers Market.

If you are a local farmer or food artisan and would like to join the Mount Pleas-ant Towne Centre Farmers Market, con-tact Kristi Tolley at 843-216-9900 for details.

L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 13

Page 13: Lowcountry Life

BY DORA D. HARTSELLSPECIAL TO THE MOULTRIE NEWS

It’s irresistible, isn’t it? The lure of salt water as

it splashes against paddles and along the bottoms and sides of your small vessel as you wind through Low-country creeks or slice through the surf of the At-lantic. On a hot summer’s day, it’s extra refreshing when some of those water droplets reach your feet, legs and face. And at the end of your adventure, it’s satisfying to recall the wildlife you’ve communed with and the landscapes you’ve viewed along the way.

Opportunities to get out on the water abound all year long for kayak-ers, canoers and stand-up paddle boarders of varying ages and abilities through Charleston County Park and Recreation Commis-

sion’s (CCPRC) programs and amenities. Among the classes offered are af-ter-work paddling trips, adaptive paddling, surf kayaking, kayaking roll-ing and rescue, canoe-ing, whitewater paddling, stand-up paddle board-ing and American Canoe Association certification. Most of these programs are held at CCPRC Head-quarters or at James Is-land County Park. During the spring and fall, youth paddle sports programs are offered at various Charleston County parks.

At Palmetto Islands County Park in Mount Pleasant, paddle sports en-thusiasts can enjoy ameni-ties designed for paddlers: the kayak launch and the wooden storage racks. Designed specifically for paddle sports, the “kayak launch” is a low-profile floating dock where pad-dlers can launch small ves-sels onto historic Horlbeck Creek. The launch, located about 200 yards from the parking lot, is free for cus-tomers who enter the park with annual passes or who pay the $1 per person park admission. Paddlers are encouraged to note the park’s seasonal closing times and the posted rules and regulations, including the use of personal floata-

tion devices, as mandated by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. For paddlers who want to spend less time haul-ing their vessels and more time on the water, Palmet-to Island’s wooden storage racks adjacent to the kayak launch are ideally suited to hold kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddle boards. These storage slips can be rented on an annual or semi-annual basis.

The vicinity of the kayak launch and storage rack is perfect for paddlers who want to enjoy the relative-ly serene waters of Boone Hall Creek or the more action-packed Horlbeck Creek.

For young or inexperi-enced paddlers, it’s best to navigate to the right toward Boone Hall Creek and Longpoint Road, ac-cording to Ande Oliver, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commis-sion’s outdoor recreation coordinator of youth pro-grams. “Calm” and “man-ageable” is how Oliver described this portion of the creek. For those who want to challenge them-selves on busier and more open waterways, Oliver suggests paddlers head to the left on Horlbeck Creek toward Parker’s Island. From there, paddlers will

encounter the Wando River and possibly some boaters and water skiers, Oliver said.

No matter which way you turn your vessel on Horlbeck Creek, Oliver said paddlers may see a variety of wildlife, includ-ing dolphin, great blue herons, ibis, great egrets, ibises, ospreys and fiddler crabs.

(Dora D. Hartsell is a freelance writer and a part-time employee of Charleston County Park and Recreation Commis-sion.)

Parks offer range of paddle sports opportunities

County paddle sports

Charleston County Park and Recreation Com-mission Headquarters, 861 Riverland Drive, Charleston 29412. Phone 843-795-4386

James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr., Charleston, 29412. Phone 843-795-7275

Palmetto Islands County Park, 444 Needlerush Parkway, Mount Pleas-ant, SC 29464. Phone 843-884-0832.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED

For more information about Charleston County Park and Recreation Com-mission’s paddle sports programs and amenities, visit www.ccprc.com. To register, visit the website and click “GOnline”, or call 843-795-4386.

L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 14

Page 14: Lowcountry Life

BY MELINDA MYERSSPECIAL TO THE MOULTRIE NEWS

Get out the shovel and trowels - Memo-rial Day weekend has come and gone and that means gardening for many. Spend a bit more time getting your garden off to a good start and reap the benefits all season long. Proper planting and post planting care means less maintenance, fewer pests and more produce and beautiful flowers in your landscape.

Start by selecting healthy plants free of insect and disease problems. There’s no need to spend money on problems. And keep in mind that bigger is not always better. Instead look for compact plants with sturdy stems. The leaves should be deep green or the proper color for that variety. Avoid plants that show signs of stress such as spots, brown leaf edges and holes. And when all things are equal, purchase the perennials with multiple stems.

Keep your purchase properly wa-tered before and after planting. Check transplants daily and twice a day when temperatures rise, watering as needed. Increase success and reduce the stress transplants often face. Apply a plant strengthener such as JAZ Spray to protect potted plants from drying out until you are able to plant. Or apply to transplants to get your plants off to a vigorous start. These organic products are not fertilizers but rather naturally occurring molecules that work like an immunization to help new and established plants better toler-ate heat, drought, insects, disease and other challenges plants face.

Prepare the soil before planting. Though not glamorous building a good foundation for your garden will pay off this season and beyond. Dig one or two inches of compost, peat moss or other organic matter and a low nitrogen slow

release fertilizer into the top 12 inches of the soil.

Now slide, don’t pull, the plants out of their containers to avoid damaging their roots and stems. If they resist, gently squeeze small flexible pots or roll larger pots on their sides over the ground. This loosens the roots, releasing the pot from the container.

Gently tease any roots that encircle (girdle) the root ball. Or use a knife to slice through girdling roots or the tangled mass that often develops at the bottom of the pot. This encourages the roots to explore the soil beyond the planting hole. And a bigger root system means health-ier plants that are more productive and beautiful.

Set your plants at the same depth they were growing in their container. Tall leggy tomatoes are the exception. These can be planted deeper or in shallow trenches to

encourage roots to form along the buried stem. Cover the roots with soil and gently tamp to insure good root to soil contact. Water new plantings thoroughly; moist-ening the rootball, planting hole and

beyond. Spread a thin layer of shredded leaves, evergreen needles or other mulch over the soil to conserve moisture, sup-press weeds and keep the roots cooler when hot weather moves in for the sum-mer. Check new plantings every other day and water thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil slightly moist. Gradually reduce the frequency until your plants only need to be watered once a week in heavy clay soils and twice a week in sandy soils. Of course you’ll need to water more often in hot weather.

And don’t forget about the rest of your landscape. Plant strengtheners can be applied to established plants to prepare them for the often stressful season ahead. Treated plants will be better able to toler-ate heat and drought as well as attacks from insects and diseases.

So get out and start planting to make this the best gardening season yet.

(Nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has writ-ten over 20 gardening books. Visit www.melindamyers.com.)

A beautiful garden - June 1 means gardening for many

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MELINDA MYERS

Coleus, Lantana, Cuphea, Marigold and Alternanthera add color and texture to Lowcountry gardens.

L!"c!#$%ry L&f' ~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 15

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L!"c!#$%ry L&f'~ May 30 , 2012 ~ Pag' 16