The Bluff Magazine Fall/Winter 2017 by Palmetto Bluff

the bluff

Fall / Winter 2017

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

C O N T E N T S

On the Cover: Handmade utensils by July Artist in Residence Ann Ladson Stafford.

33 JACK OF ALL TRADES Renowned professional golfer Jack Nicklaus returns to the May River Golf Course at Palmetto Bluff.

W HO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

LOCAL CHARACTER

Read about Music to Your Mouth from the perspective of the event’s esteemed

Meet Jesse Rodriguez, the director of wine for Montage Palmetto Bluff and our resident vino guru.

photographer, Bonjwing Lee.

THE KING OF THE BUTTERFLIES Monarch butterflies are beloved

THE HEART OF IT

S LOW & STEADY WINS THE RACE Learn about the

Explore the unique collection of custom artwork displayed in

Palmetto Bluff Conservancy’s Turtle

The Boundary at Moreland Village.

Mark and Recapture Program.

A LIFE FULL OF COLOR

THE AGE OF ICE

M eet Betty Anglin Smith,

The history of Palmetto Bluff reaches

residents of the Bluff and travel

well-known and loved

back farther than you may think—all

far and wide to get here.

Lowcountry artist.

the way to the ice age.

C O N T E N T S

102

BRACKISH BOWTIES

THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER

Two friends banded together to create

SEEDS OF HISTORY

one of the South’s most celebrated

A local band from Savannah is more

menswear companies.

connected than you might think.

108

COCKTAIL CULTURE

RETAIL THERAPY

Preview the Southern Foodways

S pend an afternoon perusing the new

Alliance’s newest cocktail book and taste

retail store at the Outfitters to get properly

your way through our favorite libations.

equipped for a day of exploration.

110

A RTIST IN RESIDENCE: MAKING THEIR MARK

A DAY IN BEAUFORT

A look back at our Artist in Residence program and a preview of what’s

Take a trip to Beaufort and use The Bluff as your guide to explore this historic coastal town.

to come.

116

AN ARTIST OF THE TREES

UPCOMING EVENTS

Daufuskie native Wick Scurry

Artist and sculptor Wayne Edwards is

The Bluff ’s bustling social calendar

is investing in the long-term

responsible for one of the most iconic

is chock-full of great events.

success of his beloved island.

scenes of the Bluff.

Don’t miss out!

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C R E AT E D

F O R

T H O S E

W H O

LOV E

T H I S

S P E C I A L

LOWC O U N T RY

I DY L L

PUBLISHER Courtney Hampson

EDITOR Anna Jones

PHOTOGRAPHERS

DESIGNERS

WRITERS

Joel Dinkel

Maddy Beard

Amanda Baran Cutrer

Ellie O’Donoghue

Amanda Davis

Ellie O’Donoghue

Rob Kaufman

Heather Dumford

Sarah Grubbs

Allen Kennedy

Brandon Scharr

Courtney Hampson

Bonjwing Lee

Justin Hardy

Krisztian Lonyai

Anna Jones

Rod Pasibe

Barry Kaufman

Shuman Fine Art

Kellen McAuliffe

Photography

Dr. Mary Socci

Ann Ladson Stafford

Tim Wood

palmettobluff.com R E A L

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PA L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. This does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy where prohibited by law. The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from sponsor. File no. H-110005

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

by KELLEN McAULIFFE P h o t o s by K r i s z t i a n L o n ya i

With its vibrant orange wings inked with black lines and edged with brilliant white spots, the monarch butterfly may be the most widely recognized species of butterfly in North America.

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I t ’ s a l s o c o m m o n ly s e e n at Pa l m e t t o B l u f f, w h e r e y o u might spot it flit ting among petunias on the porches in Wilson Village, amid the geraniums in the gardens in t h e R i v e r Ro a d n e i g h b o r h o o d, o r o n t h e m i l k w e e d at t h e M o r e l a n d o f f i c e o f t h e Pa l m e t t o B l u f f C o n s e r va n c y.

The monarchs that you see, however, are not year-round residents; they are

In late February, the exodus begins and the monarchs abandon their roosts

just stopping off at the Bluff for a few sips of nectar on their way south (in

to travel north and east, stopping and laying eggs when they reach the

fall) or for a snack and to deposit a few eggs on their trip north (in spring).

early blooms and young milkweed plants of the southern United States and eastern and northern California. These new monarch parents, who

The annual migration of monarch butterflies is one of the most remarkable

survived the autumn’s perilous journey and the winter’s fast, don’t live to

in the animal kingdom. In September and October, as the days grow shorter

see their offspring hatch, become fat caterpillars, and then metamorphose

and the temperatures start to fall, millions of monarchs begin a journey

into winged beauties. The monarchs that overwintered die shortly after

that may be as much as 3,000 miles, from Canada and the northern United

mating and depositing eggs in the spring. It is their children that continue

States to Mexico or parts of southern California. They travel south and west

the journey started by their parents, spending the two to six weeks of their

for two to three months, often flying 50 to 100 miles in a single day, intent on

lifespan traveling farther north and laying eggs for the next generation

reaching a winter haven where they will not be threatened by deadly frosts

before they die. It will be the third generation that reaches its northern

and snow. But a feast on succulent nectars from tropical blossoms in balmy

home and the fourth generation that will grow up there and then return to

climates is not in the plan. The monarchs are heading south to hibernate

Mexico or California, where its great-great-grandparents spent the previous

and live off their fat reserves, eating very little or not at all during their

winter. Only this fourth and final generation of the year will live six to

sojourn in the South. At a handful of sites in the mountains of Mexico and

eight months (instead of two to six weeks), the time required to make the

in coastal California, where the conditions are ideal (cool but not freezing

journey south, hibernate, and return to start a new brood of monarchs the

temperatures and plenty of freshwater), thousands, and in some cases

following spring. Even more extraordinary than this multigenerational trek

millions, of monarchs congregate to rest, covering the trees in fluttering

or the disparate lifespans of the generations is that the fourth generation,

cloaks as they await the arrival of spring, the signal to return north.

separated from the last population to migrate by three generations, will roost in the exact same trees their great-great-grandparents occupied a year previously. (Biologists are trying to identify the environmental cues and genetic codes for this incredible instinctual behavior.) Sadly, the North American monarch population is declining rapidly due to loss of habitat, disease, and climate change. One problem is that although the adults don’t seem to discriminate in the flowers they take nectar from, milkweed is the only plant monarch larvae (caterpillars) can eat. Milkweed plants are in the genus Asclepias, named after the Greek god of healing and medicine, Asklepios, an ironic name, as the plants contain toxins that are poisonous to most vertebrate animals, including humans. As the caterpillars feast on the milkweed plant, they ingest cardiac glycosides, a class of compounds that can affect the function of the heart. However, what may be a danger to us is a defense mechanism for monarchs. These toxins, dangerous and foul-tasting, are retained in the monarchs’ bodies throughout their lives, making not only the larvae, but also the adults

e Bluff. A caterpillar found at th

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

noxious and potentially deadly prey. A predator that survives eating a monarch learns not to try consuming another.

fig 1 DA NAU S PLE X I PP U S

To the untrained eye, most monarch butterflies look pretty similar. But if you take a closer look, you can see how

a d u lt butterflies

different males and females are. This distinction can be an important one for anyone hoping to find monarch eggs in their gardens because, rest assured, the males will leave no such gift. Males are generally larger than the female butterflies but the easiest distinction between the two are the two black dots on the hind wings of the male butterflies that are not present on females.

fig 2 M O N A R C H L A RVA E

When monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed plants, it usually takes around four days for the eggs to hatch into little

c at e r p i l l a r s

caterpillars. The caterpillars start out small with black and white stripes, but as they continue to feed and grow, they molt and shed their skin. As they do this, they retain their black and white stripes but also gain streaks of bright yellow. It only takes about two weeks for the caterpillars to become fully grown and by then they are anywhere from 25 to 50 millimeters in length.

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Over the last few decades, urban development and the widespread use of herbicides have had a devastating impact of the amount of milkweed in North America. In the U.S. alone, the loss of monarch habitats since the early 1990s is estimated to be about 147 million acres (a staggering amount that is seven times larger than the state of South Carolina). On top of that, land-use practices such as farming with crops genetically modified to resist herbicides have severely affected the milkweed, a plant that thrives in disturbed areas such as the edges of fields. The herbicides kill plants, including milkweed, that grow around the cultivated areas but lack the crop’s genetic modifications that provide protection.

fig 3 Although large-scale milkweed restoration efforts are underway around

A S C L E P I A S C U R A S S AV I C A

the country, individual efforts can make a big difference. If you would like to help monarchs but are hesitant about growing anything with the word “weed” in its name, don’t worry, milkweed is actually a wildflower and it is not classified as an invasive or undesirable weed. In fact, rather than fighting off the unwanted expansion of milkweed, the problem most gardeners have is getting the native milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa, to

Milkweed Distinction

thrive in gardens of the Bluff (though it does very well along the roads and fields in the undeveloped sections). However, tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, grows quite contentedly in the dry, sandy soil of coastal South Carolina and its scarlet and orange flowers are beacons to bees and butterflies. (The milkweed planted around the courtyard by the Conservancy’s offices at Moreland is the tropical variety and the plants hosted their first brood of monarch caterpillars this past May.) Tropical milkweed survives mild winters in the South and provides an important source of food to increasing numbers of monarchs that are late migrants in the fall or early migrants in the spring. Here at the Bluff, we can help the monarchs by adding milkweed to our gardens and it will only take one or two of these delicate creatures to glide by for you to understand how monarchs have gracefully sailed into the hearts of nature lovers of the entire continent.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

There are two types of milkweed growing here on Palmetto Bluff: tropical and native. Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is what is planted at Moreland, but there is also native milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) growing around the property. The most obvious difference between the two is the flower coloration. Tropical milkweed has bright orange and red flowers; whereas, the native milkweed is orange and has no red at all. Both are equally suitable for hosting monarchs; however, native milkweed is more difficult to transplant to different areas. Nevertheless, both plants’ seeds can be purchased and planted with ease.

HANSEN ARCHITECTS ARCHITECTURE + INTERIOR DESIGN

Enhancing The Design Standard of Stallings Island in Palmetto Bluff 912.234.8056 www.hansensavannah.com

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Written and Photographed by Bonjwing Lee

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Oysters at last year’s Music to Your Mouth.

I love

Chef Jeremiah Bacon at the 2016 Culinary Festival.

the sound of an unhurried “y’all,” a surprisingly versatile

greeting that often reclines well past the slam of a screen door.

I appealed to the eaters: Do you know of a non-Southern state with a barbecue tradition? No, they reply. Aha, I exclaim, only to be disappointed when the mention of burnt ends—the scraps of brisket bark made famous

I love that porches are so important to social gatherings that they’ve been

by the legendary Arthur Bryant’s in my hometown, the well-established

assigned a verb form.

capital of American barbecue—produced blank stares. Sharon Benton, wife of the celebrated Tennessee ham curer Allan Benton, denied having

And I love that meat comes with not one, not two, but three sides.

ever heard of Kansas City barbecue at all. Where’s Calvin Trillin when you need him?

I love the American South so much so that since I first arrived in the Lowcountry of South Carolina six years ago to attend Music to Your

Strangely, I got the most traction with college football. The fact that this

Mouth, the annual blowout of bourbon and barbecue (and so much more)

seemed strange to me is probably further evidence that I am not, and

at Palmetto Bluff, I have waged a quiet but earnest bid for membership.

could never be, a Southerner. Grasping at straws one year, I proudly announced that the University of Missouri had joined the Southeastern

A native and current resident of Missouri, I’ve tried all different angles.

Conference (which Wikipedia tells me is a college athletic association,

“Southern Living includes Missouri as a part of the South,” I point out,

also known as the SEC, that is composed of schools in Southern states—

convinced I could close my case quickly with that. You could almost hear

if you count Florida and Texas as Southern). This, at least, made people

people patting me on the head.

pause before laughing. Loudly.

Apparently, Delaware is included in the magazine too.

But these are cultural superficialities at best, stereotypes at worst. I know this, and for the sake of humor, I hope you know it too. What I truly love

I cited history: Before the Civil War, Missouri was… (but so was Delaware).

about the South, as with most places I visit, are the people I’ve met there.

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When I’m not campaigning for adoption at Music to Your Mouth, I’m

Courtney doesn’t tell me what to shoot. We have an annual pre-event

the supernumerary lingering just offstage with an oversized camera. I

phone call, which is really just our yearly excuse to catch up. She

fool myself into thinking that I blend in because I'm wearing gingham

emails me the schedule and usually ends the phone call with, “You

like everyone else. The fact that I’m also taking pictures of everything

know the drill.”

is, I believe, normal—almost expected—because I’m Asian. (I’m not immune to stereotypes either.)

It’s not because I’ve photographed the event before. It’s not because the event hasn’t changed over the years. Courtney and I have never

Nothing to see here, right?

been the handholding type.

Nope. People notice. And they ask.

And it’s not because she’s not detail oriented either. If you’ve ever attended the event, you know that her eagle eyes see all and know all.

I’m glad they ask. Because over the past six years of photographing the event, I’ve met a lot of great people this way.

It’s because she’s interested in more than just press photos or throwing a great party. “Anyone can do that,” she once said to me.

More importantly, it means that they don’t see me as “just the event

“The challenge is making it stick. What have we accomplished when

photographer”—not that there’s anything wrong with being an event

it’s all over?”

photographer. I photograph lots of events—this one included. But no one ever talks to the event photographer, unless they want their

Courtney is interested in the story. And she knows the only way I can

photo taken.

capture that story is if I get to experience it. So every year she gives me an all-access pass and sets me loose. And I embark on one of the

I’m able to give quick sketches about who I am and what I’m doing

greatest educational experiences I have all year.

at Music to Your Mouth. But because I am working, and because they are either with friends, family, or also working at the event, I keep our

The story at Music to Your Mouth isn’t just about deliciousness or

conversations short.

having a good time or raising money for good causes, although you’ll find all of the above. It’s not just about the midnight s’mores by the

So, when Courtney Hampson—the amazing woman who produces

campfire or the sunset bike rides or the terrific music, even though

the event—told me about The Bluff last year, I asked for some airtime

all of these things certainly make capturing the magic of Palmetto

to tell the story of Music to Your Mouth through the lens of someone

Bluff a joy.

who sees more than most.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Courtney Hampson and Bonjwing Lee at Music to Your Mouth in 2014.

A banquet captain pours wine for the 2016 sommelier smackdown.

...the only way I can capture that story is if I get to experience it

A band plays at the 2016 Biscuits and Gravy breakfast.

Montage Palmetto Bluff chefs pose FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7 13 at the 2016 Southern Supper.

The real story at Music to Your Mouth is about the South—its people,

event is not only a playground for the eaters and drinkers, it’s also a

its regions, its byways, and its foodways. It’s a story steeped in history,

playground for information geeks like me. Luckily, I have the perfect

tradition, necessity, chance, pride, and preservation.

job for it. As a photographer, I spend most of my time observing, listening, learning. And at Music to Your Mouth, I have a front-row

Teaming up with the Southern Foodways Alliance and its director

seat in the classroom.

John T. Edge, Courtney has brought to this party an incomparable cast of storytellers, whose encyclopedic knowledge of subjects ranges from

I’m not here to sell Music to Your Mouth. In its 11th year, the event,

rare apple varieties to sheep husbandry, barrel aging, ham curing, and,

which has grown steadily, sells itself. Those who have attended, return.

of course, cooking.

I see them every November—at dinner or at the 5K run or in line for biscuits under the swaying Spanish moss. I ply them perennially with

On the property, too, look beyond the manicured villages of Palmetto

my plight to become a Southerner.

Bluff to the thousands of acres of wild protected land that surrounds them. Take an afternoon with Jay Walea, the director of the Palmetto

Rather, what I hope to do is remind others to appreciate the richness

Bluff Conservancy, who has worked on the property for 27 years as

and diversity at their fingertips when they enter that long, snaking

his father did before him. It’s an invaluable glimpse into the flora and

drive toward the May River. If it is a daily, weekly, or monthly scene for

fauna of the Lowcountry and the tremendous work it takes to ensure

you, stop and reimagine it through the lens of a foreigner who is lucky

their survival.

to have landed there. That’s me, and that’s what I’m doing there.

After attending six Music to Your Mouth events, these vivid and rich stories, brimming with context and connection, are what stick. The

Guests enjoy the fire at the Pig Event Oyster Roast, located at Moreland Landing.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

The real story at Music to Your Mouth is about the Southâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;its people, its regions,

its byways, and its foodways. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a story steeped in history, tradition, necessity, chance,

pride, and preservation.

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Chefs

personalities

We’ve sifted through the South’s best and brightest to procure a variety of talent for this year’s events. Check out who will be joining us for the 2017 Music to Your Mouth.

Jeremiah Bacon

MASHAMA BAILEY

Jesse Becker

VALERIE MASTEN BONNÉ

Tyler Brown

Kate Button

Macintosh Charleston, SC

Skurnik Wines San Francisco, CA

Ashley CHRISTENSEN Poole’s Diner Raleigh, NC

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

The Grey Savannah, GA

Winebow Chicago, IL

Hermitage Farm Nashville, TN

Nightbell, Cúrate Bar de Tapas Asheville, NC

will Costello

chris dickerson

Bien Nacido & Solomon Hills Estate Wines Las Vegas, NV

Taco Corner Jacksonville, FL

Allan Benton

Nathan BERIAU

Benton’s Country Hams Maddisonville, TN

Montage Palmetto Bluff Bluffton, SC

David Carrier

Brandon carter

Shawn Dore

drew DZEJAK

Certified Burgers and Beverage Sea Island, GA

Sommelier Services

FARM Bluffton Bluffton, SC

Alys Beach Alys Beach, FL

Desmond ECHAVARRIE

John T. Edge

Kenny Gilbert

Scale Wine Group Napa, CA

Southern Foodways Alliance Oxford, MS

Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen, Gilbert’s Social Fernandina Beach, FL

Linton Hopkins

LEE & CRISTINA HUDSON

Matt Jording

Tor Kenward

Anthony Lamas

Restaurant Eugene, Holeman and Finch Public House Atlanta, GA

Kenward Family Wines Napa, CA

Andre Mack

Mouton Noir Wines Napa, CA

Hudson Ranch, Vineyards & Wines Napa Valley, CA

Seviche Louisville, KY

Ryan MCCarthy

Downtown Deli & Catering Bluffton, SC

Steven Greene

Kay Heritage

The Umstead Hotel and Spa Cary, NC

Big Bon Pizza Savannah, GA

The Sage Room Hilton Head, SC

River Dog Brewing Co. Ridgeland, SC

Amelia Keefe

EMMAUNUEL KEMJI

Raymond Lammers

Jeremiah Langhorne

Randy Lewis

Sara Camp Milam

Orchid PAULMEIER

Montage Palmetto Bluff Bluffton, SC

Rob MCDaniel

McCarus Beverage Company Charleston, SC

The Dabney Washington, DC

Southern Foodways Alliance Oxford, MS

Miura Vineyards Napa, CA

Lewis Cellars Napa, CA

One Hot Mama’s Hilton Head, SC

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Alex Raji

Txikito, La Vara, El Quinto Pino, Tekoá New York, NY

Lars Ryssdal

JOE & MARIELENA RAYA

Ben richardson

Bittermilk Charleston, SC

Craig Rogers

Border Springs Farm Patrick Springs, VA

Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards Charlottesville, VA

Amalia Scatena

Rodney Scott Scott’s Bar-B-Que Hemingway, SC

Cocktail Consultant Bostwick, GA

Banshee & Valkyrie Selections Charleston, SC

Bill smith

KEVIN RYAN & MEREDITH Sutton

David SZLAM

Michael Toscano

Jullian p. van winkle, iii

Service Brewing Co. Savannah, GA

Karl Worley Biscuit Love Nashville, TN

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Virgil Kaine Charleston, SC

Jerry Slater

Harry Root

Grassroots Wine Charleston, SC

Ackerman Family Vineyards Coombsville, CA

Crook’s Corner Chapel Hill, NC

Failla Wines St. Helena, CA

La Farfalle Charleston, SC

Teryi Youngblood Passerelle Bistro Greenville, SC

Clint sloan

Pappy Van Winkle Frankfort, KY

to our sponsors Our sponsors make the Music to Your Mouth world go round, and for that we are very thankful.

PEARCE S C OT T ARCHITECTS

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W R I T T E N BY SA R A H G R U B B S P H OT O S BY R O D PA S I B E & K R I S Z T I A N L O N YA I

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Ask around about what makes Moreland Village so special. Some people would say the landâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the crops that were grown here and the families that they fed. Others might remember a field along the marsh that was once known as the best dove hunting spot not only in the state of South Carolina, but in the country. The 1,184-acre parcel purchased by Richard Proctor in 1774 has served in various capacities in the years since its purchase, but one thing has remained the same: it has always been about the land.

The interior designers of The Boundary and the Outfitters, J. Banks Design, strived to make the interiors of the social hub feel like the original gathering space from years ago. They wanted to create something that felt very authentic to the Lowcountry and made the space feel as though the outdoors were inside with you. Anchoring the interior decor is the custom art that J. Banks procured

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...but one thing has remained the same: it has always been about the land.â&#x20AC;?

from a variety of talented artists in the area. Natural materials partnered with bold colors and different media created a space that brought the outdoors in through a natural transition.

The Boundary at Moreland Village. FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Oil painting by Betty Anglin Smith.

A BOLD STREAK As guests walk in the front door of The Boundary, they are immediately drawn to the stunning oil painting that stretches across the fireplace mantel. These bold colors created and painted by renowned Lowcountry artist Betty Anglin Smith were inspired by the surrounding coastal sunsets. As the largest piece Smith has ever created, this canvas stretched over multiple easels in her studio while she painted it. Joni Vanderslice of J. Banks saw Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work as the perfect complement to the handmade tabby walls of The Boundary.

Hand-designed map of Palmetto Bluff by South Carolina artist Travis Hayes Folk.

PA L M ET T TTO OB BLLU UFFFF. . CCOOMM

Aerial artwork on canvas by Mary Edna Fraser.

A N E Y E F R O M A B OV E Mary Edna Fraser began photographing landscapes

project to recreate that old photo of the signature

out of her grandfatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1946 Ercoupe plane when

Lowcountry landscape from above. To proportionately

she was young. To create her beautiful aerial works of

cover the large wall of The Boundary dining room,

art, Fraser studies the geography and topography of

Fraser created the photo by changing her medium

an area, as well as maps, charts, and satellite images

to fit the scale of the space and the artwork. This

and then applies this research to her photography. An

gorgeous aerial photograph brings a different outdoor

aerial photo taken by Crescent Communities inspired

perspective to the dining room while still capturing

Vanderslice to bring Fraser in on The Boundary design

the Lowcountry.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW Created by South Carolina resident Travis Hayes

the anchor for the place. Folkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s method of taking

Folk of New World Cartography, this hand-designed

current property and pairing it with old landmarks

map injects the charm of something old into this

while focusing on the details in the hand drawing and

fresh, new space. In what Vanderslice describes

hand coloring creates a stunning work of art.

as a grounding effect, this map gives a location to Moreland Village and demonstrates its location as

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Three-dimensional landscape scene by sculptor Joe Thompson.

Bold colors over the mantel painted by Betty Anglin Smith.

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Birds flying through the Outfitters created by Daufuskie local Chase Allen.

A TOUCH OF 3-D

B I R D S O F A F E AT H E R

For The Boundaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature bowling alley, the elongated lanes needed

As guests move toward the Outfitters, the art of Moreland Village seems to

a special trademark on the far wall. A long wall and an even longer space

move as well. Gracing the ceilings of the Outfitters are the works of Daufuskie

between demanded a piece with extra depth and detail. Artist and sculptor

local Chase Allen. Allen traded the corporate boardroom for the simple island

Joe Thompson grew up in Athens, Georgia, and was a woodworker while

life in 2001 and that mentality is felt throughout his art. Designed to feel as if

he attended the University of Georgia. His talents flourished as he attended

they are flying through the air, these birds are perfectly situated at different

Clemson University to complete his Master of Fine Arts in sculpture.

heights, bringing more depth to the work. The natural feel of the birds flying

Thompson created this unique sculpture based off natural Lowcountry

in from outside brings the artwork of the Outfitters alive. (Above)

scenery and is nearly 22 feet wide and over eight feet tall. Pieced together with small pieces of wood, this masterpiece took over 800 hours to complete.

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A LIFE OF FULL COLOR The talent behind it all, Betty Anglin Smith.

WRITTEN BY SARAH GRUBBS A RT WO R K BY B ET T Y A N G L I N S M I T H Children are born with natural talents. Some are good at every sport they pick up, some learn to read with ease, and some are born with creative blood flowing through their veins. As a young girl, renowned painter Betty Anglin Smith always had an affinity for the arts. In kindergarten, she was always the child coloring, decorating the bulletin board, or painting. However, her story to where she is today is one filled with Southern tradition, rooted in a loving family and the majestic scenery of the beloved Lowcountry. Growing up, Betty took art classes off and on whenever she could. She attended Winthrop University while her sweetheart, Cody, went to Clemson University. She never considered art as a major in college and instead took on the role of educating the youth of her community as an elementary education major. Taking a break from the arts, Betty was a teacher while Cody finished law schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and then their triplets arrived. With three youngsters to feed, chase after, and love, Betty stayed at home to raise her children. When the little ones went off to preschool, Betty signed up for painting classes at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston. CAST SHADOWS II

Reigniting her creative side, these watercolor classes eventually propelled

Oil on canvas

Betty into the business of painting. As the family grew older, they made the move to Mount Pleasant not knowing a soul in town. But a little co-op art gallery in Mount Pleasant changed all of that.

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BACK ISLAND Oil on canvas

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Painting classes at that little gallery introduced Betty to the women that would become her best friends. With her newfound friendships, Betty says, “It was a great time to grow up with your friends being supportive artists. It is a wonderful way to live a life out in nature.” Betty set up a painting studio in her home and ever since then has spent as much free time as she can there. Working with watercolor at the time, Betty photographed the outdoor landscape to translate into watercolor treasures, but a trip to Santa Fe changed all of that. Betty traveled with a fellow artist and friend to the desert of Santa Fe that elevated the way Betty would share her creativity. Rich desert sunsets awakened Betty to the distinct colors that she could use in her work, and strolls through various galleries with enormous oil paintings rich in bold colors encouraged Betty to push her own artistic boundaries. After returning home from an adventure that would forever change her perspective of art, Betty set out to embrace a new challenge: oil paintings. With an ever-changing landscape to inspire her, Betty spent hours on her dock watching the tide roll in and out as the sun set and used these stunning colorful vistas as the subjects of her work. These realistic paintings are each unique in their own way, one quality that Betty encourages artists to find in their own art. Throughout Betty’s paintings, you will find an intricate layering process she uses with bold colors. Reds and oranges keep the underpainting bright while layers on top pull the art back to a more realistic depiction of the subject. Looking at Betty’s work will give you a sense of discovery as you see colors you may not have noticed in a sunset or even in the Lowcountry before. As you walk away, you find yourself noticing these colors in nature, therefore making you more observant, Betty explains. With many landscape painters on the scene in the booming arts culture of the Lowcountry, Betty strives to maintain her unique talents and remain true to herself through her work—a goal that does not keep her from chasing her next challenge.

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WHAT’S NEW As Betty’s work has evolved, so have her techniques. Most recently on Betty’s easel you can find abstract art, which compared to her realism work, removes all sense of object. In what she describes as an easy transition, Betty’s work becomes more about the paint, the application of the paint, the expressions in the brushwork, and the energy that comes forth from it all together. In her abstract pieces, her brushwork is so active that it naturally creates an energy dependent on the colors used. Reds and oranges produce a lively and active feeling while blues, greens, and purples create a more serene and calming presence. These emotions created by the paint make a statement instead of a place. To challenge herself, though Betty doesn’t have to leave the realm of realism. On a visit to the preserve at Botany Bay, Betty found a wide-open vista and took breathtaking photographs of the moment, intentionally saving the photography for a special project. As Betty was looking through the photographs, her phone rang with a request. Palmetto Bluff was building The Boundary at Moreland Village and was in need of a beautifully unique piece of artwork. There was just one thing—it had to be large, very large. It all clicked as Betty pieced together the panoramic views of the bay—the photo perfectly fit the three-by-nine-foot piece of art needed. When Betty loaded up the canvas in a pick-up truck and delivered it to her studio, it took up two easels and nearly her entire workspace. Hours of brushstrokes, layers of paint, and days in the studio led to the creation of a magnificent piece. The dark moodiness of the painting is balanced out by the bright sunset. After being told once that one can never paint a sunset, Betty giggled and said, “They’re my favorite [subject] to paint.”

THE INSPIRATION As you can imagine, Betty draws inspiration for her paintings from the breathtaking scenery of the Lowcountry. However, her art history knowledge also provides inspiration from old-time favorites to today’s artists: Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Brian Rutenberg, and Joan Mitchell just to name a few. But her true inspiration is her family. The creativity runs deep in the Smith family. The Anglin Smith Fine Art gallery on Queen Street in Charleston is one not to miss. Tucked into the French Quarter, this family business includes Betty and her triplets, Shannon, Jennifer, and Tripp. Shannon favors oil painting and is talented in making light the focus on her works. Tripp captures the landscapes of the Lowcountry through photography while Jennifer’s oil paintings display buildings against bright skies. Not to miss in the gallery are other painters along with a bronze sculptor and glass artists.

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SUNSET ON TRIPP’S CREEK Oil on canvas

WHAT’S NEXT Betty continues to amaze the art world with her talents and her next project is sure to impress. She is currently working on a series of botanical abstracts that will leave you with a sense of subject, but one that is not completely defined. Be on the lookout as she also continues her oil work with realism and abstract subjects. And although she has been painting for 40 years, she says, “There is always a new way to approach it.” What is always a definite is her family’s continuous support as they navigate the art world with their creative treasures together. This year, Betty and Cody will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a trip to France as they wine and dine through the beautiful country. And if she isn’t painting, I can just about A glimpse of: THE WATERS IN MARSHLAND CUMULUS SKIES Oil on canvas

promise you she will be spending quality time with her little grandchildren. So, the next time you find yourself in Charleston, be sure to stop by the Anglin Smith Fine Art gallery— with something for everyone, it is the perfect stop.

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B UI L DI N G BEYON D

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M 32BrightonBuildersSC.com

49 Pennington Drive, Suite F, Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 837-1119

Restoring the May River Golf Course with the help of professional golf champion Jack Nicklaus.

WRITT EN BY ANNA JONES PH OTOS BY R OD PASIBE

Jack Nicklaus walks the May River Golf Course with course superintendent Chris Johnson.

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n a steady, soaking rain, Jack Nicklaus lifts the side curtain on his golf cart and hops off the front seat. He ambles toward the middle of the tee box on May River Golf Course’s second hole, stopping once he approaches the center, and looks around. With one hand on his back and the other shielding his sight from the rain, he surveys the fairways. “Really pretty place, isn’t it, Jack?” Sitting shotgun on another golf cart, Jack’s grandson, Jack Nicklaus III, agrees: “Yep.” The rain has drenched the greens of the May River Golf Course all day, saturating the grass so much so that when we drive over the fairways, water sprays off the golf cart tires like a boat leaving a large and unnecessary wake. David Stinson, the Palmetto Bluff Golf Club’s director of golf, and Chris Johnson, golf course superintendent, brave the weather and emerge from the

Jack Nicklaus and crew survey the recently renovated golf course.

dryness of their golf carts to join the famous Golden Bear on the tee. They chat about the length of the fairway, the design of the hole, and, of course, the rain. With a nod, Jack signals the end of the picture taking, and the group follows “Should we get a picture, anyway?” Stinson asks. He says, “anyway,” meaning,

him back to their respective golf carts. Jack Senior waits for Jack Junior and

“I’d like to remember this moment even though I am getting drenched.” I

Jack III to climb inside the cart, and then turns around to look at the golf

am relieved at the question, as the only reason I can join this private jaunt of

course one more time before following suit—whether soaking up the moment

the golf course is to drive a photographer around to capture the renowned

or truly just getting soaked, I’m not sure.

Jack Nicklaus as he tours the recently restored May River Golf Course. But because of the rain, we’ve photographed nothing of interest yet.

IN THE BEGINNING

Jack Senior stands patiently in the middle of the tee as he waits for the

In 2004, the May River Golf Course opened in Palmetto Bluff to the delight and

Palmetto Bluff Golf Club team and his son, Jack Junior, and his grandsons,

fanfare of members and guests of the community. Currently ranked 39th on

Jack III and Will, to arrange themselves around him for the pose. I encourage

Golf Digest’s list of the Top 100 Courses in the U.S., May River Golf Course has

the group to spread out, and the photographer begins clicking.

enjoyed attention from golfers and media alike during its tenure at the Bluff.

To make light of the situation, Jack Senior says something that I can’t quite

Situated on the banks of its namesake May River, the par-72 course can be

make out over the din of the rain, and they all chuckle. For a man widely

equally a golfer’s paradise and worst enemy—described as challenging at best

regarded as the greatest golfer of all time, snagging 18 major championships,

and downright heartbreaking at worst, but that comes with the territory of the

19 second-place and nine third-place finishes over the span of his highly

oft-frustrating game of golf. Its intricately designed tee boxes, fairways, and

lauded career, he is nothing like the egotistical athlete that his success

greens integrate some of the most ingenious designs in environmentally

might imply. Indeed, as a welcome contrast to the sports stars of today, Jack

sustainable golf courses, coming together to create a course that has

Nicklaus is nothing but gracious, good-humored and humble.

become a destination for golf not only in the Lowcountry, but in the South as a whole.

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Path leading to the practice tee on F AMay L L / WRiver I N T E RGolf 2 0 1 7Course.

From left to right: Steven Potter, Jack Nicklaus III, David Stinson, Jack Nicklaus Sr., Chris Johnson, Will Nicklaus, Jack Nicklaus Jr.

But like anything of beauty, time had taken its toll. Thirteen years of wear and

the project just validates the whole thing—to the membership, to the golf

tear from Mother Nature and golfers alike prompted the need for a renovation

community, and to our community.”

of the golf course as well as a new strategy moving forward for maintenance and upkeep, which had become a momentous task for the golf club team to manage.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

“Infrastructure [of the course] was great initially, but those sand areas had

Starting with the back nine, the team examined each hole in its current

deteriorated over the last eight years,” Johnson said, regarding the state of

state, determining the work to be done based on how each hole had evolved

the course and its bunkers before the restoration. “Maintenance demands had

and weathered over the years. As a hallmark of May River Golf Course is

increased too, creating inconsistent quality throughout the course.”

its immense natural beauty and carefully preserved landscapes, it was of utmost importance that the renovation of the course be carried out not only

The decision was made in late summer of 2016 to begin the months-long

in an environmentally sustainable way, but also in a way that respected its

process to redesign and restore May River Golf Course, and the team officially

original design.

began in August. And as the adage goes—two heads are better than one, four heads are better than two—the team at the Bluff reached out to Jack Nicklaus

“I just remember Jack saying, ‘The least we do to this golf course, the better,’

and his group of designers to engage them in the project as well.

and that’s the way it’s turned out,” said Chris Cochran, senior design associate for Jack Nicklaus Designs.

“Jack Nicklaus was brought on board to bring the project into focus,” said Johnson about working with Nicklaus and his team. “Having their name re-stamped on

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Jack Nicklaus was brought on board to bring the project into focus.

Having their name re-stamped on the project just validates the whole thing—to the membership, to the golf community, and to our community.

Hole 18 on May River Golf Course.

Over the course of 14 weeks, the team worked its way from the back nine to the

tested out several different sands to restore the bunkers, researching the best

front nine, moving and restoring bunkers, doubling the amount of irrigation

material to use for the long term.

heads, reinstating the natural golf cart paths, resodding two fairways, and more to bring the golf course back to its original beauty. These changes were critical

After much research and planning, the bunkers were replaced with a white

to the infrastructure of the course as they improved the quality of the grounds

sand that hails from Georgia. The team sourced the sand from a mica mine

as well as the conditions for play.

outside of Deepstep, as the sand is a by-product created when mica is harvested. Not only does the sand drain very well, it stays in place, too.

Hole 17 was a major project itself, in which Jack Senior personally redesigned the bunkers, replacing one large bunker with smaller ones. The team also

“The new Tour Angle Sand combined with the Better Billy Bunker infrastructure

incorporated native vegetation back into the natural bunkers and surrounding

provides a very aesthetically pleasing and weather-resistant product. It’s great

landscape, while eliminating plants that crowded out other natural plants. The

sand, plays beautifully, and compacts really well,” Johnson said.

attention to detail and craftsmanship in the redesign of this hole was paramount to Nicklaus and the team.

During its initial research, the golf team replaced four bunkers on the course with the new white Georgia sand to test its durability and sustainability

“A major outcome of the project is it created a delineation between formal and

early last fall—right before Hurricane Matthew paid a visit to Palmetto Bluff.

native bunkers, which we had never had before. This created a bigger difference

After the category two storm rolled through the property and dropped

between formal bunkers and waste bunkers and made the native areas a little

18 inches of rain, there were hundreds of trees down on the golf course, but

more natural,” Johnson said.

those four bunkers remained almost perfectly in place. And so the decision was easy—Georgia sand found a new home in our South Carolina haven.

SCIENCE OF SAND

“We helped make [Chris’s] job a little more efficient,” Cochran said. “We

From its outward appearance, a bunker seems like one of the less interesting

reduced manpower for maintenance of bunkers, letting him spend those

and visually appealing aspects of a golf course. After all, it is a hole filled with

man hours doing something else.”

sand. But the bunkers at May River Golf Course are much more than a sandbox—these bunkers were strategically placed and designed to coalesce with the layout of the course. During the restoration, Johnson and his team

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Palmetto Bluff Golf Club Director of Golf David Stinson and Jack Nicklaus.

LEAVING A LEGACY “Help me down, I’ve got a bad knee and I played tennis this morning,” Jack Senior says to a golf club member after his Q&A session at the golf club. Surprised but pleased, the member helps him

People always ask

down off the stage. Nicklaus just finished greeting dozens of members who crowded around him like moths to a flame, requesting pictures, autographs, and handshakes, all wanting a piece of the famous golfer. He greeted each one congenially and conversationally, nodding as fans told him stories of their

me which one is my favorite. And I ask them, ‘Well who is your favorite child?’

memories of him over the years and thanking them for their support. During the Q&A session, Nicklaus not only shared stories of the renovation and his career, but kept the audience on their toes with his quips. When asked about his multitude of golf courses designed by his team, he said, “People always ask me which one is my favorite. And I ask them, ‘Well who is your favorite child?’” After a golf club member told Nicklaus that as a beginner golfer she found the course to be very difficult, he agreed and said, “Well, all golf courses are hard for beginners.” After smiling at his helping hand, Nicklaus scans the room and finds what he is looking for: his son and two grandsons waiting for him at the back. Walking toward them, he continues to smile and nod to guests, but keeps his eye on his prize. As he walks past me, I am struck by what a good sport he is—after all, he did just shake hands and sign autographs when he wasn’t necessarily supposed to. But then again, that’s just the type of person he is: gracious, good-humored, and humble. Perhaps that’s the lesson here—whether in life or in golf, maintaining a measured sense of self is the key. After all, if I’m 76 years old and still playing tennis every morning, I’ll consider my life a success, too.

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Left: Jesse Rodriguez

Photography by Rob Kaufman and Bonjwing Lee

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or those who seek to pursue excellence in the hospitality, restaurant, or

Jesse served as the head sommelier at The French Laundry from 2003 to 2006,

beverage industry, there are several awards, certifications, and diplomas that

helping it earn its inaugural three Michelin Stars in 2006. After this achievement,

must be garnered to become a truly noted master of the craft. Some of the

he returned home to San Diego to work as the director of wine at The Grand Del

more prominent accolades, in no particular order, include being a part of a

Mar from 2006 to 2013 where he was able to acquire the majority of the above-

team that earns three Michelin Stars, the James Beard Award for Outstanding

mentioned awards, among notable others.

Wine Service, the Wine Spectator Grand Award, Certified Wine Educator certificate, Advanced Sommelier certificate, Wine and Spirits diploma,

In 2013, a decade after Montage Laguna Beach opened, Jesse decided to bring

Master Sommelier diploma, and Master of Wine diploma.

his expertise and success to this luxury resort collection, and in April 2016, our little town of Bluffton, South Carolina, was lucky enough to have him join the Palmetto Bluff hospitality team.

JESSE RODRIGUEZ, Montage Palmetto Bluff’s director of wine, has either already accomplished these honors during his impressive career, or

Apart from his current role as director of wine at Palmetto Bluff, Jesse is also

is very close to it.

studying for the final portion of the Master Sommelier examination, which is scheduled for September. This is a prestigious, invitation-only program

Jesse’s remarkable background begins in the Southern California desert

conducted by the Court of Master Sommeliers and takes many years to

town of Beaumont, where he worked as a volunteer firefighter in high school

complete. In fact, there are only 236 people worldwide who have earned this title.

and then went on to work on the Malibu fire line post-high school graduation in 1993. He then attended Arizona State University to major in history and

At the time of writing this article, Jesse has already successfully completed the

anthropology. During that time, he embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime trip

first two examinations (service and theory) in the three-phase program, leaving

where he traveled to Bab edh-Dhra in Jordan to do archaeological field work

the tasting exam as the final portion to be achieved. This rigorous exam will

in 1999 and 2000.

put his taste buds and wine knowledge to the test as he blindly sniffs and sips six wines from around the world while describing each of them proficiently to

From there, Jesse attended graduate school and participated in the Air Force

a panel of Master Sommeliers in just 25 minutes. He began the pursuit of this

ROTC. During his physical prior to commissioning for the Air Force, he

diploma in 2002 and takes his final test in September 2017.

learned that he has a degenerative cornea disease, which ultimately restricted him from entering the military.

Jesse is also currently in his second year as a wine student at the Institute of Masters of Wine. There are only four other people in the entire world who hold

But he didn’t let that slow him down—Jesse still had an unanswered calling.

the dual title of Master Sommelier and Master of Wine.

His interest in the hotel and food and beverage industry was piqued as several college friends began to see success in their own hotel careers.

We are lucky to have Jesse Rodriguez as a part of our Palmetto Bluff Lowcountry

Therefore, he decided to leave Arizona to work at a small family, Rutherford

family, and we are proud and eager for Jesse to finish his current studies and

winery, and eventually at renowned restaurant The French Laundry. It was

become one of a handful of people worldwide to hold such an esteemed title.

here that Jesse’s passion for wine, food, and service was awakened and his career would truly begin to take shape.

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WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MARKED CHARACTERISTIC?

Well, besides finishing the tasting exam for the Master Somm diploma, I’m

That I’m driven and resilient.

also excited to finish building my home in Bluffton. But I’m truly happy when I’m with my wife, Tiffany (who also happens to be the Director of Banquets

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? Well, the last podcast

for Montage Palmetto Bluff), and my dog, just hanging out in the backyard,

I listened to was “Rebuilding Self Confidence” to help me not second guess

cooking and listening to music.

myself in daily business and personal decisions.

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR HEAD AS YOU DRIVE TO

IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE “SUPER POWER,” WHAT

WORK EACH MORNING? The humidity! It’s going to do wonders to

WOULD IT BE? HOW WOULD YOU USE IT AT WORK?

my face! But seriously, every time I drive Old Palmetto Bluff Road, I’m very

I would want the ability to smell every beverage without tasting it and know

humbled to be here. There’s not much distraction on that drive in. I can really

exactly what it is.

focus on my goals for the day and week. WHEN YOU’RE NOT HERE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? AND ON THE WAY HOME? I reflect on how big of a property this is

I’m with my family. Tiffany and I love to travel and always turn our traveling

and how much effort goes into the day-to-day operations while also thinking

into a learning experience when we do.

about all the other things I can do and am capable of. I also try to take the time to check in on my team and get them to walk me through their day so we can continue to strengthen our team and service.

WHAT WORD DO YOU USE THE MOST? The phrase would probably be “Let’s make it happen.”

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE? The Russian Tea Room in New York City.

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH? Dumb jokes. I’m just a kid at heart.

MOVIE THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO FRIENDS? The Sandlot or The Goonies. I like the old-school movies.

TOP FIVE SONGS ON YOUR PLAYLIST? AFI: Rabbits are Roadkill on Route 37 Common ft. Pharrell: Universal Mind Control

IF THERE WAS A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHICH

Classixx: A Stranger Love

ACTOR WOULD PLAY YOU? Viggo Mortensen does a fantastic job

Foster the People: Helena Beat

in the movie Hidalgo, and although I look nothing like him, it is the character

Pennywise: Living for Today

that he plays that I feel a connection with.

FAVORITE SPOT ON THE BLUFF? WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST

I love the Lake Haynes area in Headwaters when I’m running.

ACCOMPLISHMENT? Apart from marrying Tiffany, I’d say the scholarship I set up at Beaumont High School. This will be the 11th year I’ve contributed and I keep in touch with all the recipients.

BEST PALMETTO BLUFF MOMENT? Music to Your Mouth in 2016. My first year here. Super cool.

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WRITTEN BY JUSTIN HARDY PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALLEN KENNEDY & KRISZTIAN LONYAI

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along in the Conservancyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trucks as they check the turtle traps. P A LBluff M E T T Oowners B L U F F. C Oride M 46 Palmetto

The lagoon systems of Palmetto Bluff are vastly underrated. Yes, they add to the aesthetic value and picturesque beauty of this place. There is no doubt about that. Imagine the expansive views. The sun is setting. The coastal breezes are blowing. The movement of the air creates ripples that meander on the surface of the lagoon. As the breeze builds, the live oaks, towering pines, and wax myrtles that line the shores bend and twist. All of this combines to create a superb scene. You see it, hear it, and feel it. Add in a stiff drink and you’ll find yourself living a Lowcountry dream.

Here is where the underrated aspect comes into play. These lagoons are biologically thriving, much more so than most realize. As the land and wildlife manager for the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, I relay this information to people constantly and let them know that the lagoon systems are an amenity for wildlife and also for human enjoyment. I can say from experience that these lagoons have some of the best fishing anywhere. A nature nerd like me can spend hours with a pair of binoculars watching wildlife. Land-based mammals and multitudes of birds, reptiles, and inexperienced kayakers visit these lagoons daily and are a source of great entertainment. All of these things can be A turtle’s carapace is the top of its shell, which we measure to examine its growth over time.

enjoyed alone or with friends, no scheduling required. The only thing one must do is show up!

Aside from the fun and beauty that can be found on these lagoons, the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy can utilize these spaces as grounds for environmental research, outreach, education, and land and wildlife

TURTLE MYTHS DEBUNKED

management. On rare occasions, we can combine all of these aspects into one event and the outcome is magic. Our Turtle Mark and

Recapture project is a prime example of this. This program, when

This is absolutely not true. While they are awkward and clumsy

boiled down, involves capturing turtles, marking their shells, and

on land, they can still move quickly in short bursts. If you don’t

releasing them. This is the research aspect. We take property owners

believe it, try to catch one!

Turtles are slow.

and guests along for the ride—a great bonding experience that also checks off our goals for outreach and education. Now that we have data on our turtles and a small militia of folks who love the turtles as much as we do, we can put forth land and wildlife management techniques that benefit all involved. Magic!

Turtles are “easy” pets.

Pet turtles are a huge commitment. Their tanks must be cleaned regularly, or they will begin to smell and can become a breeding ground for salmonella. Also, most species of turtle live for 20 years.

How are the turtles captured? Fortunately for us, turtles are not that difficult to trap. Since they are cold-blooded reptiles, direct sunlight is required so they can warm their bodies. That warmth permits food to

Some can live more than 100.

Turtles can live without their shells.

digest and relaxes capillaries to allow blood flow. We set basking traps

Turtle shells are connected to their bodies by skin, muscle, and

and use their sunlight requirements to our advantage. A basking trap

bone. No turtle species can be removed from their shells and live.

is a partially submerged box with ramps on all four sides that lead to the opening at the top. Turtles climb the ramps and use them as

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Turtles of the Bluff are captured, marked for measurement and research, and then released.

a basking platform. When they want to return to the water, they find it

case. When a male sees a lady he is interested in, he will position himself

unnatural to back off the ramp. Instead, they push up the ramp and fall into

in front of the female, outstretch his front legs, and wiggle the nails around

the box, where we can retrieve them.

in a rolling, waving fashion. He is basically waving at her with both hands as if to say “Hello darlin’. Do you like what you see?” Google it if you find

Marking and data gathering are the next steps in the process. We have a

yourself in disbelief.…

long checklist of things we are looking for with each turtle, and we like to have our guests volunteer in the data gathering process. The first item on

When we catch a female, we determine if she is carrying eggs. This is done

the checklist is identifying the species. Yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys

by gently reaching into the carapace ahead of the back legs. If she has eggs,

scripta scripta) is the most common freshwater turtle species in Palmetto

they can be felt readily. After the details have been gathered, we can mark

Bluff. For each turtle, we measure the length and width of the carapace and

the turtle.

the plastron. A carapace is the top of the “shell” and the plastron is the bottom. The weight is then measured. These physical characteristics will

Marking is actually more like naming. Imagine you are looking down

allow us to measure growth rates should that turtle be recaptured at a later

onto the back of a turtle. Its carapace appears to be made of lots of small

date. After this, we determine the sex. This is accomplished by measuring

boney plates that fit perfectly together. It is and they do. These plates are

length of tails and toenails. The male’s will be nearly twice as long as the

referred to as “scutes.” The scutes on the outermost part of the carapace are

female’s. The long toenails of the male slider are used in attracting mates.

known as marginal scutes and each has a corresponding letter. By picking

One might think they would aid in fighting other males, but this is not the

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Wildlife Manager Justin Hardy releases a turtle back into the wild after it was marked.

a unique group of these scutes and marking them with a file, we can name each turtle. No, this does not hurt the turtle. The process is comparable to clipping fingernails.

Recaptures are exciting and very rare. This indicates that Palmetto Bluff has a thriving, expansive

Next comes the best part: releasing the turtle. As the turtle races back to the water and eventually plunges below the surface, fully mature humans can be seen hopping up and down, clapping their hands, and squealing

turtle population and a healthy, productive lagoon habitat.

like kids on the playground. This is an involuntary reflex for humans that is rarely witnessed. Outreach and education can now be checked off our

Recaptures are exciting and very rare. This indicates that Palmetto Bluff

list of goals. The genuine smiles of our guests ensure that we have given

has a thriving, expansive turtle population and a healthy, productive

them a memory, a tie to the land they live on, and a greater appreciation for

lagoon habitat. The Turtle Mark and Recapture Program on Palmetto

turtles and their surroundings.

Bluff has developed an enormous following over the years and is a special event in every aspect. Research, education, management, and fun are all

If these same turtles are recaptured in the future, we can calculate

rolled into a few hours. Few events anywhere can produce these fruits. The

population size and growth. Recaptures also provide us with growth rates

Conservancy invites you to join in on the fun, but act quickly. The sign-up

and dispersion on an individual level.

list for this event fills in a matter of hours.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

courtesy of Montage Palmetto Bluff

www.pscottarch.com // 843.837.5700 // Bluffton, South Carolina 50

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Written by Dr. Mary Socci Photos by Krisztian Lonyai / Drawings by Alex Coppola

or visitors and residents of the Bluff, the Conservancy’s new Reading

Evidence of the Bluff’s ice age ecosystem can be found at the bottom of the

Room at Moreland Village offers a relaxing place to discover more

Savannah River and in nearby estuaries where currents and tidal action

about the Lowcountry. Guidebooks identify native coastal plants

have exposed concentrated deposits of fossils. Although visibility in

and animals and history texts reveal a fascinating past of the area. There’s

these waters is often two feet or less, local diver Doug Duch has managed

also a new display space where changing exhibits provide more details

to find hundreds of teeth and bones from the prehistoric beasts that once

of the ecology, history, and culture of this special place and where, right

roamed the Lowcountry. These fossils, some of which are on display in the

now, fossils tens of thousands of years old reveal that Palmetto Bluff was

Reading Room, are consistent with what paleontologists elsewhere in the

once a very different place than it is today.

Southeast have found and reveal that despite the global cooling during the last ice age (150,000 to 11,000 years ago), South Carolina had a warm

Mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-toothed cats may not be the

subtropical climate. For example, the mammoths that roamed the Bluff

wildlife that comes to mind when you think of the Bluff, but at the peak

weren’t the woolly mammoths that wandered the tundra near the edge of

of the last ice age—21,000 years ago—these animals were right at home

the ice sheets. Instead, this was home to the Columbian mammoth, which

in South Carolina. And that home would have been unrecognizable to

stood about 13 feet tall, two feet taller than its northern cousin. (Woolly

modern inhabitants: at Palmetto Bluff, the tidal estuaries and maritime

mammoths were about the size of African elephants, nine to 11 feet tall.)

forest that surround us were thousands of years in the future. In fact,

And Columbian mammoths weren’t woolly, they didn’t need thick fur

because so much water was frozen into glaciers and snow, the sea level

because here, if the temperature ever dipped below freezing, it didn’t stay

was much lower and a vast stretch of the continental shelf of North

there for very long. In fact, animals such as capybaras and giant tortoises,

America was exposed. The marshes and waters of the Atlantic lay

animals that no longer live in South Carolina but continue to thrive in the

100 miles east of what is now Wilson Village.

tropics, flourished in the mild climate of the ice age Lowcountry.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Jaguar

Wild Horse

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Bison

These fossils were salvaged from the bottom of local rivers by professional diver Doug Duch.

The fossils recovered from the rivers provide more than just a list of the animals that once lived here; they also provide details of the ancient habitat. Mammoths, bison, and wild horses are grazing animals whose diets consist of a high percentage of grasses. The large number of fossils of these grazers (and fossil pollens from other locations) indicates that vast grasslands or savannas covered much of South Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ancient coastal plain. On the other hand, mastodons primarily ate the seeds, leaves, and even small

By 12,000 years ago, Paleoindians were hunting the savannas of Palmetto Bluff.

branches of shrubs and trees, as well as grasses and sedges. The presence of mastodon fossils corroborates botanical studies that indicate patches of forests and copses along the wetlands broke up the expanse of grasslands.

By 12,000 years ago, Paleoindians were hunting the savannas of Palmetto Bluff. Here, characteristic stone tools reveal the

Although fierce predators such as saber-toothed cats, jaguars, American

presence of these ancient visitors.

lions, and dire wolves stalked the large herbivores of the ice age, it was the combination of changing climate and human hunting that caused the

By the time the Paleoindians arrived at Palmetto Bluff, the ice

extinction of these animals and their predators. In Alaska, the lower sea

age was ending. Warmer temperatures melted the enormous

level during the ice age exposed an isthmusâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Bering Land Bridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that

glaciers that covered the northern and southern ends of the

connected western Alaska to eastern Russia. Hunter-gatherers who had lived

earth and the sea level was rising. Over the next 60 centuries,

in Asia for millennia took advantage of the new connection and became the

the sea would continue to rise until about 6,000 years ago, when

first people (called Paleoindians by archaeologists) in the Americas around

the coastline was much like that of today; the May River flowed

23,000 years ago. It is likely that the earliest arrivals moved south along the

with the tides, the New River brought freshwater from wetlands

coast, fishing and hunting near the shore. Eventually, as groups reached the

to the sea, and live oaks, longleaf pines, and palmettos grew up

southern edge of the great ice sheets, some moved inland, spreading into

in what had once been grasslands. And now, centuries later, it is

North America and down into South America.

our turn to enjoy this spectacular place.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Mammoths & Mastodons Although similar in appearance, mastodons and mammoths are actually only distant relatives. (Mammoths are more closely related to modern elephants than they are to mastodons.) Mastodons were smaller, about the same size as an elephant, and their tusks were less curved. Mastodons browsed on leaves, twigs, and seeds of shrubs and trees while mammoths grazed on grasses. This difference in diet meant that mammoths and mastodons occupied different niches in the same ecosystem.

American Lions The southeastern United States of the ice age would have resembled the African savanna in many ways, with herds of buffalo and elephant-like mammoths and prides of lions. The American lion was similar to the African lion in shape, but it was about 25 percent larger. Its brain-tobody ratio was also higher, indicating that it may have been more intelligent as well. (Some scientists have suggested the fact that only a few lion skeletons have been found in the La Brea Tar Pits in California indicates that American lions were clever enough to recognize the tar pits as a danger.)

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

The Conservancy Reading Room in Moreland Village.

Arrows South Carolina was populated with large land animals, such as giant sloths, American lions, and mammoths, that disappeared as the ice age ended. The changing environment may have caused some changes in the ranges of these animals, but many researchers now believe that Paleoindian hunters, who arrived in the Southeast about 13,000 years ago, were largely responsible for the extinction of most of the American megafauna (large animals).

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Ancient fossils salvaged from the bottom of the May and Savannah rivers.

Braving the depths and the dark... Doug Duch has been diving in the waters around Savannah about twice a month for nearly 20 years. Summer dives are in comfortable, warm waters, but sometimes even with an underwater light, Duch has to rely more on feel than sight to locate fossils because the water is so murky. Occasionally, visibility can be as much as six feet in winter, when the water has less organic matter, but cold temperatures require that divers wear considerable protective gear.

Diving in any season requires careful timing because of the tidal currents that

A typical dive by Duch yields dozens of fossils. In the photo above, along

change in direction and strength throughout the day. Duch plans his dives,

with the remains of ancient horses, whales, and mastodons, are teeth from

which last about two hours or so (two tanks of air), for a time when the tides

what many scientists believe was the deadliest predator of the seas that ever

are just changing from high to low or vice versa. This is when the relatively

lived: the 50-foot-long sharks commonly called megalodons. These ferocious

quiet waters allow him to focus on hunting for fossils rather than struggling to

creatures, over twice the size of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great white sharks, had actually been

maintain his position in the estuary.

extinct for over two million years by the time the last ice age began.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Local diver Doug Duch prepares for another dive in the Lowcountry waters.

In fact, the megalodon fossils date to a time when Palmetto Bluff was a sandy ocean floor.

In fact, the megalodon fossils date to a time when Palmetto Bluff was a sandy ocean floor. The presence of the megalodon teeth in the same deposit as the fossils of animals who lived much later reveals that the deposit is a secondary one, in this case at a site where a shift in the currents of the estuary causes heavier material moved by those currents to collect. (Duch has also found historic and even modern artifacts in the same location.)

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

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B e v e r ly H i l l s | D e e r va l l e y | K a pa l u a B ay | l a g u n a B e a c H

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

pa l m e t t o B l u f f | l o s c a B o s

(Opening Early 2018)

How Wick Scurry is bringing back classic Southern staples to his beloved Daufuskie Island.

WR IT T EN BY BAR RY KAUFMAN P HOTOGR AP HY BY R OB KAUFMAN

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Let Wick Scurry show you around Daufuskie Island, and one thing will become immediately clear: he loves this island and he’s enamored with its history. Inside the squat, yellow-bricked structure of his Daufuskie Island Crab Company, among the tables and chairs, two entire walls showcase assorted relics from days gone by, both on the island and beyond. An entire wall of this exhibit is taken up by a deep, glass-topped wooden case concealing an ancient canoe that he discovered near Bloody Point. “It was five feet down in the mud. I took five of my employees out there and we were digging for two days,” he says, peering down to a slender structure of driftwood so weathered by the ages it was hard to believe it had once been seaworthy. “We brought it here, but the idea wasn’t originally to keep it here.” Still, it doesn’t seem out of place among the items on display in the restaurant, a collection of items that Scurry lovingly describes one by one as we walk by the cases. Millennia-old pottery shards created by the prehistoric Native Americans who once called Daufuskie home, remarkably intricate for their age. A pocketbook stuffed with Confederate money, adorned with a portrait of Lucy Pickens, who Scurry calls “The quintessential Southern woman.” A Civil War–era cavalry sword. A photo of Spanish–American war soldiers who had been, quote, “dumped” on Daufuskie after the war. It’s clear he loves the history of Daufuskie. And it’s clearer still that he’s played a tremendous role in that history, with what’s coming next possibly being his magnum opus.

SCURRY’S DAUFUSKIE The restaurant occupies a spit of land that could be considered the

Daufuskie. Some might pin this on the unique solitude of this tiny island,

nerve center for Scurry’s Daufuskie Island empire, if anyone dared

accessible only by boat, where, “If it costs one dollar on the mainland,

to consider themselves an emperor of this wild, untamed land.

it costs two dollars here,” to hear Scurry tell it.

Scurry certainly wouldn’t.

There are even some who pin the downfall of so many titans of industry on Daufuskie to a hex by the notorious Dr. Buzzard, a root that

Since his family bought 26 acres of land on the island, he’s watched

stated no white man would ever get rich on the island. (“Do I believe

the ambitious come and go, their fortunes bleeding into the sands of

it was Dr. Buzzard? No. Do I completely doubt it? No.” Scurry says.)

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Instead, Scurry builds on the island with an eye toward service rather

Driving past a uniquely styled tin-roofed cottage, with a wide front

than fortune and with a respect for the place that runs deeper than

porch that bends around the front but never quite qualifies as “wrap-

the tides. His ferry service helps residents get what they need shipped

around,” Scurry explains that these are called oyster cottages.

over to the mainland, but it also helps control costs at his restaurant, where locals can grab a cold drink and a famous Daufuskie deviled crab. His docks at Freeport Marina give them a place to keep their boats. His general store provides one of the few places on-island to get the basic necessities, and its only gas station.

“They were built with money from the oyster industry,” Scurry says. “At one time, there were hundreds of them.”

In all of this, the fact that it helps drive tourism to Daufuskie seems secondary to simply giving back to the island and helping tell its

“They were built with money from the oyster industry,” Scurry says.

story. His latest venture does both—his purchase of the Bloody Point

“At one time, there were hundreds of them.”

Lighthouse and its conversion into a museum brought this historic building back into public hands for the first time in 90 years.

Scurry discusses how Daufuskie was one of the many spots given over to freed slaves by the federal government, which in typical

And Scurry has stories to tell. As our van bounces along dirt roads

government style neatly divided the land into parcels without

to the Bloody Point Lighthouse, every twist in the road brings to mind

a thought for easements or roads. “They basically said, ‘Here you

a story from his decades on the island. A split-rail fence behind

go. Now grow some cotton. We’ll see you later.’ But you couldn’t

the general store gives way to a field where Marsh Tackies frolic,

farm a lot this size and make it work. Fortunately, the oyster industry

reminding him of how the native breed of horse was driven off

moved in.”

of Hilton Head Island because, “You couldn’t keep them off the golf courses.”

During those boom years, the oyster industry allowed the island’s residents to thrive and build churches and schools. And

Passing by a house whose yard overflows with greenery, Scurry relates

then pollution from the Savannah River seeped into Daufuskie’s

how at one point someone launched Daufuskie Magazine with a

oyster beds. Within a few years, the oyster beds were condemned

cover photo of that house. It wasn’t until it went to print that anyone

and 2,500 people were out of work.

noticed the 12-foot marijuana plant right in the center of the picture.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

“You went from 2,500 people here to 100,” Scurry says. “And those 100 are the ones I got to know as a young man.” “You went from 2,500 people here to 100,” Scurry says. “And those 100 are the ones I got to know as a young man.” The stories continue to flow as the van bounces along—how every large oak tree on the island has the ruins of an old oyster house below it. How Beaufort County ruined one of the most beautiful roads in America when it let developers move Haig Point Road. How corn liquor came to be known as “scrap iron” on the island when moonshiners would conceal their barrels of contraband under scrap iron to sneak them past tax collectors into Savannah. And finally, the van arrives at Bloody Point Lighthouse, where Wick Scurry’s love for Daufuskie Island is written in fields of staple crops and historical intrigue.

Bloody Point Lighthouse cottage.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

HISTORY IN HARVEST Bloody Point Lighthouse’s history has been well-told, but it’s one so fantastic it could easily be a work of fiction. “It’s like it had a curse,” Scurry jokes. Built in 1882, the two-story cottage found itself being moved for the first time when a tsunami struck the island in 1886, sliding the entire structure back a mile from the beach where it had sat. It was returned to its original foundation, only to be flooded during the storm of 1897, which completely destroyed the lighthouse’s rear signal tower. Without a working rear tower, the entire house was moved back to its current location, dragged across cotton fields by mules. Which is just as well, because at that point Mother Nature clearly didn’t want that house on the beach.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Decommissioned 90 years ago, the lighthouse was first purchased

“This was all new to me, so I didn’t realize that along with rice we

by the assistant lighthouse keeper, Arthur “Pappy” Burns, who also

wound up with thousands of bullfrogs. Of course, that brought the

opened the Silver Dew Winery inside the squat brick building that

alligators out. I was walking around here one night when a five-foot

had served as an oil house.

gator popped up out of the rice paddy and chased me off.”

Today, Scurry is reviving Silver Dew Winery with scuppernong

From there, we move onto the indigo, twisting branches that will

grapes grown right on the property. He grows grapes on one end of

eventually produce a rich blue dye of historical significance. The

the property and leases the lighthouse on the other end to a 501(c)(3)

plan is to eventually harvest it for dye, then produce shawls and other

that runs the non-profit Bloody Point Lighthouse Museum.

clothing to sell in the gift shop to fund the lighthouse’s museum.

“These grapes grew like crazy. I hope this weather doesn’t make it bloom too fast,” Scurry says, surveying the vineyard as we stroll past. “The soil here is unlike anywhere else on the island. Most soil on Daufuskie is sand, which is great for growing cotton. I don’t know how the soil here got so rich.” Out of a few barrels in the old oil house, Scurry created 2,000 bottles of wine last year. When he harvests in the fall, he plans to do an even larger batch, inviting in all comers to stomp the grapes the oldfashioned way as part of a harvest festival. Just as Scurry hopes to salute Pappy Burns with his new vintage, he’s working the soil at Bloody Point Lighthouse to bring back historic crops. A massive square pit dug into the ground reveals rich black earth, where Scurry set up Carolina Gold rice. In classic Scurry fashion, he’s grown it mostly because of the history behind it. As we walk, he tells of how Carolina Gold rice came from Africa on a ship that was forced ashore in Charleston in 1685 by a hurricane. A doctor by the name of Woodward helped the crew out and was paid with a bag of rice seed, which would eventually become the crop that built South Carolina’s fortune. “You can still see the outlines of the old rice fields from space. They stretched all the way from the Georgia line into North Carolina,” he says. It may not be visible from space, but Scurry’s patch still produced 150 pounds of rice last year. And while he estimates he’ll get 500 pounds of rice out of it this year, he’s already harvesting stories. Scuppernong grape vineyard at Silver Dew Winery.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Daufuskie Island from above.

Finally, we come to the sea island cotton, the famously bountiful staple crop of the coastal South. Its enormous tufts, like giant popped popcorn kernels, carry with them the story of the South. “It’s three to four times the size of other cotton. That’s why it outsold other cotton and that’s why these plantations got so wealthy,” Scurry says. “These guys became millionaires overnight.” Walking among the fields he’s planted, Scurry doesn’t just see crops. Here, in the shadow of a lighthouse cottage he’s returned to public hands after nearly a century under private ownership, he sees the rich history of an island he loves. And he sees the chance to share it with those who need only cross the water to this enchanting island to hear. “Ever since I’ve been here I’ve had to ride by the lighthouse,” he says. “To me, it’s one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen and it should be shown to the public. The wonderful thing is, from now on, it will be.”

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

“Ever since I’ve been here I’ve had to ride by the lighthouse,” he says. “To me, it’s one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen and it should be shown to the public. The wonderful thing is, from now on, it will be.”

“There is no sanctuary of virtue like a home.”

— EdWard EvErETT

Intertwined like the salt marsh and the river that flows through it, we are deeply rooted in Palmetto Bluff with its rich history and passion for nature. The reason you choose to live here is the same reason we choose only to build here. 46 Wharf Street | Bluffton, South Carolina 29910 | 843-706-5001 | www.rbch.biz FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

BRACKISH

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Nature and Style for the Evolved

he South has endured many stereotypes when it comes to

Southern Gentleman (and Woman)

fashion. But the true Southern man has evolved far beyond

By Tim Wood

the overalls and straw hat look projected by such shows as “Hee Haw” in the 1960s and ’70s. Ask folks around the country to describe Charleston and, inevitably, the word “classy” is going to be in the conversation.

Charlestonian Ben Ross takes that characterization seriously, believing that a basic tenet of being a Southern gentleman is to project elegance and attention to detail. That belief spawned a personalized groomsmen’s gift, which evolved into a haberdashery, Brackish Bowties, that is now celebrating its fifth anniversary.

“The journey [of Brackish Bowties] is the best part, but it has been amazing to work side by side with Ben and to be part of his vision,” said Brackish Chief Executive Officer Jeff Plotner, a groomsman at Ross’s 2007 wedding who received one of the first turkey feather bow ties that Ross made as a wedding party gift. “I didn’t think too much of it at first, [but] every time I wore my bow tie to other events I had random strangers walk up to me and ask me about it.”

After receiving numerous compliments on his handmade bow ties, Ross began making bow ties for friends and family—that is, until Plotner approached him with the idea that his friend’s passion could be an actual business. By 2012, Brackish was born. Ross and Plotner quickly realized they were not alone in their pursuit of distinctive style and refusal to settle for ordinary accessories, so the friends set out to scale Ross’s original concept into a production base of artisans tasked with creating one-of-a-kind, sustainable works of art. And just like the original bow tie, the feathers tell the story.

“We try to focus on all natural colors found in feathers because there’s no way humans can replicate the natural beauty,” Plotner said. “Ben is always saying, ‘You can never do better than Mother Nature’s paintbrush,’ and he proves it time and again.”

Loyal customers of Brackish know they have a limited edition of designs crafted for each season. While the team has expanded their production crew to a circle of 50 craftsmen, it is far from a massproduced product. Most of the ties are priced just under $200 and each addition to a collection has its own unique inspiration.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

inspirations and suggestions for upcoming collections. This interaction in particular has paid off with the new Heartland

We started this with the

bow tie. The company posted a photo of the patriotic design this past Memorial Day and was inundated with orders afterward.

notion that if we execute on that attention to detail, customers will notice and tell friends and we’ve been very fortunate that word of mouth has paid off.

Clients have also taken note of the company’s dedication to an ideal and the hard work they contribute to carry out the meticulous craftsmanship Brackish Bowties is known for in every piece created.

Ross and Plotner met as athletes at Wofford College in 1997. Ross played baseball, Plotner soccer, but the pair quickly recognized kindred souls when seeing each other’s practice regimen. That friendship has been tested by the rigors of a business partnership, but Plotner said it all comes down to a belief in each other. “Without that trust, a business

The spring collection includes the Archibald, a pheasant

partnership is doomed,” Plotner said. “We are always

feather–based bow tie of orange and deep red layered over

thinking of how to evolve the business, what products to

green and brown, with a hand-stitched, black grosgrain

tackle next. Ben likes to bring me and other friends out to

center wrap. It is a tribute to Archibald Rutledge, South

his hunt club to get away from it all, but we inevitably end

Carolina’s first poet laureate who captured the beauty of

up talking about the business because we are both that driven.”

Southern plantations in his prose. As popular as the bow ties have become, Brackish has Then there’s the Audubon, a vibrant mix of white, black, and

expanded into other accessories over the last couple years.

burnt orange tones, named after frontiersman and painter John James Audubon. His gift for capturing the amazing

Pins to complement the bow ties have become extremely

birds of the South with his brush spawned generations of

popular, worn as a lapel pin, brooch, or hat accent. Once again,

passionate nature observation and conservation enthusiasts.

it begins and ends with nature. Ross forages through wild plum thicket branches in the South Carolina midlands to find limbs

“We come up with the ties, but from there, our customers

that are cured, trimmed, and then paired with feathers.

show us where to take this business next,” Plotner said. “We take their feedback and home in on the products that

Cummerbunds, cuff links, studs, and men’s and women’s

are important to them and that unlock their personal style.

loafers have also been added to the Brackish catalog. The

Customers have been so overwhelmingly positive. They

loafers are a collaboration with fellow entrepreneurs such as

appreciate that attention to detail is at our core.”

Res Ipsa that combine high-end footwear with the signature Brackish feather accents.

“We started this with the notion that if we execute on that

attention to detail, customers will notice and tell friends and

As the company looks to its next five years, Plotner says the

we’ve been very fortunate that word of mouth has paid off.”

key is to always stay true to the personalized interactions and

The duo is always very proactive on social media, alerting

thought behind every piece that made Ross stand out from the

fans to new releases and using the platform to garner new

day he gave the bow ties to his groomsmen at his wedding.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Jeff Plotner (left) and Ben Ross (right), founders and owners of Brackish Bowties.

“You can’t replicate that connection with the customer in mass

“We have some product extension plans in mind for the next

production. Each bow tie has a story, and every customer

five years as well as expanding into the women’s category,”

connects with the passion and the individual attention we

Plotner said. “We are so grateful for where we are after five

give to each client’s unique style,” Plotner said. As much

years, but realize we’ll need to continue the hard work to

as bow ties are associated with men, Ross and Plotner have

achieve our next set of goals.”

discovered an equally passionate female customer base and look to cultivate that in the coming years.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

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l i a t k c Co Culture

By COURTNEY HAMPSON Photos by KrisZtian LonYai

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

THEY HAD ME AT “HELLO.” Any book whose first chapter is titled “Day Drinking” is a winner on my shelves. Follow that up with a quick reference to Looking Glass’s 1972 hit, “Brandy, You’re a Fine Girl,” and I have clearly found my favorite bedtime story. Allow me to introduce you to THE SOUTHERN FOODWAYS ALLIANCE GUIDE TO COCKTAILS. This 200-plus-page beauty focuses on distilled—not fermented—mixed liquor drinks because the authors “had to draw the line somewhere.” Co-penned, authored and edited by Sara Camp Milam and Jerry Slater, this is “a Southern Foodways Alliance– curated, bartender-developed, contemporary drink manifesto from the South.” Indeed. The Guide is part storytelling in the way of 15 “side-bars,” part historical novel (did you know that the word “julep” comes from the Persian word gulab, meaning “rosewater”?), and heavy on the cocktails, more than 80, in fact. And because you should never drink on an empty stomach, Chef Vishwesh Bhatt of Snackbar in Oxford, Mississippi, feathers in a dozen cocktail bites at the end. Think deviled ham, pickled eggs, and pimento cheese.

WOW To skinny down the list of cocktails for inclusion, Milam and Slater had three requirements. Drinks must be:

CONCEIVED OR POPULARIZED

USED WITH SOUTHERN

CONCOCTED OR RECOMMENDED

INGREDIENTS, LIKE PEACHES

BY SOME OF THE BEST BARTENDERS

FROM GEORGIA OR HONEYSUCKLE

IN THE REGION

IN THE SOUTH

VODKA FROM MISSISSIPPI

They curated recipes from more than two dozen

As a prelude to their one-serving Brandy Milk Punch

of their favorite beverage influencers: bartenders,

recipe, the duo also shares the details of a 2003 Delta

mixologists, and journalists. You’ll find an entire

Magazine “utilitarian way” to mix up a batch for a crowd,

chapter on drinks that are topped with bubbles

which calls for a full gallon of milk and suggests that

and fizz and another chapter that encourages you

you go ahead and use the empty jug for mixing the rest

to have fun with your drinks—think, the Hurricane

of the ingredients. I love their approach and I think you

and the Daiquiri. In that chapter, you’ll also find the

will too.

Lurleen—a Brown Derby–Manhattan hybrid named after the Southern Foodways Alliance Director’s dog, who was named for the first female governor of Alabama.

I Love their approach & I think you will too.

The featured essays include the sweet story of Milam

We were fortunate to get to see a preview of the Guide,

and her, now husband’s, first date—the “stock the bar”

which I, and Palmetto Bluff’s Director of Wine Jesse

story, which garnered this fine gentleman legendary

Rodriguez, devoured. After paging through, we selected

status among Milam’s friends. An ode to Savannah’s

three cocktails that felt like fall. Together, we mixed

Pinkie Master’s will also keep your attention.

these and had a little tasting party. Read on for our picks.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

RUBY

SLIPPER A gussied up Joe Collins, or Vodka Collins, enhanced by grapefruit and rosemary. The redder the grapefruit, the better. Created at H. Harper Station in Atlanta, this is a fantastic brunch drink and a refreshing departure from the standard Bloody Mary or Mimosa. Try serving it by the pitcher for a breakfast or luncheon. Combine the grapefruit juice, vodka, and rosemary syrup in a single batch, then top each drink with soda water before serving.

YIELD

1 (6½- TO 7-OUNCE) COCKTAIL

COCKTAIL 2 OUNCES FRESHLY SQUEEZED RUBY RED GRAPEFRUIT JUICE

1½ OUNCES VODKA

½ OUNCE ROSEMARY SYRUP (SEE RECIPE BELOW)

3 TO 4 OUNCES SODA WATER

Pour grapefruit juice, vodka, and rosemary syrup into a shaker, add ice, and shake. Strain into ice-filled glass, top with soda water, and garnish with rosemary sprig.

ROSEMARY SYRUP

YIELD

APPROX. 2½ CUPS

2 CUPS WATER

GARNISH

ROSEMARY SPRIG

1 CUP SUGAR

SERVICE ICE

CUBED

3 ROSEMARY SPRIGS

GLASS

COLLINS

Place water and sugar in a small saucepan, set over high heat, and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, add rosemary, cover, and steep for 30 minutes. Strain and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate in a lidded container for up to 3 weeks.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

SEER SUCKER

Like a seersucker suit, this drink is what you reach for when you need to make an impression but you know the heat and humidity will render you a sweaty mess in a matter of minutes. Created in Oxford, Mississippi—a town that knows heat, humidity, and seersucker—the Seersucker is an indirect tribute to Jim Weems, the longtime manager at City Grocery restaurant. The flavor profile works best with Hendrick’s, a Scottish gin infused with rose and cucumber, and is perfect for warm-weather cocktails.

YIELD

1 (6-OUNCE) COCKTAIL

COCKTAIL 2 OUNCES GIN, SUCH AS HENDRICK’S

¾ OUNCE COINTREAU

¾ OUNCE HONEY-THYME SYRUP (SEE RECIPE BELOW)

½ OUNCE FRESHLY SQUEEZED LEMON JUICE

1 OUNCE SODA, SELTZER, OR SPARKLING WATER

Combine gin, Cointreau, syrup, and lemon juice in a shaker. Add ice and gently shake. Pour into ice-filled glass, add soda water, and garnish with thyme.

HONEY-THYME SYRUP

GARNISH

THYME SPRIG

½ CUP HONEY

SERVICE ICE

CUBED

½ CUP WATER

GLASS

ROCKS

15 TO 20 THYME SPRIGS

Combine honey and water in a small pot and bring to a slight boil. Remove from heat, add thyme sprigs, and allow to steep for 2 hours. Pour cooled syrup into a glass container (do not remove thyme), cover, and refrigerate. Will keep in refrigerator for up to 14 days.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

OLD

SPANISH This recipe falls into the category of suppressors—low-proof cocktails intended to prevent overindulgence. Paul Calvert, now a co-owner of Ticonderoga Club in Atlanta, took his inspiration from an unintentionally sophisticated practice he began with college friends in Charleston: drinking fortified wine mixed with tonic. The drink’s name is a nod to the sherry, which must be produced in Jerez de la Frontera in southwestern Spain.

YIELD

1 (6-OUNCE) COCKTAIL

COCKTAIL 2 DASHES ANGOSTURA BITTERS

! s r e e Ch

2 OUNCES SWEET VERMOUTH, SUCH AS COCCHI DI TORINO

1 OUNCE OLOROSO SHERRY

4 OUNCES TONIC WATER

Fill glass with ice. Add bitters, vermouth, sherry, and tonic water. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with twist. GARNISH

WHITE GRAPEFRUIT OR LEMON TWIST

SERVICE ICE

CUBED

GLASS

COLLINS

P.S. There is also an essay in the book titled “Ice, Ice, Baby.” #winning

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

is the managing editor for the Southern

Foodways Alliance. She has a bachelor of arts in Spanish from Princeton University and a master of arts in folklore from UNC-Chapel Hill. Milam began editing Gravy quarterly in 2010 and joined the staff full time in 2012. As managing editor, Sara oversees the production of Gravy quarterly and the Gravy podcast, which won the James Beard Foundation Award for Publication of the Year in 2015 and Best Podcast in 2016. Southern Living magazine named her as one of 50 innovators changing the South in 2016. Before finding her way to SFA World Headquarters, Sara was an associate editor at Oxford American magazine. A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, she lives in Oxford, Mississippi, with her husband and daughter.

JErry SLATER

is a veteran bartender who hails from West Virginia,

Indiana, and Kentucky. He put himself through college while working in restaurants, earning a degree in English literature, and got serious about a career in the food and beverage business during a stint at Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago.

ABOUT AUTHORS

SARA CAMP MILAM

Following seven years in Louisville, most of them at the historic Seelbach Hotel, Slater made his way to Atlanta, where he was an opening partner and developed the cocktail program at One Flew South in Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport. From 2010 to 2016, he owned and operated H. Harper Station, a bar and restaurant in Atlanta’s Reynoldstown neighborhood. More recently, Slater and his wife, Krista, an artist and wine professional, have taken to country life in rural Bostwick, Georgia. Between consulting, writing, and guest bartending gigs, they have their sights set on a new venture in Athens, Georgia.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

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P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Written By Courtney Hampson | Photos by Krisztian Lonyai Upon his departure, Bill Oyster, our first Artist in Residence at Palmetto Bluff, stopped by my office to drop off a gift for Jay Walea, director of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy. The gift was a token of appreciation for the time Jay spent making Bill and his wife, Shannen, feel at home. Jay later revealed, “I went to the Artist Cottage every afternoon just to hang out. That dude was cool.” It is relationships like these that we could never force but rather happen organically when you bring together interesting people in a place ripe with opportunity.

A new endeavor always brings with it worry—and launching the Artist in Residence program was no different. But the rewards we’ve reaped are rich. At press time, we’ve hosted a fly rod crafter, a cocktail mixer, a James Beard Award winner, an indigo dyer, a paddleboard maker, and a silversmith.

T A K E

L O O K

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Bill & Shannen Oyster OYSTER BAMBOO FLY RODS

Bill and Shannen Oyster arrived at the Bluff in their Jeep loaded up with fly rods and all the tools of their trade. They were certainly “cool,” as Jay remarked, and they quickly endeared themselves to our team and our guests. Everyone wanted to hang out with them well beyond their scheduled fly casting clinic (cohosted by the legendary local fly fisherman Fuzzy Davis), fishing excursion, and fish fry under the stars. OY S T E R B A M B O O . C O M

Left: Bill Oyster’s handcrafted fly rods on display. Right: Bill Oyster embarks on a fishing excursion from Moreland Landing.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Above: Joe Raya serves guests at his daily Happy Hours.

Joe & MariElena Raya BITTERMILK

For some, the idea of hospitality just flows from their every pore. Indeed, this is the case for Joe and MariElena Raya of Bittermilk. At one of their gallery hours turned happy hour events, Joe mixed up cocktails while MariElena made homemade pretzels for the guests, just becauseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and with a newborn on her hip, no less. Joe and MariElena also helped folks shake up their cocktail repertoire with a hands-on cocktail cooking class and a Stock the Bar trunk show and cocktail competition between Joe and our very own Director of Wine Jesse Rodriguez, rounding out their residency. B I T T E R M I L K .CO M

Cocktails mixed up by Joe Raya at the Artist Cottage in Moreland Village.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Chris Hastings HOT & HOT FISH CLUB In case you were wondering, cheffing is just one of Chris Hastingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talents. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a forager. And a crafter. And an avid hunter. His residency at the Bluff included turkey hunts, a crafting class, a five-course paired wine dinner (featuring foraged ingredients), a field lunch, as well as impromptu field trips to the Bluffton Oyster Company and local farmers market. And those guests smart enough to visit his gallery hours received a homemade Manhattan concocted with maraschino cherries that Chris made himself. H O TA N D H O T F I S H C L U B . C O M

B. Left: Chris Hastings discusses his Game Dinner with guests. B. Right: Chris Hastings helps a guest create a custom feather pin.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Leigh Magar MADAME MAGAR

Leigh Magar kicked off her residency with a trunk show at the Artist Cottage showcasing her hand-dyed indigo textiles. Guests enjoyed two workshops and a lunch-and-learn session where Palmetto Bluff archaeologist Dr. Mary Socci explored the history of indigo in the Lowcountry and at the Bluff. M A DA M E M AG A R .CO M

B. Left: Leigh Magar hand-dyes tea towels during her residence. B. Right: A display of hand-dyed Madame Magar items.

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Left: RJ Murray leads guests off Moreland Landing for a paddleboard excursion. Right: A new paddle in progress.

RJ Murray THREE BROTHERS BOARDS

Guests who checked out RJ Murray’s work could do so on land and on water, as the master paddleboard maker brought several of his remarkable handmade paddleboards with him all the way from Florida. Multiple paddleboard excursions on the May River gave participants the opportunity to test-drive the boards, and they weren’t disappointed. RJ told us, “I know gallery hours were until noon, but the last guest left at 7:30 p.m. I hope that was OK.” T H R E E B R OT H E R S B OA R D S .CO M

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Ann Ladson Stafford ANN LADSON Ann Ladson Staffordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work is exquisite. Whether in silver or wood, her stunning line of kitchen utensils and chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tools are showstoppers and are each handmade by Ann herself. She wowed our guests with hands-on silversmithing and woodworking workshops where they crafted their own artfully designed pieces. A N N L A DS O N .CO M

MEET THE ARTISTS

coming this fall FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

F A L L

O C T O B E R

T H I S

Chris Williams WILLIAMS KNIFE CO. Avid sportsman Chris Williams founded Williams Knife Co. in 2009 after trading in his 13-year career in corporate America to

C O M I N G

pursue his dream of opening a small shop on John’s Island. It began with an oyster knife and has grown into four different lines of handcrafted knives.

N O V E M B E R

Jery Bennett-Taylor JERY’S BASKETS Jery Bennett-Taylor of Jery’s Baskets is a master craftswoman who intertwines her Gullah heritage with West African tradition in each meticulously woven Beaufort Basket, paying homage to centuries of handiwork. Bennett-Taylor was just five years old when she began learning the Lowcountry tradition of sweetgrass basketry from her grandmother in South Carolina. When sweetgrass became scarce, she taught herself how to use the bulrush employed in her Beaufort Baskets. Cajoling the darker, more brittle marsh grass into the tight spiral lines requires a skilled hand. Her baskets are on display at premier locations around the country, including the Smithsonian, and private collectors alike prize Bennett-Taylor’s work.

D E C E M B E R

Jerry Talton JERRY TALTON DECOYS Jerry Talton, founder of Jerry Talton Decoys, is both an avid waterfowler and carver who makes traditional decoys, focusing mainly on the time-honored methods and materials of the Core Sound area. He does not limit his carving to ducks alone, but also makes shorebirds, fish, and the occasional whimsical folk art– inspired pieces.

Artist in Residence is a collaboration between Garden & Gun and Palmetto Bluff that celebrates the arts, fosters creativity, and offers hands-on education. The program invites notable artists, including winners of G&G’s Made in the South Awards, to stay in the Artist Cottage in Palmetto Bluff’s Moreland Village.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

WA N T T O S I G N U P FO R A N ARTIST IN RESIDENCE EVENT? V I S I T P A L M E T T O B L U F F A R T I S T. C O M F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N .

The way home.

PO Box 1928 | Bluffton, SC 29910 | (843) 247-5452 | csthomasconstruction.com PA L M E T TO B L U F F. C O M

The six-story treehouse in Moreland Landing.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

written by

anna jones photos by

allen kennedy & Joel Dinkle

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

hen Wayne Edwards was 10 or 11 years old, he built his first treehouse. It was in an old oak tree in his backyard,

the backdrop for childhood adventures and memories for many. Piecing together bits of pine, bark, and other scraps he found on the ground, he created something that would have made Peter Pan and the Lost Boys very proud: a bona fide treehouse. It was a dream house for a young boy—a place to hide, a place to explore, a place to play.

Fast-forward to the present, and he’s still doing the same thing. Except now he gets paid for it.

“At the time I thought, ‘this is a lot of fun, must be somehow I can make a living out of it,’ and it worked out that way several years later,” chuckled Edwards.

“

At the time I thought, ‘this is a lot

of fun, must be somehow I can make

“

a living out of it’ and it worked out that way several years later.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

The treehouse in Wilson Village overlooks Palmetto Bluff’s inland waterways.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Edwards has made a name for

Located amid the branches of a sprawling live oak, the treehouse

himself as a champion of fine arts in many forms. From sculpture

at Harbor Town became a signature focal point for the community,

to paintings to a bit of everything in between, Edwards explores all

giving the development a unique stamp as well as a destination for

media to pursue his passion for art. He has completed numerous

tourists. Edwards constructed the treehouse using local wood, rope,

large-scale sculpture and painting installations (he’s currently working

and a thatch roof to make it appear as though the treehouse was just

on a 2,000-square-foot mural in an open-air marketplace in Belize),

an extension of the tree.

but the creations he’s most well-known for, however, are the forms of art that he started when he was just a young boy: treehouses.

“And from there, it just sort of blossomed—every resort developer wanted a treehouse for their community,” Edwards said. “I’ve been

Despite viewing himself first and foremost as an artist, Edwards

very fortunate in that it’s sold itself, and I’m very thankful for that as

began his professional career creating commercial signs for

I’m not much of a salesman and never aspired to be.”

real estate developers. He created signage for communities and developments, and through this work he met Charles Fraser, one of the founding developers of Hilton Head Island. After learning the breadth of his talents, Fraser asked Edwards to build a treehouse for Harbor Town to anchor the community to nature. And, of course, Edwards said yes.

His Harbor Town treehouse received a lot of attention from both the community and the media—he was delighted to see the treehouse on a magazine cover one day and on postcards the next. Edwards began building treehouses across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Central America, erecting between 40 and 50 to date.

And, lucky for us, he built two treehouses in Palmetto Bluff, too.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

The first structure built in Palmetto Bluff as we know it today, the

According to Edwards, he tried to make the Moreland treehouse

treehouse at Moreland Landing is an iconic piece of the Bluff that

look as though it were built by people who were stranded there

has inspired throngs of residents and guests to seek out the six-

and had to build it with what they found on the ground, evidenced

story treehouse since its construction in 2004. Built into a towering

by the pine and straw materials used in its construction. He also

live oak on the banks of Cauley’s Creek, the Moreland Landing

incorporated thatching and bamboo into the structure, using

treehouse captures the adventure and magic of the Lowcountry,

materials he knew would weather well and blend into the landscape.

practically begging you to climb from story to story when you see it. And the best part? The 360-degree view of the surrounding marshes, woods, and rivers that converge at this uber-scenic spot once you reach the top.

kind of dictate what’s going to happen,” Edwards said of his design process. “The trees will design it for you if you let it happen.”

“I try to do the things that people will like. I like to entertain people and to give them a little relief from daily life,” Edwards said. “If I can bring some fun into people’s lives and spark their imagination, that’s my inspiration.”

“I don’t do a lot of specific design in advance because the trees

In fact, usually the only preparation Edwards does in terms of design is a simple pen-and-ink sketch to show the clients what he has in mind for the overall structure and what materials he intends to use. Despite his unconventional design planning, his clientele is ever-growing—he has designed and built treehouses all over the world, putting his signature Peter Pan mark on each one.

“

I try to do the things that people will like. I like to entertain people and to give them a little relief from daily life. If I can bring some fun into people’s

“

lives and spark their imagination, that’s my inspiration.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

And much like Peter Pan, his treehouses never seem to grow up,

Edwards also works in more traditional art forms too, producing

either. Edwards recalls building a treehouse in Central America

several notable collections of paintings and sculptures. He was the

over 20 years ago using nothing but natural materials he foraged

visionary behind the vast bird sculpture that stands at the entrance

himself, and the treehouse still stands today. He built the treehouse

of the River Road and Barge Landing neighborhoods in the Bluff.

for a family who lives deep in the jungle, providing them with

Using petrified driftwood he gathered from the May River, he spent

opportunities they never had before. They began renting out the

four months sifting through different pieces of wood to assemble

treehouse for tourists to stay in—the ultimate hideaway—and now

the sculpture, which towers several feet in the air. Edwards also

visitors have to book years in advance to stay in the little haven.

designed and built the treehouse that overlooks the inland waterway across from RT’s Market in Wilson Village, another example of his

“Basically, I see myself as an entertainer,” Edwards said. “I don’t do it

ingenuity and ability to create something extraordinary out of very

with a guitar or a voice or any other type of standard entertainment. I

little. The treehouse is three stories high, with several porches and

do it with my designs and construction, and I think it’s just as valuable.”

even a small zip line. Another retreat perfect for Peter Pan.

Made entirely out of driftwood salvaged from the May River, this sculpture stands at the entrance of the Barge Landing and River Road neighborhoods.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Out of these three considerable projects, however, what Edwards remembers most about his work at the Bluff is the people. Because Jim Mozley, an original member of the Palmetto Bluff development team, was a longtime friend of Edwards’s, each project Edwards brought to life he did with the commitment and fervor one would put forth for a close friend. And it paid off. One of Edwards’s fondest memories of his work at Palmetto Bluff was a quote from Mozley after he completed the Moreland Landing treehouse. “Jim said, ‘I just spent however many millions of dollars building that village up there, and all anyone wants to talk about is this treehouse!’” Edwards laughed. “And I love that everybody is still talking about it.”

And here we are, more than 13 years later, still talking about it.

“

Jim said ‘I just spent

however many millions of dollars building

that village up there and all anyone wants

“

to talk about is this treehouse!’

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

The treehouse across from RT’s Market in Wilson Village overlooks the Bluff’s inland waterway. FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

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P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

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T H E FA M I LY T H AT P L AYS TO G E T H E R

S TAYS TO G E T H E R FOLLOWING THE PALMETTO BLUFF DEBUT PERFORMANCE OF ITS EP CLEAN SLATE, TELL SCARLET READIES FOR THE NEXT STEP. By Barry Kaufman | Photos By: Shuman Fine Art Photography

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efore they were freshly minted recording artists with a hot EP and a slew of concerts and private

“Whatyou’re you’resaying sayingis: is:we weare areall allthe the “What weapon,” Will added. secretsecret weapon,” Will added.

events around the Southeast, Tell Scarlet was a

wedding band paying the bills by covering “Play That

Everything about that shared love for one another and

Funky Music” at receptions around Savannah.

for their craft infuses each Tell Scarlet show. Originally

AndAnd befowre that, they were family. before that, they were family.

formed as a wedding band, they determined early on that if they were going to become successful by tearing through the classic reception songbook, they were going

Yet, even as their debut, Clean Slate, racks up Spotify

to make each song their own. Switching deftly from

spins worldwide, Tell Scarlet is still getting the party

“Love Shack” to “At Last,” the band relies heavily on its

started at weddings and private events. And above all

astounding collection of talent to breathe new life into

else, no matter the bevy of changes the group has seen in

songs that decades of weddings have otherwise driven

its three years as a band, they remain family.

into the ground.

Quite literally in this case. Dual-threat vocalists Mary

“That’s who we are,” Mary said. “We’re not afraid to

Davis and Julia Shuman are mother and daughter,

cover anything.”

joined on stage by the padre de familia Jeff Davis, Julia’s husband, Corey, and the newest addition Will Davis, the

The exceptions are few and far between—“Electric Slide”

youngest of the Davises and the group’s resident rapper.

is relegated to the iPod while the band goes out and joins the party in dancing, while Jeff claims they don’t

“He’d been in high school and we were just waiting for

play “Y.M.C.A.” because, “I don’t fit into the chaps.”

him to grow up,” Mary said, her sly chuckle growing into one of the regular peals of laughter that seem to flow

But for everything else, the band leapfrogs from genre to

through the group when they sit down to discuss their craft.

genre with a mix of party-starting hits and standbys, all infused with their inimitable sound.

“Oh thanks, Mom,” Will responded, mockingly playing the part of the petulant teen, which only added to the laughter.

“If Twenty One Pilots, Fleetwood Mac, and Little Big Town had a baby, it would be Tell Scarlet,” Julia said.

Traditionally, the only people that argue more than family members are bandmates. To see the members of Tell

And now that signature sound has found a new home

Scarlet interact, both on stage and around a coffee table

on the five tracks that populate the band’s debut EP,

in Savannah during a magazine interview, is to see that

Clean Slate. Performed live for the first time during a

tradition upended by a swift current of love and respect.

recent concert at Palmetto Bluff, the recording sessions for Clean Slate not only allowed Mary a chance to reach

“We all have the same vision,” Mary “We all have the same vision...it’s a good said. “It’s a good fit. Everyone here fit. Everyone here works really hard.” works really hard.”

into a deep lyrical well formed from a long career in

“It’s quality family time. When we’re playing, I’m off the

“I started writing just for myself, but with Tell Scarlet

streets and out of trouble,” Jeff added, setting off another

in mind,” Mary said, who sent the first vocals to Corey

round of laughs.

on her iPhone one day on somewhat of a whim. To her

music, but also gave Corey and Julia’s fledgling Little Bird + Big Sound label its first recording.

surprise, he laid down backing tracks to the vocals and “It’s a lot of respect all around. Will, for example, is better

created the demo version of what would become the title

than I am at a lot of things,” Julia said. (To which Will

track: “Clean Slate.”

replied, “Like being a dude. Everybody has something valuable they bring to the table.”)

And here we see an intriguing part of the family bond that ties Tell Scarlet together as a band—the mutual respect between Corey and his mother-in-law.

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P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

The members of Tell Scarlet. FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

105

The blending of his pop sensibilities with her inspired lyrics can be found on every note of the new EP. “I like working with Mary,” Corey said. “It’s like we’re really close friends. Some people you work with, the chemistry isn’t there. Especially in this craft.”

“I like the challenge of finding out what makes someone want to hear a song over and over again,” Mary said, describing what Corey refers to as “ear candy.” With Jeff showing Corey a few pointers on equipment he’d need, Corey began building the in-home studio (he refers to it as a “blanket fort”) that would launch his record label, the EP, and a new chapter in the band’s history. “My whole house is a studio at this point,” Corey laughed. “We really have two sides to us now,” Mary explained. “In the beginning, we positioned ourselves as a wedding and event band. Now, we’re a band who plays events.” And beyond corporate events, you’ll find Tell Scarlet regularly performing at Savannah’s City Market, this year’s Palmetto Bluff concert series, and venues like the Myrtle Beach Hard Rock Cafe. “It slept the first year, it crept the second year, and it leaped the third year,” Jeff said of the band’s paradoxically slowgrowing overnight success. And no matter what changes the band sees in year four and beyond, with plans for larger venues and a new EP every year, there will be one constant: they will forever be family.

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P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Mary and Jeff Davis.

CLEAN SLATE, TRACK BY TRACK Tell Scarlet’s debut EP, Clean Slate, takes the pop-country aesthetic that has made the band’s covers the darlings of the Savannah party scene and infuses them around five wholly original tracks. Written by Mary Davis and produced in the self-described “blanket fort” in Corey Shuman’s kitchen, the EP beautifully showcases why Tell Scarlet is one of the most sought-after bands in the Lowcountry.

CLEAN SLATE | The title track barrels right out

EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN | The

of the gate with a grit-and-grease country riff that

country takes a backseat to the pop on this synth-

pairs with Julia’s silky vocals like steak and red

heavy radio-ready track that commemorates a

wine. “It’s just badass,” Will said. “I hear that and

time in the band’s life when, like the song says,

feel like I should have a pistol on each hip.”

everything was changing. “Corey and Julia had just gotten married, and there was a lot of change

MAKE LOVE NOT WAR | The jangly guitars

happening all at once,” Mary said. “We’re family.

and mandolin place this track squarely in the

That’s why the song talks about how love is the

pop-country genre and showcase the powerhouse

main thing.”

production Corey brought to the table. “I love the explosion of the chorus,” Corey said. “It feels like

FOREVER FAMILY| The first track written for

a hoedown at the beginning, and then you get this

the EP, the tear-jerking closer, takes us out on a

wall of sound.”

simple blend of acoustic strings and Tell Scarlet’s signature harmonies. Mary wrote the song a

WOODS | Tell Scarlet is in large part defined by

few years ago for her brother and sister-in-law’s

the pairing of Mary’s and Julia’s vocals, and here

non-profit Project 143, which helps orphans find

those harmonies soar over a love note tinged with

a home. “You can really hear her heart in it,” Jeff

a melancholic vein of pure country. “We call it the

said. “You can hear it in all of them, but that one

cowboy love song,” Mary said.

is special.”

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RE TA I L TH E RA PY By Sarah Grubbs | Photography by Rob Kaufman

The beauty of Moreland Village lies in the winding

your next adventure, but perhaps a gift for yourself, too. Indigo-dyed scarves from

trails, sparkling waters, and enchanting woods. It is a

local company Daufuskie Blues made just across the river will keep you warm

village that continuously invites you to discover more.

on a cool evening, and IceMule Coolers out of St. Augustine, Florida, keep your ice (and drinks) chilly on a warm day. Huntworthy Productions creates authentic hunting equipment right out of Ashe County, North Carolina. Chase Allen from

Whether you spend your Saturday lounging by the pool, taking a bike ride

Daufuskie Island creates beautiful steel fish artwork to swim right across your

through the trails lining Cauleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creek, or hiking in the woods with the

walls. And last, but certainly not least, Chris Williams of Williams Knife Co. from

Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, there is something to do for everyone in Moreland.

Charleston, South Carolina, creates not only beautiful but useful knives and tools for hunting, fishing, or in the kitchen. Chrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creations have won him a Garden &

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To prepare you for your next adventure, Outside Palmetto Bluff recently opened

Gun Made in the South award and an invitation to the Artist Cottage in Moreland

a store in the Outfitters at Moreland Village. With products and goods from some

Village later this year. Take a peek at all of our favorites and visit Outside Palmetto

of our favorite Southern makers, not only will you find outdoor equipment for

Bluff in Moreland to get your hands on these great pieces.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Onigo Straw Handbag: $38 Daufuskie Blues Scarf: $120 Kooringal Hat: $68

IceMule Cooler: $59.95 Carolina Shuckers Oyster Knife: $60

Williams Knife Co. Folding Knife: $150 Williams Knife Co. Capers Skinning Knife: $425 Williams Knife Co. Oyster Knife: $375 Zeiss Terra Ed Binoculars: $519 Huntworthy Productions Bow: $250* *arrows not included

Red Fish Brand Marsh & Field Coat: $479 Red Fish Brand Belt: $110 Red Fish Brand Alligator Belt Buckle: $199 Fishpond Bighorn Kit Bag: $159.95

Palmetto Bluff Conservancy T-Shirt: $25 Palmetto Bluff Conservancy Hat: $25 Palmetto Bluff Conservancy Water Bottle: $15

Chase Allen Steel Flounders:

All proceeds from Palmetto Bluff Conservancy

Small: $105 / Medium: $225

retail items benefit the Palmetto Bluff

Gullah Sweetgrass Collection Basket: $595

Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to protect the natural habitats, culture, and history of this beautiful place.

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Written and photographed by Ellie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue Filled with gorgeous antebellum architecture and rich history, it is no mystery why Beaufort, South Carolina, is consistently praised and recognized as one of the best towns in the South. Only an easy 45-minute drive from Palmetto Bluff, Beaufort offers a diverse amount of activities and opportunities for everyone. From centuries-old neighborhoods that are featured in many cinematic classics, to an abundance of close-by, gorgeous islands, spending only one day in Beaufort is hard to achieve. So, here is an itinerary of the perfect day in Beaufort, featuring some of the many highlights it has to offer.

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P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

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8:00 AM Start your day with breakfast at the Lowcountry Produce Market & Cafe. Located on Carteret Street, this popular spot offers fresh produce, preserved jams, baked goods, delicious meals, and much more. Start with an appetizer of the perfectly glazed yeast donuts complemented with some fresh, hot coffee. For the most important meal of the day, the Traveler’s Breakfast gives you a little bit of everything this cafe has to offer. Enjoy an appetizing meal of bacon, eggs, avocado toast, and toast topped with fig preserves. With its cute Southern decor and relaxing charm, Lowcountry Produce is the best energizing start to an adventurous day in Beaufort.

9:30 AM A 10-minute walk from breakfast down to the waterfront sits SouthurnRose Buggy Tours. Offering horse-drawn carriage rides every hour, a morning tour gives new visitors a great way to get the lay of the land while it is still cool outside. Hop on a carriage and relive the past, as an experienced guide narrates Beaufort’s history, scandals, and fun facts. Because of its position as a medical center for the Union, Beaufort was spared from the ravaging of the Civil War, and much of its antebellum architecture and historic buildings are still standing. While riding under moss-covered oak trees, you’ll get a glimpse into the high-society lives of past residents of the mansions in Old Point Neighborhood and where celebrities stayed when movies like Forrest Gump, The Big Chill, and The Prince of Tides were filmed in Beaufort. Also, the carriage guide will be an epicenter of local knowledge and give the best local suggestions for where to eat, play, and stay. Two historic places to stay are the Rhett House Inn, an upscale celebrity-favorite bed and breakfast,

“Moorlands” House, Beaufort

or the Anchorage 1770, a boutique bed and breakfast that is adorned with stunning Corinthian columns.

10:30 AM After the carriage ride, take the time to stretch your legs and get some retail therapy while shopping on Bay Street. Filled with antique stores, art galleries, sports outfitters, and boutiques, Bay Street offers a variety of shopping opportunities to give your wallet some exercise too. A few muststops include the Scout Southern Market, which not only has goods for the perfect Southern home, but also a sweet tea bar with different sugar cookies and macaroons that are the best fuel for shopping, and Bay Street Outfitters, which has all the outdoor gear imaginable and a friendly and experienced staff that can help ensure you have a fun and safe outdoor experience. Off the beaten path, one block north on Craven Street, is NeverMore Books, a quirky library filled with a large selection of books varying from first editions Bay Street, Beaufort

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P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

to newly published and unique records and posters.

Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge

12:30 PM

Lowcountry Produce Market & Café, Beaufort

After a good shopping spree, drive over the Harbor River Bridge to St. Helena Island. Known for its deeply rooted Gullah culture, this island is home to the historic Penn Center, one of the first schools in America for freed slaves and where Martin Luther King Jr. drafted his “I Have a Dream” speech. Make sure to stop by the recently opened Macdonald Marketplace on Sea Island Parkway. Originally a corner store built in 1877 by tomato farmer James Macdonald, the store was reopened by his family five generations later who still are producing high-quality tomatoes. Not only is this store filled with work by numerous artisans, antiques, and home goods, but it also has an attached kitchen with refreshing watermelon, savory pies, and homemade meals.

Shrimp Shack, St Helena Island

At the end of the island is the Shrimp Shack, a delicious dive restaurant for lunch. Open every day except Sundays, this popular lunch spot cooks the freshest fried food. With a menu full of various fried local seafood, the best way to go is to choose your favorite and make a meal out of it, which will add crispy hush puppies, two sides of your choice, and some sweet tea to your menu.

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Dempsey Farms, St. Helena Island

The Hunting Island Lighthouse

2:00 PM

3:00 PM

Less than 10 minutes from the Shrimp Shack on St. Helenaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Island is the

After getting enough tomatoes to fill up your kitchen for the summer,

bountiful Dempsey Farms. Family owned for 60 years, Dempsey Farms

island hop to Hunting Island State Park and take a refreshing dip in

is a popular and renowned spot for the best organic and fresh produce.

the ocean. Recently opened from Hurricane Matthew this past June, for

In the early summer, rows and rows of the farm are filled with in-season

five dollars you can visit its gorgeous white sandy beaches. The park is

tomatoes, watermelon, and corn that are almost ready to harvest. For a

extremely lush, and your surroundings feel untouched by humans as

cheap six dollars, visitors can buy a small bucket and fill it with as much

you drive to the beach. Home to the only lighthouse in South Carolina

produce from the farm as they can. Picking is easy and fun, but make sure

that is open to the public, the north beach is a relaxing way to spend the

to wear a hat and lots of sunscreen.

afternoon. One part of the beach has open sand and lifeguards on duty, while the other side is embedded with tons of natural fallen trees, perfect for hanging beach supplies and providing shade. And if the ocean is not enough to cool you off, there is a store right above the beach with refreshments and, most importantly, ice cream. With tides changing every day, make sure to check the Hunting Island State Park website for updates on what to expect during your visit.

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5:30 PM As the day nears the end, start to make your way back to Beaufort. Before crossing the Harbor River Bridge, stop by the Carolina Cider Company to grab a snack. Specializing in seasonal ciders, trinkets, pastries, and coffee, the drink that is a must-try is the Peach Cider Smoothie. When you are driving into Beaufort, visit The Chocolate Tree and indulge in some dessert before dinner. Rumored to be the favorite stop of Tom Hanks when he was staying in Beaufort filming Forrest Gump, this shop has a delicious aroma and all types of homemade chocolates and sweets. After, stroll over to the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park to enjoy your newly bought chocolate on the public swings overlooking the ocean.

6:30 PM For dinner, Old Bull Tavern is a funky gastropub and the perfect way to end the activity-packed day. With a delicious menu full of New American cuisine and imaginative and refreshing cocktails, this restaurant has an intimate atmosphere. For hungry diners, the Duck Confit or Scottish Salmon with an LBG (lemon, basil, and ginger) cocktail is recommended.

8:00 PM As your day in Beaufort ends, you’ll realize why it is such a destination. After a day full of activities, the ride home from Beaufort is relaxing and free of traffic. Although you may leave, Beaufort will always make you want to come back, stay longer, and experience the great amount of other

The “Castle,” Beaufort

activities and hidden spots there wasn’t enough time for in one day.

Although you may leave, Beaufort will always make you want to come back, stay longer, and experience the great amount of other activities and hidden spots there wasn’t enough time for in one day.

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U P C O M I N G

EXPLORE PBC: THEUS HARD MARSH

E V E N T S

BROWN BAG LUNCH LECTURE:

When we think of marsh, gooey “pluff” mud comes to mind.

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Hard marsh is different and just like its name indicates, it is hard

Join us in the Moreland Conservancy Classroom as Savannah

enough to walk on without sinking. We’ll discuss this unique

native Emily McCarthy shares the traditions and innovations

ecosystem as we walk to the hammocks, small islands in the marsh

of Southern hospitality. No RSVP necessary.

with their own flora and fauna. Reservations are required. RSVP

S E P T E M B E R

to info@pbconservancy.org.

5-9

EXPLORE PBC: RIVER ROAD PRESERVE Join the Conservancy’s team of wildlife experts for a hike

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: TIM GARDNER

along one of the Bluff’s prettiest trails. We’ll see the habitats

Meet Tim Gardner of Cedar Mountain Banjos while he visits

of the maritime forest and discuss the flora and fauna of these

the Artist Cottage as the September Artist in Residence.

ecosystems. Closed-toe shoes, long pants, and reservations

Learn about his craft of making heirloom-quality open-back

are required. RSVP to info@pbconservancy.org.

banjos, enjoy live music, and take a turn at learning to play this Southern instrument. To purchase tickets, visit

palmettobluffartist.com/september.

RISE AND RUN Meet at the Canteen in Moreland Village, run a lap or two through the River Road Preserve, and then enjoy a cup

OPEN HOUSE AT PALMETTO BLUFF

of coffee on us.

Tour the private homes of Palmetto Bluff in our Open House event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For each person who attends the

CHAPEL CONCERT SERIES

tour, Palmetto Bluff will make a donation to Bluffton Self Help,

Join us for an intimate, acoustic concert in the iconic Palmetto

a local charity designated to provide financial assistance, food,

Bluff Wilson Village chapel for a live performance from a local

and clothing to those in need in our area. Admission is free.

musical act.

FIRST FRIDAY LECTURE: THE ART AND HISTORY OF CIGAR MAKING Cuban-born Juan Carlos Jimenez has been making cigars at his

O C T O B E R

6-7

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: CHRIS WILLIAMS Meet master knife maker and avid outdoorsman Chris Williams of Williams Knife Co. while he visits the Artist Cottage as the October

factory in the Dominican Republic for 20 years. Join us as he takes

Artist in Residence. Learn about his premium custom knives,

us on a fascinating journey through the history and process of

sharpen your knife skills, and go foraging with Chris throughout the

making cigars. No reservations necessary.

week. To purchase tickets, visit palmettobluffartist.com/october.

22 ND ANNUAL BEAUFORT SHRIMP FESTIVAL

BUSHCRAFT: FIRE

The 22nd Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival celebrates the delicious

The Conservancy’s Bushcraft program is designed to give you

shrimp caught locally in the Beaufort area sponsored by the South

the skills you need to survive in the wild. Each session focuses

Carolina Shrimper’s Association and Main Street Beaufort. The

on one of the keys to survival and this week’s lesson focuses

event will be held in the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in the

on how to build a fire without matches or a lighter. Long pants,

Historic Downtown District of Beaufort.

closed-toe shoes, and reservations are required. RSVP to info@pbconservancy.org.

BUFFALO RUN Traverse the wild maritime forests of Palmetto Bluff in the fourth

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BROWN BAG LUNCH LECTURE: VOODOO

annual Buffalo Run, a race that twists and turns through the

Voodoo is still alive and well in Beaufort County. Come hear the

untouched, unspoiled backwoods of the Bluff. Choose from a 10K,

Bluff’s own Carole Marsh Longmeyer talk about why Beaufort County

30K, or 50K run that benefits the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, the

is “ground zero” for voodoo and whether you should be wearing a

non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting

clove of garlic around your neck. No reservations necessary.

this land.

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HISTORIC BLUFFTON ARTS & SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

EXPLORE PBC: RIVER ROAD SOUTH Join the team on a hike through the land donated by Crescent

The 13th annual festival is a week-long event showcasing the locally

Communities to the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy. This beautiful

harvested seafood, delicious cuisine, rich history, culture, and art

wetland area is very fragile and boasts an array of both habitats

of the area and Southern hospitality found only in Bluffton. Visit

and native species. Closed-toe shoes, long pants, and reservations

blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.com for more information.

are required. RSVP to info@pbconservancy.org.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

U P C O M I N G

E V E N T S

FIRST FRIDAY LECTURE: GOURMET GAME

EXPLORE PBC: LONG ISLAND HARD MARSH

Join Sarah Sanford, Palmetto Bluff Shooting Club expert, for

Join the Conservancy team on a hike on the Long Island

a discussion of maximizing the flavor from wild game when

Hard Marsh. We all enjoy the views of the tidal marshes and

cooking your prize.

this is your chance to explore and learn about this important ecosystem. Closed-toe shoes, long pants, and reservations are

4-5

ROCK‘N’ROLL SAVANNAH MARATHON, HALF

N O V E M B E R

MARATHON, AND TWO-PERSON RELAY The famous Savannah marathon returns for another year

required. RSVP to info@pbconservancy.org.

BROWN BAG LUNCH LECTURE: CANE GRINDING

of running, competition, and entertainment in Forsyth Park.

Bring a lunch but be ready for a Southern dessert treat. The

Visit runrocknroll.com/savannah for more information.

Conservancy’s own Shane Rahn will talk about how his family grows and harvests sugarcane and grinds the cane to make

6-11

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: JERY BENNETT-TAYLOR Meet Jery Bennett-Taylor as she visits the Artist Cottage as the November Artist in Residence. Learn about Gullah culture and the art of making her famous sweetgrass baskets throughout her week-long stay. To purchase tickets, visit palmettobluffartist.com/november.

BUSHCRAFT: SHELTER The Conservancy’s Bushcraft program is designed to give you the skills you need to survive in the wild. This session will teach you how to build a shelter to protect you from Mother Nature’s whims. Long pants, closed- toe shoes, and reservations are required. RSVP to info@pbconservancy.org.

a delicious syrup. This is quickly becoming a lost art, but the Rahn family has decades of history in the production of syrup. No reservations necessary.

16-19 MUSIC TO YOUR MOUTH FESTIVAL Get your belly ready for the 11th helping of Palmetto Bluff’s Music to Your Mouth festival. We’ve gathered the best and the brightest chefs on the Southern food scene for a singularly lip-smacking experience right in the spectacular South Carolina Lowcountry. Check out musictoyourmouth.com for more details.

CHAPEL CONCERT SERIES Join us for an intimate, acoustic concert in the iconic Palmetto Bluff Wilson Village chapel for a live performance from a local musical act.

EXPLORE PBC: STALKING THE WILD HOG

D E C E M B E R

Join the team as we go out and search for the infamous wild hogs. Long pants, closed-toe shoes, and reservations required. RSVP to info@pbconservancy.com.

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ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: JERRY TALTON Meet avid waterfowler and carver Jerry Talton of Jerry Talton Decoys while he visits the Artist Cottage as the December Artist in Residence. Drop by the cottage to learn more about Jerry’s craft or take your turn at making your very own decoy during this week. To purchase tickets, visit palmettobluffartist.com/december.

CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE In the spirit of the season, join us for a showing of Elf on the big screen on the Village Green with your friends and family. Sip hot toddies and munch on s’mores under the stars as you take in a classic holiday movie to start the magic of the season.

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