September 3, 1997
Dear SCAN members,
The weather was absolutely beautiful for the 14 SCAN members and guests that participated in the August field trip to the South Carolina Botanical Gardens adjacent to the Clemson campus. Ted, the regional director, was quite willing to take credit for the low humidity and comfortable temperatures that prevailed during the day. In the morning, we enjoyed the butterfly garden at the gardens for approximately 2 hours. The garden was swarming with many butterflies of various species as revealed in the attached list. I heard one member say that she could have spent an additional 2 hours productively at the site.
In the afternoon, the group went to the home of John and Suzanne Morris in Pendleton, SC to explore their backyard. The Mayor of Pendleton, Carol Burdette, welcomed SCAN to her town. The Morris backyard is approximately 15 acres of diverse landscape. John led the group to a stream at the bottom of a steep hill that contained watercress and many creatures of interest to entomologists. The hillside contained many interesting plants as well as some acorns that appeared to be from an Overcup Oak. (Secretarys Note: Upon additional evidence and reflection, it was decided that these were prematurely shed acorns from other species that were seen to be present.)
See the Flora/Fauna List
The day ended with lemonade and cookies on the Morris patio followed by dinner in a restaurant in Pendleton.
Special thanks are in order for Ted Cottingham, the Western Regional Director, for finding two interesting sites as a replacement for the originally planned trip to Yellow Branch. The trip was well planned and a good time was had by all. I also want to thank the John and Suzanne Morris for hosting SCAN for the afternoon and evening activities.
Sincerely,
Ken Boni, President
SCAN members are planning a group trip to Southern Costa Rica with an established tour company, Caligo Ventures. The time will be February 4 – 13 and will cost $1,995 per person with round-trip airfare from Miami at $510. The trip will go to the less visited areas of Costa Rica including the cloud forests of the Talamanca Highlands and Cerro de la Muere, the mid-elevation tropical rainforests at the Las Cruces tropical research station and the Wilson Botanical Garden and then the Osa Peninsula which includes one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world, Corcovado National Park. Emphasis will be on natural history with an English-speaking Costa Rican guide but there will also be a day in the beautiful capitol of San Jose for sightseeing. I have sent for brochures and sign-up sheets from Caligo and will send them out to interested people.
There must be 10 people signed up for the tour to go but only a maximum of 14 can be on the trip.
We will stay in lodges with all expenses included. Please let Lynn Smith know if you would like to look at the information. (Alex Ciegler is setting up the trip but will be out of the country until 13 October.) There is information on the legal niceties, plus a heres my deposit form. Drop me a note at 407 Ridgecrest Drive, Camden, 29020, or phone (803) 432-1504, or e-mail me at SmithLynnB@aol.com, and I will mail you the information Caligo sent to me. There is no real information about the sites in Costa Rica. I think I understood Alex to say the itinerary was custom-designed. I suggest your local library if you wish more information about the area.
Other Information of Interest: Alex Ciegler has becomethe second amateur in that family to have a paper puplished. Alex paper is South Carolina Lichens: A Preliminary Survey , published in Evansia 14: 29-41, 1997 (July 1997). This is the publication of the primary group of lichen researchers in this country. All that pounding we have heard him do was worth it!
LITTLE PEE DEE STATE PARK
September 27, 1997
10:30 a.m., as usual
The September field trip takes us to sandhills and black water riverside. Little Pee Dee State Park is in the far northeast corner of the state in Dillon County. SCAN did a canoe trip there several years ago. On this visit we will explore sandhills and lakeside territory. Allen de Hart in his book Hiking South Carolina Trails, claims to have identified 80 trees and flowering plants, plus lots of birds. With our sharp eyes and fall migration starting we should also have a good list. Sandhills are always rewarding in the fall. Plus the lake is reputed to be full of fish and frogs. (and probably dragonflies). We will start by walking the nature trail (1.3 miles), then doing lunch in the picnic area near the lake, followed by exploring along the lake or perhaps old fire trails in the sandhills area. If that is not enough, there is a Carolina Bay across the road that is a heritage preserve, though access is limited. Those who can do so will plan to find a restaurant to eat dinner together before we head for home.
Details: Meet by parking along the entrance road near the trailhead for the Beaver Pond Nature Trail. Meet there in time to be ready to walk at 10:30 a.m. Plan on sunscreen and insect repellent, and plenty of liquids to drink. You’ll need it. The trailhead is about a mile from the Park entrance. There is a beaver pond plus lots of trees on this trail.
Directions: Most of us will approach via I-95. Exit at Exit 190, on SC 34 to Dillon; follow SC 34 and 57 through Dillon, then turn southeast on 57. There is a sign to Little Pee State Park. From there it is 8.4 miles to SR 22 (State Park Road), where there is another brown sign indicating a left turn to continue toward the park. The park entrance is approximately 2 miles from 57. It will be the first road to the right after you cross the Little Pee Dee River. The trailhead is about 1 mile from the gate.