~a perfect day~

Two Saturdays ago, my friend Jeff and I travelled three hours to visit a lovely field of crinums at Lushlife Crinum Nurseries, Beech Island, South Carolina.  It was a nice and sometimes hilarious day spent on backroads in rural South Carolina.

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I stopped and picked up Jeff - and it wasn't even 10 miles down the road that we just had to stop at Timbo's Hot Boiled Peanuts stand.  He wasn't sure what you would take to a gathering of crinum admirers - and it ended up that boiled peanuts were just the thing.  And isn't Timbo's Airstream just the best? 

I must include a disclaimer here:  I don't like hot boiled peanuts. 

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So of course we talked to the guy - 'Timbo' himself.  I loved the sign he had in his Airstream that said 'working for peanuts' - and couldn't resist taking his photo with that sign (after asking, of course) - if you click on this image you should be able to see the sign).   

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Now, Jeff and I were so busy looking at plants in roadside ditches and counting the number of 'Jesus Saves' signs along the roads that we took a wrong turn somewhere, and ended up in downtown Walterboro.  It was one of those 'make lemonaide out of lemons day', so we decided to stop at the South Carolina Artisans Center - a beautiful little cluster of buildings (some of which were connected) that featured South Carolina artists.  Of course when we left Jeff's house and he asked 'should we take a map?' and I said 'no!  we don't need a map!' - well, I guess I hadn't factored in that we wouldn't pay attention to where we were going.  Fortunately the woman at the Artisan's Center knew the way - since her mother lived in Augusta, Georgia - so she helped us get back on track. 

~~~~~

Now, when I said we went through small towns, well, I meant we went through small towns.  The Bank of Olar doesn't seem to be open anymore (although it's a great place, isn't it?) - and the Sheriff's office is the size of a phone booth.  According to Wikipedia, in the 2000 census Olar had 237 residents.

I'm guessing they are all banking elsewhere.  

~~~~~

So, we finally made it to Beech Island, and after a short drive down a wonderful dirt road - we arrived at a field of crinums.

Now, as Jeff and I were driving down the dirt road, we both admitted that we were a little nervous about showing up at a place three hours from home where we didn't know anyone.  Yes, Jeff was on the mailing list which received the invite - but we both only knew Jenks Farmer through a garden show years ago when we both bought crinum bulbs from him (you can find Jenks' blog here).  He's been a cult hero of ours ever since.  But the minute we turned into the drive - we knew that we'd love the place.  It was a beautiful spot, where it was obvious that the people who lived there liked plants and loved their garden.

As we got out of the car, Tom greeted us immediately - followed by Bob, and eventually Jenks.  It was indeed a friendly place. 

But like the drive up, Jeff and I got equally distracted there - however we did make our way to the crinums eventually!

~~~~~

Who can resist a baby miniature donkey named Casper?  The profile of this sweet little ghost looked just like a unicorn - with those long ears lining up to make one long horn.  Jenks told us the best story about these guys.  Evidently the person that 'owns' and raises these donkeys refuses to sell them.  She will, however, loan them out (and for years!).  I love that story. 

~~~~~

Now, when we first drove up, and were parking the car - Jeff told me that 'we were guests' and that I couldn't go taking cuttings or snagging seeds or...stealing plants that I saw.  It's not that I steal plants per se, but I did promise to behave.  Now, I just have this old expression to say to Jeff:  'Isn't this like the pot calling the kettle black?'  I mean, Jeff is the guy who has been eyeing crinums in a ditch on Sullivan's Island for years!

Now the cool thing about real plant people is that they are fully aware of this behavior.  They can spot a person a mile away who is eyeing something with seeds, or something that roots easily.  So I got money plant seeds in one pocket (that unfortunately I later washed and dried with my jeans - but I did save the seeds and I figured I'd do a little experiment and see if they still germinate) and a piece of a sedum (to which Jenks said 'you want that?').  But the real steal (ha!) were seeds from Jewels of Opar,  Talinum paniculatum 'Kingswood Gold' (pictured above).  The foliage was just a beautiful bright green - and I can't wait to plant them (it was suggested I wait until the fall).  It looks like an avid re-seeder, which generally I fully support.

Oh, the other seeds I was given was from Rose Campion, Lychnis coronaria
 - I've always loved these but haven't planted them.  I'd love to get some going, where they re-seed a bit each year too.  I'll wait until fall to plant these as well.

And not to forget, I also snagged some Four O'clocks that were heading for the compost pile...

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Tall phlox and zinnias - some of my favorites.

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There was a beautiful little shady area - with hydrangeas lining one side and a few chairs placed in a circle.  The perfect place to spend time on a hot summer afternoon.

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The lab's eclair-baking postdoc (who hasn't made eclairs recently) always reminds me of when I said (quite randomly) 'I like bark'.  The truth is that I really like bark.  It's amazing stuff.  so I couldn't resist a photo of this sycamore - isn't the bark just beautiful?  Now, not to be a geek or anything, but you should pay more attention to bark. 

~~~~~

Okay, finally we've made it to the crinums...

One has to just love this sign, Regina's Disco Lounge - what a great name for a crinum!  This area appeared to be the hub for boxing and preparing crinums for shipment.

~~~~~

Isn't this great?  Some of the signs were beginning to bleed late in the day (but if you enlarge this image you should be able to read them).  This is where the crinums were 'cleaned-up' for folks - and given a good 'squirt' to remove dirt, a quick dip in bleach, and rinsed.

~~~~~

So, as you've probably guessed, I didn't just steal seeds and cuttings.  I left with a beautiful clump of Crinum 'Hannibal's Dwarf', a Crinum americanum (after Jenks warned me that it was an aggressive runner) and one that I've misplaced the piece of paper for where I wrote down the name (Oh well - I'll find it later).  I need to plant the latter two today in my garden.

I also got a copy of 'Noisette Roses: 19th Century Charleston's Gift to the World' signed by Ruth Knopf(that you can find on the Lushlife website).  The book is dedicated to Ruth - who everyone around here (and beyond) knows because of her knowledge and love of old roses.  The book is wonderful - and if you love roses and Charleston history - I'd recommend it.

~~~~~

Eventually Jeff and I headed back to the coast - and along the way we were a bit bummed that the Holy Ghost Prayer Tower Deliverance Center was closed at Petticoat Junction.  We did make it to a Mennonite restaurant and grocery right before they closed - where I bought some black-eyed peas and malted milk balls for my Dad - oatmeal for me.  Jeff got some popping corn that he said popped up into huge fluffy pieces - the kind you get in really good caramel corn.

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On the drive up we spotted a great pond filled with what I think is the American Lotus, Nelumbo lutea - but we flew right past it, both hoping that we'd remember to take a closer look on our way back, which we did. It was a small pond, just filled with the stuff.  Next to it was a house, which had a small lot with goats - bit what caught our attention was the ditch in front of the chain-link fence that surrounded the pond...

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So this ditch was just filled with all sorts of interesting plants - once you pulled over and got out and looked at it.  Luckily my friend Jeff is most amenable to pulling over to look at plants in ditches - heck, he's as bad about this as I am (which I've eluded to before - and there he is, above, waving at everyone). 

Driving by going the speed limit, this ditch just looked like a bunch of weeds and an occasional canna lily - but up-close it was something fun and miraculous.   

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Can anyone help me with this plant?  It was in the ditch, and of course I found a little one, pulled it up (okay, I stole it, but if you consider ditches by a state highway state property, at least I didn't steal it - technically speaking - from a person, but an entity...and I pay my taxes, sometimes even on time) - and I've got it hanging on to life as we speak.  I think it's just beautiful.  It looks like it's related perhaps to bee balm - perhaps a native variety, but I don't know.

~~~~~

So we made it back to Charleston - after a 10 hour day spent driving back roads, stopping every 10 minutes because something caught our eye, and visiting a lovely crinum farm.

What a perfect day.

 

 

Comments

[Bob Waites]

Pam,
We loved having you and Jeff at Lushlife Nurseries. Your arrival late in the day gave us a chance to spend time together that we otherwise might not have had. We look forward to seeing you in Charleston next time we're there and in Beech Island in the fall. There's is bound to be another "special event" then.
Bob Waites, Tom Hall and Jenks Farmer

[Jenks]

I think that unknown plant in the last photo is pycanthemum.......
glad yall came to Beech!

[Pat]

I just love days like that. You fall asleep fast those nights, satisfied that you did everything you wanted to...and more.

[Annie in Austin]

This year I've paid special attention to three Amarcrinum plants and have 3 flower stalks at once... thought it was fabulous until I saw that field, Pam! A Field of Crinum! The thought of having crinum as cutflowers fills me with awe. But can't read the name Lushlife without hearing Linda Ronstadt sing the song in my mind.

What a fun day that must have been from the Hot Peanuts to the permanently borrowed plants. Jeff sure looks like a good sport and a good companion for the road.

BTW, the photo looks pretty close to what Christopher in NC ID'd as some kind of Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum in a post a while back:
http://outsideclyde.blogspot.com/2007/08/long-hike-short-hike.html

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

[Janet]

What a fun day Pam. Love the baby donkey, too cute. Petticoat Junction??? hahahah love it!! Have bookmarked the Aritsan Center to check out when we move. Great pictures from the whole day...love the old post office.

[JanetLee]

What fun! Timbo is also the unofficial mayor of Pierpont. He has been selling peanuts here for as long as I can remember.

[Les]

Sounds like you had a great day. When I lived in Charleston I took a couple of trips through some of those small towns as well. Some are sad, some are cheery and some are worlds unto their selves. (BTW, I happen to like boiled peanuts, they taste more like some sort of salty bean than a nut.)

[Kabheabsarill]

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