September 2, 2000
Dear SCAN Members,
Saturday’s trip to Buzzard Roost gave us an opportunity to expand our horizons, as we shared our field trip with two other groups, the South Carolina Native Plant Society and the Western Carolina Botanical Society. It was fun to see some new faces, and hopefully we were able to recruit a few new SCAN members!
The Buzzard Roost trail climbed through a dry Piedmont forest of hardwoods mixed with Scrub and Table Mountain Pines. In spite of the effects of this summer’s drought, we saw a number of fall-blooming wildflowers. Thanks to informed members of the Native Plant Society, we also were able to observe a roadside colony of the rare Smooth Coneflower. At this time of the season, the flowers have been replaced by seed heads, but it was easy to see what an impressive plant this must be when in bloom! After our trip, a large contingent with members from all three groups met at a cafeteria in Walhalla for a delicious early supper. As always, the friendship and camaraderie shared by our members are part of what makes SCAN trips special.
On Sunday a small group of us reconvened for a damp, but very pleasant, walk to the base of King’s Creek Falls. A light rain fell on us on the way up, but it ended by the time we reached the falls. The plants we saw on this trail were quite different from those of the dry, rocky woods at Buzzard Roost. Also interesting was the great variety of fungi thriving in this moist environment. One of the oddest was the Magnolia Cone Mushroom, a tiny white mushroom which lives only on the fallen cones of Magnolia trees!
Just another reminder: If you’d like to come to the Carolina Butterfly Society’s fourth annual Butterfly Gardening Symposium at Cypress Gardens, pick up a registration form from Lynn Smith at the September SCAN field trip. The symposium will be held on October 7-8, but you must register by September 30.
Mary G. Douglass, President
Jan Ciegler’s book on beetles has finally been published. The reference for the book is: Ciegler, J.C. 2000. Ground beetles and wrinkled bark beetles of South Carolina (Coleoptera: Geadephaga: Carabidae and Rhysodidae). Biota of South Carolina. Vol. 1. Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. 149 pp.
The book is not a picture-matching book but rather a technical work for serious beetle investigators. The book may be purchased for $20.00 (incl. shipping & handling) from Public Service Bulletin Room, 82 Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0311, or http://cufan.clemson.edu/olos/
Givhans Ferry State Park
Ridgeville, SC
Saturday, September 23, 2000 – 10:30 am
The regularly scheduled SCAN trip to Cypress Gardens to coincide with the Insect Festival will not take place due to the change in date of the festival to September 30. Instead, we found a sleeper of a site at Givhans Ferry State Park. This area was originally a ferry crossing in the 18th and 19th centuries, then later developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s. More information is available at http://southcarolinaparks.com.
This 988-acre park boasts a moderately strenuous 1.5 mile River Bluff Nature Trail and a lesser publicized 4.5 mile Old Loop Trail which will be our area of interest for the day. No, we won’t be walking the entire length, but we can walk up to a mile exploring the flora and fauna along the trail leading to a small wetland area containing pitcher plants, sun dews, and nearly every species of southern pine tree in the state. Your concerned and considerate Southern Regional Directors will offer their pickup trucks and services to shuttle any SCAN’ers not desiring to walk into or out of the area or both. The walk is very easy and highly encouraged though.
DETAILS: We will meet in the parking lot in front of the main office at 1030 hours then head directly out on the Old Loop Trail. Wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes, or boots if you plan to wade around in the water. We will return to the main office picnic area for lunch. For dinner, those hanging around after the trip will travel 8.5 miles to Ridgeville for Barbecue.
DIRECTIONS: Givhans Ferry State Park is located in Colleton and Dorchester Counties off SC 61. From I-95: Take exit 68 onto SC Hwy 61 southeast. Go approx. 17 miles, cross the Edisto River and watch for park sign. Turn left on rd. 78-30 .2 mi. to park entrance. From I-26: Take exit 187 onto SC Hwy 27 south to Ridgeville. From Ridgeville, take rd SSR-19 approx. 6 mi. to rd 78-30 (Watch for sign). Turn left and go 2.4 mi. to park entrance