Azalea Magazine Summer 2020

JOSEPH MCGILL & THE SLAVE DWELLING PROJECT / ART AND THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE SOUTHERN COMFORT: 3 DELICIOUS FRIED CHICKEN RECIPES / BLAME IT ALL ON MY ROOTS ONE DAY AT A TIME / THE COVID CUT / INSIDE SUMMERVILLE'S HISTORIC WHITE GABLES

Pretty in Pink Horticulturist Sidney Frazier shows off a camellia at Middleton Place

Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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AZALEAMAG.COM Summer 2020

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A Z A L E A

M A G A Z I N E

F E AT U R E S Summer 2020

Deep Fried Crispy, crunchy chicken: a southern staple

54 P R O P A G AT I N G P AS S I O N

Over four and a half decades, Sidney Frazier has made his mark on Middleton Place, simultaneously cultivating America’s oldest landscaped gardens and a passion for horticulture in its visitors

58 SOUTHERN C O M F O RT

Fried Chicken. It is Sunday dinner gathered at Grandmother’s big round table, or a picnic spread across a checkered blanket on a summer day.

It is welcome home, and we’re going to miss you, and it is tender love on a platter during times of loss.

CONTENTS

/ Summer 2020

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15 08 Editor’s Letter 12 Contributors

23 29

SOUTHERN LIFE 15 Southern Spotlight - Community 23 Southern Spotlight - Art

OPEN HOUSE 41 Rewriting the Ending With the discovery of White Gables, Denise Harrison and Steve Land have rewritten the ending for a story that began with a dream and a classic film.

On The Cover: A camellia in bloom at Middleton Place by Dottie Rizzo 6

COLUMNS 29 Natural Woman

by Susan Frampton

AZALEAMAG.COM Summer 2020

33 Kids These Days

by Tara Bailey

29

37 Life & Faith

by Lili Hiser THE VILLAGE POET 64 The Summer of 2020

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Thoughts On Quarantine You don’t need me to tell you that the last few months have been crazy. You have probably heard over and over that “we are all in this together.” To some extent, this is true, however we all have had very different experiences.

While some of us have had some time off and an opportunity to get stuff done around the house, others have lost jobs, and many have even lost their lives. We are still in the thick of this pandemic, so we don’t even have the luxury of hindsight. We must wait for this to play out. What is life going to look like in three months; in a year?

I’m the type of person who wants to find meaning in everything. Why did this happen? What can I take away from this? How can I be better than before? As I’ve already said, we have all had different experiences over the past few months, so, for what it’s worth, I’ll share my experience, and what I’ve learned through all of this so far.

My daughter came home from college in early March for spring break. A few days after she got back, she got the word that the rest of the school year would be completed at home. A couple days later, my son, who is in high school, got the same news. To my surprise, neither of them were too excited about the idea of an extended summer break. Not long after the schools shut down, so did everything else. Life as we knew it had come to a standstill.

For the first couple of weeks, we found lots of things to fi ll the extra time that had landed in our laps. We watched movies, played games, made art, and read a lot. I enjoyed it. It was like a little family vacation.

As time passed, stress started to creep its way into the house. We were unable to work, the news was 24/7 doom and gloom, and social media went from a place of unity and inspiration, back to a place of division and picking sides. I began to see that the material things that we had all wanted before this all began started to lose their allure. The things that we were longing for were more simple; more pure. We wanted to take a walk on the beach, to meet for church in person, to have dinner with friends, to get back to work, to head back to school. We were longing for community.

We are not meant to be isolated or live our lives behind a screen. As we ease our way back into some sense of normalcy, try and be grateful for what you have, and for what you can give. Be purposeful with your time. Be intentionally kind. Although our situations vary, we are all in this together. If we can carry that mentality over to when we are all together again, just think of the impact that would have on our community. That just might be the silver lining in all of this.

Will Rizzo Editor In Chief

WE’VE LEARNED A LOT DURING THIS SHARED EXPERIENCE. We’re not meant to be apart – not even six feet. We’ve learned that being stuck with the people we love is a blessing and that fresh air and sunshine can calm our fears – if only for a moment. But most of all, as we’ve provided care during this time, your love and support have sustained us. You confirmed what we already knew – we can and will get through this together. Thank you for your prayers, the words of encouragement and generous donations. As we recover together, please know that we’re here for you Will Rizzo

as always. We’re limiting timeEditor in waiting In Chief rooms, performing intense cleaning and wearing masks and gloves to ensure your safety. Let’s get back to better than normal.

Visit rsfh.com/coronavirus to learn more about what we’re doing to keep you safe.

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Will Rizzo Editor in Chief will@azaleamag.com Dottie Rizzo Managing Editor dottie@azaleamag.com Susan Frampton Senior Editor Jana Riley Senior Editor & Copy Editor

www.tayloragency.com

Leslie Phinney, Personal 843.762.3372 Buck Inabinet, Commercial 843.762.3373

Contributors Tara Bailey Elizabeth Donehue Susan Frampton Lili Hiser Ellen Hyatt Jessy Devereaux Mitcham Jana Riley Jason Wagener Advertising Inquiries Susie Wimberly susie@azaleamag.com 843.568.7830

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CONTRIBUTORS

Congratulations, Class of 2020!

Scholarship

Leadership

LILI HISER Writer

TARA BAILEY Writer

Lili Gresham Hiser was born in Charleston, SC and raised in both the Lowcountry and Central Florida. She invested more than ten years of service in the non-profit/higher education sector and many years as Communication Studies adjunct faculty. She and her husband enjoy re-experiencing life in the South through the eyes of their young children.

Tara Bailey lives in Summerville with her husband and three daughters, assuming the one in college comes home to visit.

She has worked as a naturalist, a teacher, a writer, and an editor, balancing her love of the outdoors with her compulsion to alter sentences. She enjoys natural history, horror movies, and reads anything in print.

JANA RILEY Writer & Editor

SUSAN FRAMPTON Writer & Editor

A lifelong explorer, Jana Riley delights in discovering the passions and personal journeys of everyone she meets. When she isn't crafting inspiring tales with Azalea Magazine, she can be found seeking ways to bring her community together at Public Works Art Center, falling madly in love with her sweet family, and exploring destinations near and far.

Never dreaming that anyone would read her ramblings, Susan Frampton scribbled her way through two wildly different careers before accidently becoming a writer.

These days, when away from the keyboard, she follows the antics of her accident-prone husband, nurses pine-cone-swallowing wiener dogs, reads late into the night, and counts her many blessings.

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Southern L I F E & C U L T U R E from O U R L I T T L E S L I C E of T H E S O U T H A New View A cabin window on Magnolia Plantation

My Father’s House

Honoring history that has slept for generations behind the walls of humble homes across America, The Slave Dwelling Project is a wake-up call for preservation.

by Susan Frampton

Featuring: My Father's House pg. 15 / Landscape pg. 20 / Living With Intention pg. 23 / Natural Woman pg. 29 / Kids These Days pg. 33 / Life & Faith pg. 37

Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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My Father's House

Page Turners Main Street Reads owner Shari Stauch; the entrance to Main Street Reads. Opposite: Choose your own adventure; the children's nook.

light fog hangs over the grounds of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. The grass glistens with morning dew, as Joseph McGill, founder of the Slave Dwelling Project and the site's History and Cultural Coordinator, walks toward a row of wooden cabins. Throughout much of the United States, unassuming buildings such as these have prevailed against weather, war, and time, patiently waiting their turn to tell us a story. Some are brick and reside among the walled gardens and paved avenues of cities. Others, close to tidal creeks and rivers, wear a veneer of oyster shells and sand, blended together to form a concrete-like material called tabby.

A

Some live in quiet dignity off the beaten path, with the harsh light of a million noonday suns reflected on their whitewashed boards. For many years they were merely a side note in the narrative of the Drayton family's home and plantation outside Summerville. Today, thanks to McGill's Slave Dwelling Project, they and many others speak with a voice of their own, chronicling the lives and contributions of those who lived within their walls.

Inside Cabin B, the Gardener's Home at Magnolia Plantation, 18

AZALEAMAG.COM Summer 2020

the aroma of an ancient wood fire wafts from the simple brick fireplace. Floors laid in the 1850s have been sanded smooth by the soles of countless feet. Outside the open window, a scarecrow watches over a meager kitchen garden. From a straightbacked chair in the center of the dimly lit room, McGill seems lost in another time until the roar of an airplane passing overhead brings him back to the present.

This cabin was designed to house two families, one on either side of the center wall, with separate doors from the outside.

With cooking done communally outdoors, the inside space was used primarily for sleeping. "Families were not guaranteed the luxury of knowing what tomorrow would bring," McGill says, "and a bad year for crops or a lost card game could break up a family." If the family was multigenerational, the elderly would stay behind with the children as the adults toiled through their six-day work week.

This particular dwelling was used beyond emancipation, he explains, and the newspapers plastering the walls and ceiling were used for insulation. A recent sleep-over, postponed due to below-freezing temperatures and rain, underscores the condi-

Well Preserved From left: The details of each structure share the stories of history; a row of slave cabins on Magnolia Plantation; Joseph McGill; a hearth that divides the cabin into two living spaces

tions under which residents lived here, without today's options for alternate housing during inclement weather. Many dwellings like these gave way to sharecroppers after slavery was abolished. Many more have fallen into disrepair, their historical significance lost.

The source of his idea for the Slave Dwelling Project might seem paradoxical to some. As a Civil War reenactor, McGill watched the reenactments bring history to life, prompting questions from onlookers, and encouraging additional interaction. It occurred to him that there was no better way to combine his passions for reenactment and preservation. He began to look for slave dwellings across the nation and to ask the owners if he might spend the night in them. It was a sensitive subject, but he found that the attitudes of property owners he contacted were overwhelmingly positive, and the concept began to gain ground.

"My original intention was to sleep in a few [dwellings] in the state of South Carolina to satisfy that curiosity or scratch that itch, and I would be through with it. Once I started, it became quite popular, and I started getting calls from other

states that wanted to apply this concept to their own properties," says McGill.  Through the years, the Project's mission to identify and assist property owners, government agencies, and organizations in preserving extant slave dwellings have led to discoveries far beyond southern states to a significant number in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. McGill says that many people are surprised by this.

"I have to explain to them that these states don't get a pass.

It just didn't take a civil war and the Thirteenth Amendment for them to end slavery in those states; they did it legislatively.

Some would much rather those states be associated with the Underground Railroad or be the Northern saviors who came down to end that institution, but no, there's more to it than that. They were heavily involved."

In the beginning, McGill spent many nights alone with his thoughts. Solitary nights helped him experience first-hand the importance of the simple dwellings as the only place of solitude available to inhabitants with little or no control over their own Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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My Father's House

lives. In the the houses of his forefathers he also gained new insight and renewed pride in those who resided in the unadorned buildings.

"It took my own research to go beyond what I was taught, to realize that the folks brought here from Africa came with knowledge and skills that would help shape this United States into what it is now," says McGill. "Yes, our past is rooted in slavery, but also great pride that those who were enslaved went on to physically build this nation."

Since the Project's inception a decade ago, McGill has slept in more than 150 slave dwellings in 25 states. His efforts highlight the need to preserve existing slave dwellings to tell a full narrative of American history. He cannot say how many more cabins there are across the country. Some have been incorporated into the main structure, or have become guest houses, pool houses, or storage spaces. He estimates that there are between fifty and 100 in Charleston alone.

"For African Americans who are interested in their genealogical past, it is personal. They take pride in knowing that these places still exist," he says. "It is rare to be able to associate ancestry with a specific place because of the lack of records, but in many instances, descendants of the original property owners have stayed alongside those whose ancestors were enslaved. I didn't go into this expecting a lot of the good things

that have happened, but those are the kinds of relationships I get to build with this Project."

At Magnolia Plantation, McGill says his mission is to ensure that the history and culture of all people who inhabited Magnolia will be disseminated through all interpretation at the site. This interpretation will exist in tours, signage, website, and social media.

Tom Johnson, Magnolia's executive director, says McGill is wellsuited for this expanded position. "Joe has an enormous understanding of Magnolia and the history of the African-American experience in the United States," Johnson said. "He has the sensitivity to help our guests understand the complexities of slavery and the impact it continues to have on and in our nation."

"Now that I have the attention of the public by sleeping in extant slave dwellings, it is time to wake up and deliver the message that the people who lived in these structures were not a footnote in American history. We are living out that famous saying of Martin Luther King, Jr., '…one day the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.'

"We are actually doing that. We're putting those words into action, and that's a good thing." AM For those interested in learning more about Magnolia Plantation and the Slave Dwelling Project, visit www.slavedwellingproject.org.

Well Preserved A slave cabin at Magnolia Plantation, separated into two living spaces

Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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LANDSCAP E

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Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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SO U THER N SPO TL I GHT

ART

Living with Intention For Stephanie Drawdy, art and the pursuit of justice is everything

by Jana Riley

ow rare it is to find someone whose life is shaped wholly around a core passion; whose thoughts and actions over the span of years and decades revolve around a singular focus; who lives and breathes that which moves their spirit.

Stephanie Drawdy is one such person, and the beacon of her life’s journey is—and has always been—art, with a strong focus on human rights and justice.

H

H

Growing up in the Charleston area, Drawdy knew from a young age that she wanted her life to include creative pursuits, and she gravitated toward painting. Though she did not know any artists personally or have any artistic role models in her life, her parents did send her to classes at the Gibbes Museum downtown when she expressed interest in developing her skills. Even when techniques did not come naturally to her, she always kept her goal in sight.

“I never really questioned if being an artist is what I should be doing, even when I wasn’t good at it,” Drawdy recalls. “I just kept going, because I knew it was what I wanted to do, and I knew I would get there.”

Drawdy attended the College of Charleston, double majoring in Political Science and Studio Arts. Then, as she had planned for

Art Counselor Stephanie Drawdy outside Public Works Art Center Downtown Summerville, where she has a studio.

years, she moved to New York City, thrilled about becoming more involved in the art scene. In New York, she was invigorated; surrounded by creative minds and activity, inspiration was everywhere, and she painted at every opportunity. She studied under various teachers, including instructors from the Art Students League and New York Academy of Art. Her paintings were included in shows with NYC’s Pen and Brush Club as well as group shows at various galleries around the city. At a show in Montclair, New Jersey, Drawdy even experienced Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Living With Intention

her first art theft when one of her paintings was stolen from the exhibition. All the while, Stephanie Drawdy sought to determine the best career path to allow her to support herself as an artist long-term. After waiting tables in Rockefeller Center for a while, she got a job as an assistant paralegal at a law firm, which gave her enough insight into the legal profession that she decided to go to law school, where she quickly became immersed in the study of art law. Upon graduating law school, Drawdy sought a path where her artistic endeavors and her career pursuits could exist in harmony.

“Art law fascinated me from the beginning, and that aspect of my career has taken the route that I wanted,” says Drawdy. “It covers a lot of the justice issues that I wanted to deal with, and I am addressing those in my paintings and in my art law pursuits. My bodies of work I do now, the writing I am doing now, the book I am working onall of it ties together.”

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To spread awareness, Drawdy writes articles for the Institute of Art & Law (among others) about Holocaust Restitution cases, and has prepared a number of presentations related to the issues. The first one, affiliated with the Jewish Art Dealer’s association, will be hosted by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London; originally scheduled for Fall of 2020, it was rescheduled to Spring of 2021 after the global shutdown.

Another focus of Drawdy’s is Urban Art, including graffiti and street art, and she regularly writes articles about the misuse or corporate appropriation of street art as well as the rights of artists.

When she’s not practicing law, writing about meaningful cases regarding street art or holocaust restitution, or working on her nonprofit, Drawdy is painting.

As her career progressed, Drawdy took opportunities to learn more every chance she got, earning a diploma in Arts Profession Law and Ethics from London’s Institute of Art and Law and taking classes whenever possible to strengthen her knowledge. In 2016, President Obama signed the HEAR (Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery) Act into law, which allowed Holocaust victims and their heirs the ability to bring a lawsuit for restitution of Naziconfiscated art under a uniform statute of limitations. Drawdy began writing about the cases covered under the HEAR act, passionate about spreading the word.

“Holocaust restitution cases have always been of extreme interest to me,” says Drawdy. “There are only a few years left of this statute, and most people don’t have a clue the HEAR act exists. My goal is to bring awareness to these issues for people, and hopefully do it quickly enough that anyone who is in the United States who may have a case can get the process started before the time runs out on this statute.”

“I feel like there’s a trend toward giving heed to the moral and economic rights of artists, and I care deeply about these issues,” says Drawdy. “In many places around the world, graffiti is used as a communication tool to connect people to one another, especially when human rights are being violated. The graffiti artist can speak their mind about the injustices they see and if the people in their community see that someone had the boldness to speak out, they may feel stronger and able to speak out, too. It gives people who are voiceless a voice.

There is certainly some graffiti that is considered vandalism, but there are nuances that should be explored.”

A few years ago, Drawdy’s passion for human rights led her to Cambodia on a humanitarian visit, and while there, she became inspired by an organization called “Daughters of Cambodia.” Once home, she founded a nonprofit called Art Haus for Justice, with the goal of creating global popup art classes specifically to help people who have been victims of human trafficking.

She has practiced the model stateside, working with shelters housing young women healing from traumatic situations, and is always moved by the emotions that surface when people are afforded an opportunity to explore them.

“Art gives people a spark that I think

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28 AZALEAMAG.COM Summer 2020

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Living With Intention

nothing else can, and that can keep you going,” says Drawdy. “No matter what your situation may be, if that little spark is still there, that spark of hope from creating, it may sound crazy to some but I really believe it can help someone live just one more day in a different perspective, which for people in difficult circumstances or working through trauma, can be extremely meaningful.”

When she’s not practicing law, writing about meaningful cases regarding street art or holocaust restitution, or working on her nonprofit, Drawdy is painting. Now back in South Carolina, she is often influenced by the Lowcountry in her works, and creates out of a studio at Public Works Art Center, interacting with the public while on-site and sharing her works and thoughts with visitors. Her studio is filled with art pieces large and small, and it is here she takes her inspiration to canvas.

She shapes landscapes and figures with oil, watercolor, and mixed media, utilizing various application techniques. More often than not these days, she is influenced by wanting to have conversations about human rights, a focus that is clear in her “Elicit Justice” series, which was hung at the Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor in Manhattan through Spring 2020. While working on the series, Drawdy immersed herself in research on other countries and how the rights of people were approached.

Many of her paintings in this series are somber, and the artist hopes they speak to people in a meaningful way.

“I hope these paintings serve as a reminder that these are issues in our society, but there’s hope that we can address them,” says Drawdy. “Some people feel like it’s too overwhelming­ —there are so many issues in our society, it’s hard to know how to make any difference at all. But one little action—as small and easy to dismiss as it might be—it makes a difference.”

Drawdy plans to continue the “Justice” series with focuses on other human rights concerns from all over the globe.

Currently, she is working on a coffee table book that will contain paintings from the ongoing series, a discussion of the meaning behind each painting, as well as interviews with people about what justice means to them and what they believe is needed for

positive change. She is also working on a children’s book series themed around teaching the attributes of a just society in an accessible way.

In Stephanie Drawdy’s “Elicit Justice” series, she pairs paintings with a quote.

One of the paintings is paired with a quote

by Albert Einstein which says, “The life of the individual has meaning only insofar as it aids in making the life of every living thing nobler and more beautiful.”

“This is what it’s all about for me,” says Drawdy. “My life centers around art, and the pursuit of enriching other people, letting them have a more beautiful existence, and ensuring their rights aren't being trampled on in the process. When I started these journeys, I thought, ‘I have no idea what I’m doing, but at the end of the day, at least I will be able to say that I tried.’ And who better to make

Studio Heart Vignettes from Drawdy's studio at Public Works Art Center

something out of nothing than an artist?

That’s what we do all the time. I have this burning need to act on the concerns that I have, and I believe every little step in the right direction makes a difference, so that is what I am doing.” AM To view Stephanie Drawdy’s Elicit Justice series as well as her upcoming virtual show, Trenches to Trendsetters, visit stephaniedrawdyfineart.com.

To learn more about Art Haus for Justice, visit www.arthausforjustice.com Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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N AT U R A L WOMAN

The Covid Cut Sharp scissors and too much time on my hands reveal a little known consequence to quarantine

by Susan Frampton

O

ne day blurs into another during this strange time we're living in. Who'd have figured there would come a day when we'd find ourselves hunkering down at home, avoiding each other like, well, the plague. Lewis and I are locked down at the lake, which, except for the lack of cable television, is admittedly not much of a sacrifice. In fact, it might actually be a blessing. I do miss my friends, though, and I was catching up with my friend Jennifer via

text the other day. She's been a great lifeline to reality and inevitably raises my spirits.

"What's new?" she asked.

"I cut my hair today," I typed.

Within seconds, she replied in all caps, "AGAIN?"

ILLUSTRAT ION by WIL L RIZ Z O Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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N AT U R A L WOMAN

"Yep. It was bugging me, so I whacked it. I'm calling it the Covid Cut." I couldn't see her, but I was pretty sure she was rolling her eyes.

"Lewis did the back," I added, as though that gave legitimacy to an otherwise questionable action.

She immediately texted back, "Some people binge watch tv.

Some bake. Some make home improvements. My friend Susan cuts her hair. Every. Day." In my defense, it hasn't been every day. It isn't as though I've gone all Britney, taking the clippers to my noggin and shaving it bald. Maybe five cuts in as many weeks is a bit excessive, but unlike today's major overhaul, most were just tiny trims. I didn't mention that I did take the clippers to the dog. I think he looks adorable, and I'm sure it is pure coincidence that he only comes out from under the bed now to eat.

Covid-19 has forced us to really look at ourselves for the first time in a while, and what we see isn't necessarily pretty. It has been a time of discovery for many of us, and I can't say that I'm thrilled with all the things I've discovered about myself. I'm apparently not as lazy as I thought, hence the clean windows, newly installed curtain brackets, manicured flower bed, and alphabetized spice rack. So that's a good thing, right?

But I've realized that in between the spurts of home improvement and alphabetization, I have become incredibly easily distracted.

My priorities have flown out the window, along with wearing shoes, eating any semblance of

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a balanced diet, and speaking in complete sentences. Something about the lack of structure in the world of quarantine has thrown me completely off my game.

Without it, any self-discipline I might have once had is history.

For example, this column should have been finished hours ago, except that in the span of 20 minutes of "writing" I also googled the average size and lifespan of North American Softshell Turtles - which was fascinating and seemed like an appropriate follow-up to my sudden overwhelming need to locate scientific data supporting the hostility of Mocking Birds toward Bluebirds. Don't even get me started on squirrels.

It has been a bit disturbing to also learn that I'm OK with wearing the same clothes for a week.

But there are pluses to that, like making laundry loads appreciably lighter, which is good for the environment, and significantly reducing the stress of figuring out what to wear each day. It also renders social distancing an absolute necessity if you get my drift.

And I'm no scientist, but somebody out there needs to be noting that there are no actual, physical withdrawal symptoms from separation from Target. I must admit that for the first week, I carried a white bag with a red circle on it around the house to simulate the sensation of bargain shopping, but I pushed through it. Therapeutic grocery runs to Walmart helped.

Time used to be a luxury, but now that we have too much of it on our hands, it turns out that time is a privilege, and it comes with a caveat. The quantity has nothing

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to do with the quality. If we don't use it wisely, we might as well strike a match and burn daylight.

I look back on my complaints of so much to do and so little time to do it. Well, tick, tock, sunshine.

What's your story now?

In reality, it's ridiculous to whine as though we've been sentenced to snowplowing in Siberia, and to go on and on about the inconvenience of it all—when in fact my family is mostly fat and happy. Living in virtual solitary confinement, my octogenarian dad responds to every day's inquiry on how he's doing, "I can't complain." He proves daily that his generation knows a lot more about sacrifice and perseverance than mine ever will.

I hope that the upside of all this is that we all see things a bit differently now than we did when we blithely cruised into 2020. If we're lucky, we'll come out the other side with a greater appreciation for the people and things that really matter. I know that when I finally get to put my arms around my dad again, I may never let go. I really hope that our collective memory lasts long enough to ensure that medical professionals, first responders, and essential workers replace celebrities and sports stars as role models for the next generation. They should have been all along. Shame on us for not noticing sooner.

Jennifer has invited me to go kayaking tomorrow. I'm looking forward to socially distancing together on the water, and the opportunity to regain some perspective lost to the lockdown. She said she'd bring me a hat. She's a good friend. I laugh, brush clumps of hair off the counter, and put the shears back in the drawer. AM

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One Day at a Time

K ID S THESE D AY S

by Tara Bailey

S

he picked Clemson, for those who were wondering. Whether or not she will get to attend in the fall remains to be seen. My middle daughter was hesitant to choose a college because doing so would mean missing out on another school. It turns out she’s missing a lot these days. As I write this, it is the last weekend of April—prom weekend, actually. Needless to say, her pink satin dress will remain in her closet for the time being. She has handled the shock of being isolated from normal life fairly well, considering. Not every day is easy, not every day is hard. Technology allows for times of laughter and connection. But sometimes tears come out of nowhere when everything seemed

fine just a moment ago. Often the tears are mine.

I’ve been grieving for her loss of experiences and the meanings behind them. I’ve been mourning the abrupt, long-term separation of so many people she cares about - friends, teachers, grandparents. I’ve been gut-punched thinking of the universal feelings of joy and relief of that last exam of one’s high school career, celebrated with loud music in a cheap car crammed with friends on their way to…somewhere, together. For her, she will simply close her laptop, and that will be that. When I’m not thinking of my own, seemingly trivial losses, I cry for the suffering that has come to so many people as a result of this strange disease that has left the world with emotional and financial trauma. This touches not

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KIDS THESE D AY S just my household, not just our town, not just our country—but the entire world. It is unbelievable.

But I’ve been laughing, too. Our family has been playing a pun game when no one can agree on what to watch on a given evening. The results are both painful and hilarious.

We laugh at my adult daughter’s Chihuahua, a part of our household these days. She is not amused—the Chihuahua, that is. She’s terribly grouchy and awfully cute and won’t hesitate to rip into your flesh should you wake her up - the daughter, that is. Just kidding (maybe). It’s been a gift having the oldest kid live here for a while. But she misses her friends, her life in Columbia, and not living with us. We’re making it work. And we laugh at stuff because she’s pretty funny.

You know who else is funny? Middle schoolers. I started a new job teaching middle school this year and immediately fell in love with my students.

They are all earnest, sincere, witty, and interesting. They made me love Monday mornings. Now each Monday morning I log onto my Google Classroom and feel an ache in my chest. I miss them terribly. One of my students is moving as soon as the school year is over, and I wonder if I will ever see him again. To tell your students, “Have a great weekend!” and then learn that your time with them is over is a pain I can’t describe. In fact, that is why this pandemic is so hard for many of us—we didn’t get to say goodbye to anyone. And we don’t know, at least at the time of this writing, when we’ll get to say hello.

Hugging seems out of the question for the foreseeable future.

Cheerful stuff, huh? We all miss people dearly, so I owe you something more than a list of sad feelings. Here are some ways my life has changed since March: I no longer blow dry my hair.

I eat a lot of cheese.

Shoes?

I have become obsessed with Mount 36 AZALEAMAG.COM Summer 2020

Everest documentaries.

My husband taught himself to play, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” on the guitar. So I hear that a lot. A lot.

I video chat with my students, which makes my day.

I stream church each week, which lifts my spirits.

I am still late to church.

Also, my husband and I are on a second honeymoon of sorts, spending time together in a different way than before our lives were disrupted a few months ago. The hyper-scheduling of before has given way to long afternoon walks that have become my favorite part of the day. The porch is our vacation spot where we can share a bottle of wine and look at the old growth trees that surround us, listening to barred owls, pileated woodpeckers, and Mississippi kites.

We laugh at our shaggy hair and beach bum attire and pretend we’re on a weird vacation where we have to do all the cooking and cleaning and don’t get to see anything new.

But we sometimes walk down empty roads that were once too busy for pedestrians, looking at the landscape in a different way, and it does feel like something new.

We can’t visit our friends and neighbors, but when we happen to see them outside it’s like walking into a surprise party. My kids and their friends mail each other letters and look for the mailman everyday.

I email my students pictures of birds and tell them stories, and they do the same for me. I call my grandmother often. My grandmother mostly loves to talk about the beach, which I am praying we still get to see together this summer. She is lonely in her retirement home, which is completely locked down, but the event coordinator has arranged creative ways for loved ones to connect.

This is unnerving, the ability to plan only for a day each day. So I don’t know if we will take my daughter to college this fall or not. I can’t know much of anything at this point. But, did we really ever? AM Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

37

More peace. Less pain.

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Blame It All on My Roots

L IF E & F A IT H

by Lili Hiser

I

n my younger years, I blamed my less desirable traits on my Irish heritage. My fair skin and inability to tan were the biggest frustrations, especially since I live close to the coast. The only colors I could keep on my legs were the orange and ivory stripes of failed self-tanning lotion attempts. If my skin was not reminder enough of my roots, there’s my love for potatoes in any form. Hash browns, mashed potatoes, fully loaded baked potatoes, French fries, potato soup, tater tots— plop it on my plate!

I grew up understanding my heritage to be a mixture of German and Irish, likely strong on the Irish side since both of my parents could claim an ancestor from the Emerald Isle; and my dad even said he had a paternal great-grandmother who was full-blooded Irish. Not many years ago, my mom and I even visited Ireland to see the country where

our bloodline originated. After seeing the lush green landscapes and falling for the country’s Celtic charm, my fair skin became a badge of pride. I learned to embrace the Emerald Isle traits that once agitated me. I even gave my first born an Irish name.

Recently, my mom bought me a popular DNA kit that would identify my geographic areas of origin by percentages, I eagerly sent in a sample for the test. After a two-month wait, I received the results; with much anticipation and curiosity I clicked on the link and waited for the data to load. Then, at the very bottom of the report, the news that broke my potato-loving heart: only 2 percent Irish, majority German.

What happened? My dad took the test too, only to discover he has not a drop of Irish blood in him! Clearly, there was a miscommunication to my dad and aunts about their heritage. I hold no grudges

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39

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LIFE & FA I T H or blame for the generations prior for the mix-up. My great grandmother lived in Germany during a time of wars and discrimination beyond modern day comprehension. We may never know if it was a simple misunderstanding or something more complex. What I do know with certainty? True identity goes beyond DNA.

Although learning about my ancestry has been enlightening and entertaining, geographic identity is not the foundation of who we are.

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Although learning about my ancestry has been enlightening and entertaining, geographic identity is not the foundation of who we are. We live in a society that pressures us to be more like one thing and less like another in pursuit of the ever-changing perfect persona.

This leads to a moral tug of war. As a Christian, I believe that our self-worth, gifts, and value come from a constant, unchanging God who created each of us with a unique character and purpose.

When we allow our identity to be defined by Christ, we realize we are precious in His sight and fully loved beyond our comprehension. We truly belong to Him and have a place in His family- an everlasting heritage.

When St. Patrick’s Day comes around or I see a natural red head, I may turn a shade of emerald green in envy, but it’s all in good humor. In fact, my longing to be more Irish serves as a reminder not to grasp too tightly to labels in this temporary world. The root of it all is knowing where your true identity comes from and finding the significance in that, which is more powerful than any luck of the Irish. AM Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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THE HEART OF IT ALL Summerville is directly positioned at the heart of the most beloved attractions in the Lowcountry.

Its small town atmosphere and proximity to Charleston and the beaches makes Summerville the perfect home base for all your adventures. visitsummerville.com

Explore the shops, sites, sips and tastes that make Summerville so sweet with a free Sweet Tea Trail Guide.

The B E A U T Y & S P I R I T of the S O U T H E R N H O M E

Planting Their Flag The grounds of White Gables are charming and eclectic

Rewriting the Ending With the discovery of White Gables, Denise Harrison and Steve Land have rewritten the ending for a story that began with a dream and a classic film.

by Susan Frampton

Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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T

he light that filters through the leaves of a huge magnolia falls softly on White Gables. At first glance, time is suspended at the corner of Richardson and Palmetto. As it does today, for almost 200 years, the stately home has held court on this site, benevolently watching over the comings and goings of Summerville. Built in 1830 by Henry Peak, an officer of South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company, White Gables has seen war and peace, experienced a Golden Age, and felt the earth tremble beneath its foundation. While time has taken its inevitable toll on the gracious manor, the centuries have been kind to allow it to hold its place in the history of Flowertown.

For Denise Harrison and Steve Lang, the flawlessly restored Classic Greek Revival that stands today is proof that dreams do come true. The series of events that brought the couple 44

AZALEAMAG.COM Summer 2020

to one of Summerville’s most recognizable historic homes may seem as unlikely as a Hallmark Channel movie plot—but with fate writing the script, anything is possible.

Historic Living This Page: The veranda is an ideal place for visiting; a welcoming foyer.

Opposite: Paying homage to those who have come before; a cozy seating area near the hearth; the kitchen serves as a gathering place; vintage touches abound in the bedroom.

One might not imagine that the sweeping white verandas of an iconic movie would inspire a California girl to set off on a decades-long quest that would bring her clear across the country. Fate, however, loves a plot twist.

When Harrison was nine years old, she and her mother set out for the movies.

She vividly remembers that when they got to the theatre, the only films showing were Towering Inferno and Gone with the Wind. Her mother promised that if she didn’t absolutely love the classic film, she could choose their movies for the rest of the year. Ten minutes in, the little girl could not take her eyes from the technicolor glory of what she saw on the big screen. Smitten

photo provided

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Southern Dream The landscaping and hardscaping at White Gables showcases the property's inherent beauty

46 AZALEAMAG.COM Summer 2020

48 AZALEAMAG.COM Summer 2020

Home Tour Thoughtful details and touches are everywhere at the historic home

The grandeur of White Gables begins outside, and the eye is immediately drawn to features that have defied time. The magnolia tree that dominates the circular drive of original brick is said to be the oldest in Dorchester County and is tended by the keepers of Charleston’s historic Angel Oak.

by the grace and beauty of antebellum architecture, Harrison was enthralled.

That day, the blueprints were drawn and stored away in her mind for the fairytale castle of her dreams. Years later, when a wrong turn took her down a street in Summerville, she discovered White Gables.

No detail was spared in the restoration of the home built by the railroad man, a fact attested to by Jordy Tupper of G Tupper III Construction, the firm charged with the task. Eighteen-inch exterior masonry walls, windows with iron sills, and interior walls of thick plaster created complications for using usual construction techniques. As with most historic retrofits, there were unexpected challenges. Preservation of the original hardware and other materials was of utmost importance, and those that could not be left in place were often salvaged for use in different ways. It was a daunting task, but the California couple’s ideas, along with Tupper’s ingenuity seamlessly integrate the historical integrity of the structure with the updated features of a modern-day home.

In 2019, four years after they purchased the home, Harrison and Lang were honored by the Summerville Preservation Society for their efforts. Their knowledge

of the property’s history is encyclopedic, and their enthusiasm for it is infectious.

The grandeur of White Gables begins outside, and the eye is immediately drawn to features that have defied time.

The magnolia tree that dominates the circular drive of original brick is said to be the oldest in Dorchester County and is tended by the keepers of Charleston’s historic Angel Oak. Off to the left, an octagonal gazebo originally used as a privy is of rare design, and identical to a pair found on the grounds of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Tucked in behind the home are three cottages that once housed workers. All three have been lovingly restored and are surrounded by heritage shrubbery.

Throughout the house, antiques true to the period create the impression that Mr. Peak and his family might have just stepped out of the room. Each room is unique and has its own story. From the parlor’s ornate fireplace surround and rosewood parlor set to the library with its luxurious mahogany paneling and metamorphosis chair that morphs into a library ladder, to etched names of the original owners in the wavy glass windows overlooking the upstairs verandah. Harrison says that while the signatures that mark the windows were

written there to “etch their love into the glass,” the tradition was actually a way for ladies to test the authenticity of their diamonds. Nearby, the 14-foot pier mirror original to the house stands awaiting the reinforcement that will secure it to the plaster wall, and overhead a magnificent crystal chandelier challenges the laws of gravity, having already required additional structural support.

The enterprising second owners of the house, the Woodruff family, once operated White Gables as an inn. One of its most famous tenants, a young man by the name of Henry Clay, lived for almost four years on the third floor. Interestingly, it is said that Mr. Woodruff never knew he was there.

Though Harrison and Lang say that there is still much to do, it is clear that their enthusiasm has not diminished for the project that started when they first laid eyes on the historic home in 2014. With the restoration of White Gables, the promise made in the on-screen ashes of the white-columned plantation house on the big screen has been fulfilled, and the ending of the story rewritten. Tomorrow is another day, one that celebrates the dream that began in a movie theatre, and a happy ending that fate could not have written better for White Gables. AM Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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ACCOMMODATIONS

CAROLINE'S BED AND BREAKFAST

FLOWERTOWN COTTAGE

THE INN AT MIDDLETON PLACE

Southern hospitality & elegant charm.

Located in historic Summerville.

Listed #1 on Trip Advisor 4 years in a row! Extended & corporate stays welcome in the BnB or cottage.

The cottage is a beautiful decorated, furnished 30 day rental. It can be rented as a 2 bedrooms-2 bath, or 4 bedrooms -4 bath, both with full kitchen, laundry facilities, private deck and big front porch!

The Inn’s 55 rooms include admission to Middleton Place, home to America’s oldest landscaped Gardens. Guests also enjoy kayaking, bicycle rentals, and horseback riding.

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843-637-5903 / carolinesbedandbreakfast.com

flowertowncottagerental@gmail.com 843-901-3804

(843) 556-0500 / theinnatmiddletonplace.com

LINWOOD

MAGNOLIA INN

SHORT CENTRAL COTTAGES

A blend of modern amenities, spacious private suites featuring 14 foot ceilings and original heart pine floors. Easily walk to Hutchinson Square, shops, and restaurants in the Historic District.

Located across the street from historic 'Short Central', each cottage features a full kitchen and unique Southern decor, perfect for experiencing Historic Downtown Summerville.

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FOOD & DRINK

Historic Home and Gardens.

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COASTAL COFFEE ROASTERS

D'ALLESANDRO'S PIZZA NEXTON

EVA'S ON MAIN

Your local coffee roaster, bakery and community spot. Enjoy select wines, craft beer, music, events and so much more.

We care about the craft of pizza making, and we care about the ingredients we use. We craft a variety of creative pizza combinations made with quality ingredients.

Open since 1944, Eva's On Main is located in Downtown Historic Summerville and serves a Southern comfort menu for breakfast & lunch daily, with brunch on Sat. & Sun.

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843-376-4559 / coastalcoffeeroasters.com

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HALLS CHOPHOUSE

THE ICEHOUSE RESTAURANT

The cafe is known for daily specials and rotating soups, homemade condiments, & gluten free and vegan options. They have 3 locations that focus on quality, healthy, casual cuisine.

Halls Chophouse provides USDA prime steaks, fresh seafood and an acclaimed family fine dining steakhouse restaurant experience in Summerville.

Chef Michael Balga is bringing you Eclectic, Farm to Table, Southern Fare with a love & passion for the finest ingredients & flavors to tempt your taste buds.

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843-804-9410 / fiveloavescafe.com

843-900-6000 / hallschophouse.com

843-261-0360 / www.website.com

LOWCOUNTRY FISH CAMP

MIDDLETON PLACE RESTAURANT

O'LACY'S PUB

A laid back and rustic restaurant and bar where guests can enjoy some great seafood with an ice cold beer, glass of wine, or one of many specialty cocktails.

Overlooking the Gardens & inspired by the recipes of former resident chef and James Beard honoree Edna Lewis, the Middleton Place Restaurant offers traditional Lowcountry favorites.

Your hometown bar in the heart of Historic Downtown Summerville, on Short Central Avenue.

SU MMERV I LL E, SC

C HA RLESTON, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, S C

843-285-8558 / LowcountryFishCamp.com

843-266-7477 / middletonplace.org

(843) 832-2999

THE FLOWERTOWN PLAYERS

MAGNOLIA PLANTATION & GARDEN

PUBLIC WORKS ART CENTER

The Flowertown Players create theatrical magic on stage for audiences of all ages. Summerville's premier community theatre known for a variety of plays, musicals, and comedy.

America’s oldest garden, Magnolia has been selected as one of "America's Most Beautiful Gardens" and is the only garden honored with this distinction in the State of SC!

Offering studio spaces for artists, engaging exhibitions, art classes, music events, an outdoor market, a special event rental space, and so much more.

SU MMERV I LL E, SC

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843-875-9251 / flowertownplayers.org

843-571-1266 / magnoliaplantation.com

843-860-0742 / publicworksartcenter.org

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ARTS & CULTURE

FIVE LOAVES CAFE

FOOD & DRINK

AZALEA MARKET

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ARTS & CULTURE

SCULPTURE IN THE SOUTH

SUMMERVILLE COUNTRY CLUB

SUMMERVILLE ORCHESTRA

Art that invites touching. From wildlife to engaging figures, a permanent collection of public sculpture is being created in the historic village of Summerville.

Family owned and operated since 1974. Open seven days a week. 18 hole PUBLIC golf course featuring an outdoor event venue, the Candlelite Pavilion, available for rent.

The Summerville Orchestra performs a 5-double-concert subscription series and hosts free programs including Music Chats with Wojciech and the Encore Series.

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843-851-7800 / sculptureinthesouth.com

843-873-2210 / summervillecountryclub.com

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ANTIQUES AND ARTISANS VILLAGE

ART ON THE SQUARE GALLERY

BEY + ELOISE

A Fun Place to Shop! Home to over 150 vendors/consignors. Easy parking at 619 Old Trolley Rd., Summerville. Antiques, Vintage, Gifts, Local Artisans.

Now opened at 420 Nexton Square A Fine Art Gallery featuring over 30 local award-winning artists - Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Jewelry, Stained Glass, Pottery & Mosaics!

SHOPPING

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Bey + Eloise is located in Nexton Square, near Taco Boy and Halls Chophouse. The shop offers unique items as well as recognizable brand names for women looking for a fresh look!

843-900-5386 / antiquesandartisansvillage.com

843-871-0297 / artonthesquare.gallery

(843) 900-3500 / beyeloiseapparel@outlook.com

DOTTIE LANGLEY JEWELRY

EAST WINDS

EVERYTHING CHIC

Handcrafted solid bronze oyster jewelry created from casts of shells collected on beaches and waterways along the South Carolina coast.

Hand selected jewelry, apparel and gifts featuring distinctive Southern charm with a fresh modern attitude.

Everything Chic is a Southern gift shop full of eclectic home decor, jewelry, candles, furniture, and local specialty items. Our prices are reasonable and our staff is friendly!

SU MMERV I LL E, SC

dottielangley.bigcartel.com

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G U I D E

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843-875-8985 / eastwindsonline.com

843-879-2099 / everythingchicetc.com

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FLY MODERN APPAREL

FOUR GREEN FIELDS GIFTS

GOLDEN & ASSOCIATES ANTIQUES

Our promise at FLY is to deliver the best quality materials while giving you the comfort, fit, and style you desire. Each season FLY will bring you the newest trends.

Designer gift baskets, Lowcountry souvenirs, and creative cards and gifts for any occasion--plus, corporate gifts for all industries. Gift wrap, shipping, and delivery services available.

Located in historic Charleston South Carolina, Golden and Associates Antiques has been dealing with the finest of antiques for generations.

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843-225-3661 / flymodernapparel.com

843-261-7680 / fourgreenfieldsgifts.com

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GUERINS PHARMACY

HANEBRINK JEWELERS

HIPPIE SOUL

Guerin’s Pharmacy is the oldest pharmacy in South Carolina. We invite you to stop in and see our 1920’s Soda Fountain and candy counter.

This hometown jeweler specializes in unique jewelry including estate pieces, custom design, diamonds, and gemstones! Veteran owned, they focus on jewelry made in the USA.

Offering products that help people reach a place in their lives filled with good vibes, peace, and hippiness; including hippie clothes, oils, rocks, crystals, incense and candles.

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843-970-8088 / HanebrinkJewelers.com

843-873-2531 / guerinspharmacy.com

843-225-9730 / hippiesoulsummerville.com

LAURA JONES & COMPANY

LOWCOUNTRY OLIVE OIL

MAGGIE ROSE

A home furnishings and accessories shop. We have a constantly changing showroom featuring beautiful furniture, garden elements, and thoughtful gifts with an acquired look.

Established at the Summerville Farmer's Market in 2011, family-owned Lowcountry Olive Oil now carries over 65 olive oils & vinegars, and dozens of locally made gourmet foods.

Maggie Rose is a ladies boutique of simple elegance in the Historic Downtown District of Summerville, South Carolina.

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843-875-0609 / laurajonesandcompany.com

843-695-8327 / lowcountryoliveoil.com

843-871-6745 / maggieroseboutique.com

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SHOPPING

AZALEA MARKET

MAIN STREET ANTIQUES

MISS MADDIES

OK FLORIST

We are 6500+ square feet with a unique variety of merchandise that changes daily!

We specialize in handmade apparel for your pets, and bake fresh daily tasty treats. We offer themed cakes and host birthday parties.

OK Florist, located in the heart of historic, downtown Summerville, has been providing beautiful blooms and lasting memories to Summerville and the Lowcountry area since 1947.

SU MMERV I LL E, SC

summervillemainstreetantiques.com 843-879-9529

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843-810-0069 / missmaddies.com

843-873-3681 okflorist.net / okfloristevents.com

PEOPLE, PLACES, AND QUILTS

PIAZZA HOME

SIMPLE TO SUBLIME

A premiere fabric and quilting emporium, with books, patterns, beautiful displays, classes, sewing machines, and good times throughout this wonderful store of 6,000 Sqft!

For 20 years we have been bringing the finest in gifts, home decor, and furniture to the Lowcountry.

THE destination to find unique gifts, chemical free bath, body and skincare, women’s clothes, accessories and more!

Bring in this ad to receive $5 off your purchase (limit one per customer).

SU MMERV I LL E, SC

843-871-8872 / ppquilts.com

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piazzahomeinteriordesignsummerville.com 843-873-8015

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(843) 879-9792 / simplesublime.com

SIMPLE TREASURES

SOLE SHOE COMPANY

SUMMERVILLE ANTIQUE GALLERY

Gourmet Popcorn, homemade ice cream, handmade chocolates, novelty candies, and gifts. We host 501c3 fundraising events.

Sole Shoe Co. is a modern shoe company, committed to bringing the most modern/chic/comfy/casual shoes and accessories for both men and women.

110 booths full of antiques and uniques.

SU MME R V I LL E, SC

SUMMERV ILLE, SC

843-970-8382 / simpletreasures.biz

843-225-9210 / soleshoeco.com

SUMMERV ILLE, S C

facebook.com/SummervilleAntiqueGallery 843-873-4926

To be a part of the Azalea Market, email info@azaleamag.com

AZALEA MAGAZINE

F E AT U R E S

SUMMER

2020

P R O PA GAT I N G PAS S I O N pg.54

SOUTHERN C O M F O RT pg.58

Southern Bloom The treasured Camellia at Middleton Place

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Garden Variety Horticulturist Sidney Frazier inspects the camellia blooms 56 AZALEAMAG.COM Summer 2020

For over four and a half decades, Sidney Frazier has made his mark on Middleton Place, simultaneously cultivating America’s oldest landscaped gardens and a passion for horticulture in its visitors by

JANA RILEY

photography by

DOTTIE RIZZO

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A

Forging a Path Frazier walks the gardens; a camellia shrub.

Frazier first came to Middleton when he was 17 years old, in June of 1974. Having been raised on a farm in James Island, the basic tenets of horticulture were already ingrained in him when a friend, already working at Middleton Place, reached out with a job opportunity as a gardener’s helper. Frazier jumped at the chance.

chilly February wind whips through the Garden Market at Middleton Place, and the crowd collectively shivers.

It is mid afternoon on a Saturday, and a rare Lowcountry snow is forecast to arrive in the coming hours, but the dozens of people huddled beneath the heaters don’t seem to mind; they are here to see a veritable legend, Mr. Sidney Frazier.

“I came here that summer,” Frazier remembers, “and I saw this place, with its lakes, ponds and terraces. I saw the layout of the gardens and the formality of everything, and I couldn’t believe that this was right here in Charleston. That just blew me away. I was overwhelmed with wanting to be here full-time. So I started working here, and kept coming back every summer.”

Right on time, Frazier strolls into the building. Bespectacled and dapper in a suit, tie, and hat, he exudes the confidence of a man who grew up on this land, who knows its features by heart, and who has the answers to every question the crowd may throw at him today during his annual camellia workshop. After 45 years tending America’s oldest landscaped gardens at Middleton, Frazier has made a name for himself as an expert on Lowcountry horticulture, and the rapt and satisfied audience flooding this cold outdoor venue would seem to agree. Hoisting a potted camellia onto the table, he begins his lecture, and the crowd settles in, grateful and attentive for his willingness to share his knowledge, free of charge.

After high school, Frazier attended Trident Technical College, taking every course the school had to offer in horticulture, botany, and plant sciences. Education in hand, he began working full-time at Middleton Plantation under the guidance of several mentors. Frazier spent decades learning, testing, observing, and reading. He consumed every book, article, and journal related to plants and their care and propagation, inundating himself with as much knowledge as he could gather. With his main objective set to learn as much as possible, Frazier quickly moved up the ranks, graduating from gardener’s helper to foreman to assistant manager, before finally settling into his current role as Vice President of Horticulture. Along

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does not exist with other methods of propagating. Ultimately, the team would like to have four of the original plants placed exactly where the four originals were planted centuries ago, and then grow more and disperse them throughout the rest of the garden. Frazier is confident that it is only a matter of time before that dream is a reality. This summer, Frazier will also begin an attempt to clone the Middleton Oak, which is estimated to be over 1000 years old. He also plans to add walking tours and workshops to the calendar in the summer and fall.

Formal Attire This page: An original path leads to the Ashley River; the Wood Nymph statue overlooks the gardens

the way, Frazier managed the stableyard for a time, transitioned the plantation from synthetic to organic growing practices when it was quite uncommon to do so, started an organic farm as a food supply for the on-site restaurant, began growing Carolina Gold rice as a demonstration on the land, and lent his wisdom and creativity to a multitude of other projects, classes, and experiments.

One project close to Frazier’s heart is propagating, or breeding, the original camellias given to the Middleton Family by the French botanist Andre Michaux in 1786—some of the first camellias to be grown in an American garden. After Hurricane Hugo dealt a damaging blow to the plantation in 1989, Frazier realized that of the four original camellia plants, only one remained.

“We realized that if something was to happen to that camellia, we would no longer have that living attachment to our history,” Frazier explains. “So we decided we better start doing something.”

The original propagation took place in 1997, but this particular type of camellia japonica is a stubborn plant, and propagating takes time, so thus far only one of the original camellias still remains.

Undeterred, Frazier is working on propagating by air layering, a practice that encourages the plant to root while it is still attached to the parent, giving a level of protection to the original plant that

Today, 45 years have passed since a young Sidney Frazier first stepped foot onto the soil at Middleton Place, and hundreds of thousands of plants have received his expert care. Still, he sees himself as having changed little during his four decade tenure—save for the wealth of knowledge and experience he has cultivated over that time.

“I was this young, energetic man with a passion for horticulture that I chose to pursue,” Frazier remembers. “I think in all thoughtfulness, I really haven’t changed that much. I still have that energy and passion. I am still grateful to work here. After 42 years, I still enjoy walking through this garden. I won’t get rich doing this, but spiritually it enrichens me.”

Though Frazier spends the week working at Middleton, he often finds himself drawn back on the weekends, and he regularly visits the plantation as a tourist, concealing any sign of his identity as the caretaker of the landscape. Frazier delights in hearing the honest feedback from other visitors, and brings his notes back to his team, who he credits with being devoted and dedicated to the important task of managing such a precious estate. As for his passion for horticulture, Frazier believes that it will only continue to grow and branch out to others.

“I am increasingly attracted to the inspiration of life,” Frazier says.

“I see exponential life in every living thing. When you look at a seed, what is it you’re really seeing? If you look hard, you can see so much more than a simple seed. In one seed, I see a plant. In one plant, I see the potential for more seeds. In those seeds, I see more plants. Before you know it, you have a whole forest, starting from just one seed. Plants show you life, constantly evolving over and over again, and that will never stop inspiring me. As long as I’m living, I’ll share that inspiration with others.” AM Summer 2020 AZALEAMAG.COM

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Fried Chicken. It is Sunday dinner gathered at Grandmother’s big round table, or a picnic spread across a checkered blanket on a summer day.

It is welcome home, and we’re going to miss you, and it is tender love on a platter during times of loss.

Introduction by Susan Frampton

ne Dining page:Fresh oysters at The nary. Opposite: Prep work at Darling

Though the idea of frying chicken is thought to have come to the United States from Scotland, it was the enslaved West African population that elevated the simple food’s flavor with spices and seasonings, creating a staple that has come to be synonymous with Southern cuisine. Once only a workingclass dish, today the perfume of drumsticks cooking in hot oil drifts along in the trade winds of the world to grace tables set with fine china as often as it does the disposable kind. No matter where we are or where we’re from—it takes us home.

Empires have been built around the humble yard bird, and though a white-suited colonel with a black string-tie will forever represent the commercial success of its finger-lickin’ goodness, there are those who would go down swinging over whose mom serves it up best.

Crispy or original, dressed for success or salt-and-peppersimple, it’s a fundamental favorite that lends flavor to our lives and feeds our souls with crispy, deep-fried Southern comfort.

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN WITH HOT HONEY DRIZZLE Ingredients 1/4 cup honey 2 tsp Tabasco 1/4 tsp dried crushed red pepper 3-4 lbs fryer chicken pieces 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided 1 tbsp garlic salt 1/2 tbsp paprika 1 1/2 tsp pepper, divided 2 tsp poultry seasoning 1 egg 3/4 cup buttermilk 1/2 tsp salt

Preparation For Hot Honey Sauce: In a small bowl, combine honey, Tabasco, and red pepper.

Stir well and set aside.

For Chicken: Heat oil in fryer to 375º.

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, garlic salt, paprika, 1 tsp pepper, and poultry seasoning. In shallow bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk, salt, and remaining flour and pepper. Dip chicken in egg mixture, then place in the bag and shake to coat. Place pieces in fryer and cook for 10-15 minutes or until juices run clear and chicken is cooked through. Drizzle honey mixture over chicken before serving.

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FRIED CHICKEN AND GRITS Ingredients For Sauce: 1 green bell pepper 1 red bell pepper 1 vidalia onion 1/3 cup butter 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1/2 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup cream cheese 1/8 tsp paprika Yellow stone ground grits, prepared For Chicken: Oil for frying 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut in strips 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup 1 egg 1 tsp seasoning salt 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper

Preparation Heat oil in fryer to 350º.

For Sauce: Remove and discard seeds from bell peppers. Cut in strips and then into 1 inch pieces. Slice and cut onion into 1 inch pieces. In a large skillet melt butter. Add bell peppers, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Sauté on medium heat until tender. Reduce heat to low and add heavy cream, cream cheese,≠≠ and paprika.

Continue stirring until sauce is creamy. Cover and remove from heat. Add additional cream or water if sauce is too thick.

Prepare grits according to package.

Spoon grits into bowl. Top with two chicken strips and sauce.

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For Chicken: In shallow dish combine soup, egg, and seasoning salt. Mix well.

In resealable plastic bag mix flour, oregano, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Dip chicken strips in soup mixture and turn to coat evenly. Add pieces one at a time into plastic bag and shake to coat. Gently place in fryer. Fry chicken strips 7-10 minutes each or until juices run clear. Drain on paper towel.

Enjoy!

SWEET TEA FRIED CHICKEN Ingredients Oil for frying 3 cups water 3 teabags 1/4 cup sugar 3 lbs fryer chicken pieces 2 cups all purpose flour 1 tbsp garlic salt 3 tbsp lemon pepper seasoning, divided 1 tsp poultry seasoning 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp paprika 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup buttermilk lemons for garnish (optional)

Preparation: Bring water to a boil. Stir in sugar. Add teabags and remove from heat. Allow tea to steep for 5 minutes. Discard teabags and allow tea to cool. Pour into large bowl and add chicken pieces. Allow to marinate in tea 4-6 hours or overnight, stirring and rearranging occasionally to ensure all pieces marinate properly.

Heat oil in fryer to 375ยบ. Combine flour, garlic salt, 2 tbsp lemon pepper, poultry seasoning, pepper, and paprika in shallow dish. In separate dish, combine eggs, buttermilk, and 1 tbsp lemon pepper. Remove chicken pieces from marinade and roll in soup mixture, then dredge in flour mixture. Place pieces in fryer and cook for 10-15 minutes or until juices run clear and chicken is cooked through. Garnish with lemon slices if desired.

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VILLAGE P OET

The Summer of 2020

by Ellen E. Hyatt

At another time, my neighbor and I might be side-by-side to deadhead blush rosebushes spilling their silent waterfall over the fence which divides and connects our small spaces.

At another time, we'd be dividing hosta bought at Summerville's Farmer's Market and chatting ordinary. Not Covid-19, PPE, ventilate, mitigate.

Today, she offers an apology like a bouquet because across my yard her mail is scudding like pipers at high-tide at the water's edge.

She's using plastic bags as gloves. For a mask, a working man's red handkerchief. She explains why she put her mail outside: "Seems I heard tell 'bout the sun curin' Corona. Didja know that?

Trouble is wind's caught the envelopes before they could catch a good dose of sunshine."

We gather her mail. We space ourselves 6-feet, the new "6-degrees-of-separation" that links us to the 6 billion and more in the world who also want another time.

Before opening my mail, I dip cotton balls in alcohol, glide each over an envelope, hope any trace of virus will melt like that Wicked Witch of the West.

I've received a card depicting a colored lithograph of a Swallowtail.

This rendition from the Met. A reminder.

A hope. A connection to 5000 years of art from all around the world. And from you, on the same day, a 2x3 acrylic monoprint.

You named it "goldbird." It's fleeing from this to a safer that, from here to a better there. But who can tell us exactly When? How? Where?

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We Welcome You To Our Family Table Halls Chophouse Nexton is led by Owner Bill Hall, a veteran in the hospitality and dining industry, along with his family, wife Jeanne and sons Billy and Tommy. Offering wet and dry-aged USDA Prime and Choice Beef as well as locally-sourced fish, poultry, vegetarian and gluten-free options, the Halls Chophouse Nexton menu features expertlycrafted dishes that highlight the essence of culinary creativity and distinguished flavor.

Nexton Square Parkway, Summerville / (843) 900-6000 / hallschophouse.com

styled by Margie Sutton makeup by Jenna Tucker photograph by Taylor Kennedy