2010 Field Trips
SCAN 2010 Fieldtrip Dates and Sites
February 27 – English Swamp – Kershaw County (Northern Region)
This site consists of old-growth floodplain forest, including virgin cypress, along the Wateree River and Spears Creek. Chick Gaddy
recently named a new plant species, the Wateree trillium, here. This is a privately-owned site.
March 27 – The Oaks – Orangeburg County (Central Region), 3 miles south of Orangeburg on Hwy. 21
This 700-acre retirement community, which employs its own land manager and forester, has built a mile-long nature trail next to the
north fork of the Edisto River. It also has a forty-foot bluff with rock outcrops at the trail’s end. Prothonotary warblers and other
songbirds, wild turkeys, and canebrake rattlesnake inhabit the floodplain and pine forests here. Plants to look for include pinxterbloom
azalea, bloodroot, and black walnut.
April 24 – Ocoee Springs (Gene Ott’s Place) – Laurens County (Western Region), approximately 11 miles southwest of Laurens
This site is approximately 250 acres with convenient access to ridgeline forests, river floodplain and seasonal wetland, alluvial plains
along streams, sloping hillsides, and pasture habitats. Woodland flowers will be in bloom, including atamasco lily, pink azalea, jack-
in-the-pulpit, trillium, mayapple, cross vine, and many more. A half-dozen or more frog species will be breeding. A number of
salamander, turtle, lizard, and snake species should be sighted. Many mammal species live on the site, including deer, carnivores, and
rodents (such as the cute Golden Mouse and Meadow Jumping Mouse). Many resident and migrating bird species may be seen,
including three nesting bluebird species: eastern bluebird, indigo bunting, and blue grosbeak. In April 2009, a Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher visited. Numerous insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and mollusks may be found.
May 8 (President’s Special) – Marsh Furniture Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area - Marion County
(Eastern Region), near Kingsburg, S.C. - 8, 560 acres.
A variety of habitats awaits here, including 8.5 miles of river frontage and bottomland hardwood forest on the Great Pee Dee River,
cypress swamp, and longleaf pine sand ridge/sandhills. The Marsh tract provides valuable habitat for threatened and endangered
species such as wood storks and short-nosed sturgeon, as well as turkey, ducks, quail, and even black bear.
May 22 – Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve – Horry County (Eastern Region), near Conway - 9,393 acres
Wildfires recently burned the Preserve, and we should see the difference in a renewed and very interesting flora. This preserve
protects 20+ Carolina Bays, with the namesake Lewis Ocean Bay the largest, covering approximately 800 acres. Extensive savanna &
pond pine pocosin habitat can be seen. 20 undisturbed Carolina bays make up the Preserve. The federally-endangered red-cockaded
woodpecker & the largest S.C. population of Venus-flytrap are found here. Also, state rare bearded grass-pink, savanna milkweed,
roughleaf thoroughwort, pinebarren gentian & Bachman's sparrow. Other carnivorous plants include all four pitcher plants, sundews &
others. Orchids, toothache grass, fly-poison & other savanna plants abound. Also: Fothergilla, colicroot, blackroot, milkworts. The
only place left on the S.C. coast where black bear continues to live. Birds such as indigo bunting, Acadian flycather & prairie warbler
inhabit the area. Numerous butterflies, dragonflies & spiders also.
June 26 – Oaklyn Plantation – Darlington County (Eastern Region), near Darlington – 2,000 acres.
This is a working farm that has been in the Williamson family for more than 200 years. Owner Ben Williamson has been managing
this property on a sustainable basis for many years. It is a highly diverse mix of farm and forestland and includes more than three
miles of frontage along scenic Black Creek. Also included are mature stands of longleaf pine, which are burned on a regular basis.
July 24 – Brasstown Falls – Oconee County (Western Region), near Mountain Rest
Ideal spot to see "spray" habitat from a waterfall. Although technically still Piedmont, the flora in montane. These four falls of
Brasstown Creek range from 20 feet to 40 feet in height. The extremely rare dwarf filmy fern grows around the waterfall. Also, the
only natural population of oakleaf hydrangea in S.C. is here. SCAN saw the state rare hollow-stem Joe-pye-weed here. Look for
marginal shield fern, wapato, Catesby's trillium, Solomon's-seal, devil's-bit, starry campion, meadow-rue, Appalachian phacelia, horn-
leaf riverweed, sensitive brier, spikenard, water hemlock, bitter-bloom, man-root & bee-balm here. Also, axilflower (Mecardonia), 4
lobelias, ironweed, Joe-pye-weed, coneflower, coreopsis, eastern hemlock, black walnut, buffalo-nut, Fraser's magnolia & alternate-
leaved dogwood. Lots of beetles & butterflies were seen on past trips as well. There is an easy one-quarter mile trail to the bottom of
the lower falls. It is made up of 4 sections: the lower falls has 3 sections & the one to the upper falls is just a short distance above. The
falls are at the bottom of the trail. The walk in from the access road travels an old logging road which goes alongside a small tributary.
August 28 – Landsford Canal State Park – Chester County (Northern Region)
This 448-acre site features bottomland forest & bluffs typical of a large Piedmont river, as well as several tributaries. Has one of the
largest known stands of rocky shoals spider lilies, and bald eagles have been regularly nesting at the park for years. Also look for
slippery elm, silverbell, silky dogwood, American hazelnut, spicebush, mountain holly, Shumard oak, columbine, black cohosh,
angelica, fire-pink, woodland stonecrop & scouring-rush. Birding is good here, and herps will be seen. Butterflies &
dragon/damselflies abound. The Catawba River and its shoals necessitated the building of the canal in the early 19th-century to allow
commercial navigation. The culverts, bridges & locks of the canal, built in the 1820s, have been restored. There is also a lock keeper's
house that now has interpretive exhibits. Two developed trails form a loop between picnic area & stone bridge over lower locks: the
Canal Trail follows the canal & the Nature Trail follows the Catawba River, and has an overlook.
September 25 – Lisa Matthews Memorial Bay – Bamberg County (Southern Region)
Also called Canby’s Dropwort Preserve, this 52-acre site has a Carolina bay/depression that is often flooded to waist-height, which is
what the federally-listed Canby’s dropwort needs. The area with dropwort is dominated by southern cutgrass (Leersia hexandra), an
uncommon grass, and maidencane. Other wetland plants such as blue flag, purple bladderwort & pool coreopsis are there as well.
Beyond that, there is a large area of swamp with pond-cypress, swamp gum, myrtle-leaved holly, etc. and some upland oak-hickory
forest. The property has a good bit of pine plantation that will soon undergo active restoration to the native longleaf pine/wiregrass
communtiy by thinning, planting with the appropriate species, and then burning regularly. This preserve was recently a gift from the
Nature Conservancy to the S.C. Native Plant Society (SCNPS). SCNPS will manage and restore it—their first such endeavor.
October 9 (President’s Special) – Site TBA
October 23 –Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve – Aiken County (Central Region), between Windsor & Springfield
Has longleaf pine/wiregrass with a small swampy area adjacent to a small stream are the dominant habitats There are three rare plant
communities in the 859-acre preserve. Created to protect the northernmost population in the U.S. of the gopher tortoise, the state's
most endangered reptile. A favorite food of the tortoise, the state rare gopher-apple, is also here. Look for the state rare Georgia
beargrass (Nolina) here, as well as dog-tongue, jointweed, sandwort, wild indigo, summer-farewell, goat’s-rue, blazing-star (Liatris
tenuifolia), ironweed & more. There are numerous trails on the Preserve. Managed by the SC DNR with periodic burns and longleaf
pine/wiregrass restoration..
November 20 – Lake Conestee Nature Park – Greenville County (Western Region), 6 miles south of Greenville
This 400-acre park has Piedmont hardwood and pine forest, extensive wetlands (a large beaver pond, marshes & lake shore), and 1.5
miles of the Reedy River. Rated by the Carolina Bird Club and Greenville County Bird Club as one of the best birding sites in the
Upstate, it is featured as a birding hot-spot on e-bird with over 150 bird species reported. Current facilities include three trailheads
with public parking, 2.1 miles of natural surface trail, a 2/3 mile long paved trail, 650 linear feet of boardwalks in the wetlands, and a
large wetlands observation deck. Good trail map of park at: http://www.conesteepark.com/park/aboutpark.html. The director is eager
to get a species inventory from us.
December 11 – Great Swamp Sanctuary– Colleton County (Southern Region), in Walterboro
Ireland Creek, its swamp & adjacent undeveloped lands are the highlight of this newly created 843-acre sanctuary. It is the headwaters
of the Ashepoo River (the A in the ACE Basin). Wood storks nest here. Over 80 species of birds have been observed. Wildlife is
abundant with native populations of wild turkey, deer, raccoons, beaver, otter, mink, opossum, coyote, squirrels, fox & wildcats. The
area serves as a stopover for migrating birds. Miles of overland trails & boardwalks provide an opportunity to explore. Crisscrossing a
system of braided streams, the boardwalks traverse a historic Charleston to Savannah wagon road and tie the highland trails together.
Managed by the City of Walterboro, who is eager to have us visit. Formerly called Ireland Creek City Park and also called Great
Swamp Nature Preserve.
January 22, 2011 – Annual Meeting
February 27 – English Swamp – Kershaw County (Northern Region)
This site consists of old-growth floodplain forest, including virgin cypress, along the Wateree River and Spears Creek. Chick Gaddy
recently named a new plant species, the Wateree trillium, here. This is a privately-owned site.
March 27 – The Oaks – Orangeburg County (Central Region), 3 miles south of Orangeburg on Hwy. 21
This 700-acre retirement community, which employs its own land manager and forester, has built a mile-long nature trail next to the
north fork of the Edisto River. It also has a forty-foot bluff with rock outcrops at the trail’s end. Prothonotary warblers and other
songbirds, wild turkeys, and canebrake rattlesnake inhabit the floodplain and pine forests here. Plants to look for include pinxterbloom
azalea, bloodroot, and black walnut.
April 24 – Ocoee Springs (Gene Ott’s Place) – Laurens County (Western Region), approximately 11 miles southwest of Laurens
This site is approximately 250 acres with convenient access to ridgeline forests, river floodplain and seasonal wetland, alluvial plains
along streams, sloping hillsides, and pasture habitats. Woodland flowers will be in bloom, including atamasco lily, pink azalea, jack-
in-the-pulpit, trillium, mayapple, cross vine, and many more. A half-dozen or more frog species will be breeding. A number of
salamander, turtle, lizard, and snake species should be sighted. Many mammal species live on the site, including deer, carnivores, and
rodents (such as the cute Golden Mouse and Meadow Jumping Mouse). Many resident and migrating bird species may be seen,
including three nesting bluebird species: eastern bluebird, indigo bunting, and blue grosbeak. In April 2009, a Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher visited. Numerous insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and mollusks may be found.
May 8 (President’s Special) – Marsh Furniture Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area - Marion County
(Eastern Region), near Kingsburg, S.C. - 8, 560 acres.
A variety of habitats awaits here, including 8.5 miles of river frontage and bottomland hardwood forest on the Great Pee Dee River,
cypress swamp, and longleaf pine sand ridge/sandhills. The Marsh tract provides valuable habitat for threatened and endangered
species such as wood storks and short-nosed sturgeon, as well as turkey, ducks, quail, and even black bear.
May 22 – Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve – Horry County (Eastern Region), near Conway - 9,393 acres
Wildfires recently burned the Preserve, and we should see the difference in a renewed and very interesting flora. This preserve
protects 20+ Carolina Bays, with the namesake Lewis Ocean Bay the largest, covering approximately 800 acres. Extensive savanna &
pond pine pocosin habitat can be seen. 20 undisturbed Carolina bays make up the Preserve. The federally-endangered red-cockaded
woodpecker & the largest S.C. population of Venus-flytrap are found here. Also, state rare bearded grass-pink, savanna milkweed,
roughleaf thoroughwort, pinebarren gentian & Bachman's sparrow. Other carnivorous plants include all four pitcher plants, sundews &
others. Orchids, toothache grass, fly-poison & other savanna plants abound. Also: Fothergilla, colicroot, blackroot, milkworts. The
only place left on the S.C. coast where black bear continues to live. Birds such as indigo bunting, Acadian flycather & prairie warbler
inhabit the area. Numerous butterflies, dragonflies & spiders also.
June 26 – Oaklyn Plantation – Darlington County (Eastern Region), near Darlington – 2,000 acres.
This is a working farm that has been in the Williamson family for more than 200 years. Owner Ben Williamson has been managing
this property on a sustainable basis for many years. It is a highly diverse mix of farm and forestland and includes more than three
miles of frontage along scenic Black Creek. Also included are mature stands of longleaf pine, which are burned on a regular basis.
July 24 – Brasstown Falls – Oconee County (Western Region), near Mountain Rest
Ideal spot to see "spray" habitat from a waterfall. Although technically still Piedmont, the flora in montane. These four falls of
Brasstown Creek range from 20 feet to 40 feet in height. The extremely rare dwarf filmy fern grows around the waterfall. Also, the
only natural population of oakleaf hydrangea in S.C. is here. SCAN saw the state rare hollow-stem Joe-pye-weed here. Look for
marginal shield fern, wapato, Catesby's trillium, Solomon's-seal, devil's-bit, starry campion, meadow-rue, Appalachian phacelia, horn-
leaf riverweed, sensitive brier, spikenard, water hemlock, bitter-bloom, man-root & bee-balm here. Also, axilflower (Mecardonia), 4
lobelias, ironweed, Joe-pye-weed, coneflower, coreopsis, eastern hemlock, black walnut, buffalo-nut, Fraser's magnolia & alternate-
leaved dogwood. Lots of beetles & butterflies were seen on past trips as well. There is an easy one-quarter mile trail to the bottom of
the lower falls. It is made up of 4 sections: the lower falls has 3 sections & the one to the upper falls is just a short distance above. The
falls are at the bottom of the trail. The walk in from the access road travels an old logging road which goes alongside a small tributary.
August 28 – Landsford Canal State Park – Chester County (Northern Region)
This 448-acre site features bottomland forest & bluffs typical of a large Piedmont river, as well as several tributaries. Has one of the
largest known stands of rocky shoals spider lilies, and bald eagles have been regularly nesting at the park for years. Also look for
slippery elm, silverbell, silky dogwood, American hazelnut, spicebush, mountain holly, Shumard oak, columbine, black cohosh,
angelica, fire-pink, woodland stonecrop & scouring-rush. Birding is good here, and herps will be seen. Butterflies &
dragon/damselflies abound. The Catawba River and its shoals necessitated the building of the canal in the early 19th-century to allow
commercial navigation. The culverts, bridges & locks of the canal, built in the 1820s, have been restored. There is also a lock keeper's
house that now has interpretive exhibits. Two developed trails form a loop between picnic area & stone bridge over lower locks: the
Canal Trail follows the canal & the Nature Trail follows the Catawba River, and has an overlook.
September 25 – Lisa Matthews Memorial Bay – Bamberg County (Southern Region)
Also called Canby’s Dropwort Preserve, this 52-acre site has a Carolina bay/depression that is often flooded to waist-height, which is
what the federally-listed Canby’s dropwort needs. The area with dropwort is dominated by southern cutgrass (Leersia hexandra), an
uncommon grass, and maidencane. Other wetland plants such as blue flag, purple bladderwort & pool coreopsis are there as well.
Beyond that, there is a large area of swamp with pond-cypress, swamp gum, myrtle-leaved holly, etc. and some upland oak-hickory
forest. The property has a good bit of pine plantation that will soon undergo active restoration to the native longleaf pine/wiregrass
communtiy by thinning, planting with the appropriate species, and then burning regularly. This preserve was recently a gift from the
Nature Conservancy to the S.C. Native Plant Society (SCNPS). SCNPS will manage and restore it—their first such endeavor.
October 9 (President’s Special) – Site TBA
October 23 –Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve – Aiken County (Central Region), between Windsor & Springfield
Has longleaf pine/wiregrass with a small swampy area adjacent to a small stream are the dominant habitats There are three rare plant
communities in the 859-acre preserve. Created to protect the northernmost population in the U.S. of the gopher tortoise, the state's
most endangered reptile. A favorite food of the tortoise, the state rare gopher-apple, is also here. Look for the state rare Georgia
beargrass (Nolina) here, as well as dog-tongue, jointweed, sandwort, wild indigo, summer-farewell, goat’s-rue, blazing-star (Liatris
tenuifolia), ironweed & more. There are numerous trails on the Preserve. Managed by the SC DNR with periodic burns and longleaf
pine/wiregrass restoration..
November 20 – Lake Conestee Nature Park – Greenville County (Western Region), 6 miles south of Greenville
This 400-acre park has Piedmont hardwood and pine forest, extensive wetlands (a large beaver pond, marshes & lake shore), and 1.5
miles of the Reedy River. Rated by the Carolina Bird Club and Greenville County Bird Club as one of the best birding sites in the
Upstate, it is featured as a birding hot-spot on e-bird with over 150 bird species reported. Current facilities include three trailheads
with public parking, 2.1 miles of natural surface trail, a 2/3 mile long paved trail, 650 linear feet of boardwalks in the wetlands, and a
large wetlands observation deck. Good trail map of park at: http://www.conesteepark.com/park/aboutpark.html. The director is eager
to get a species inventory from us.
December 11 – Great Swamp Sanctuary– Colleton County (Southern Region), in Walterboro
Ireland Creek, its swamp & adjacent undeveloped lands are the highlight of this newly created 843-acre sanctuary. It is the headwaters
of the Ashepoo River (the A in the ACE Basin). Wood storks nest here. Over 80 species of birds have been observed. Wildlife is
abundant with native populations of wild turkey, deer, raccoons, beaver, otter, mink, opossum, coyote, squirrels, fox & wildcats. The
area serves as a stopover for migrating birds. Miles of overland trails & boardwalks provide an opportunity to explore. Crisscrossing a
system of braided streams, the boardwalks traverse a historic Charleston to Savannah wagon road and tie the highland trails together.
Managed by the City of Walterboro, who is eager to have us visit. Formerly called Ireland Creek City Park and also called Great
Swamp Nature Preserve.
January 22, 2011 – Annual Meeting