Azaleas, Sweet Tea, and the Biggest Festival in the Southeast

Summerville is at present shimmering in a sea of magnificent multitudinous masses of magenta. It is the annual azalea bloom putting on its best dress for the upcoming Flowertown Festival hosted in Summerville's Azalea Park. The flowers are the official doorkeepers of spring greeting all to the celebration of warmer days. Drive anywhere on the streets in the town's historic district between Central Ave. and S. Main and you will be convinced Summerville is rightfully crowned the "Flower Town in the Pines".

Rightfully the "Flower Town in the Pines" because Summerville is also famous for its pine trees, but unfortunately, the pollen bloom that rains down from its branches, when the weather warms, is not enthusiastically embraced with happy celebration like the azaleas. With that being said, pine trees and azaleas are a perfect collaboration because azaleas grow well in its shadows.

The varieties of azaleas are as bounteous as its blooms thanks to hybridizing, or crossbreeding. They are native to North America, so it is likely they greeted our arriving ancestors in some form. All North American species are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves. The evergreen varieties come from Japan where they can be hundreds of years old. The plants and blooms are mildly toxic, but I can personally dispute this assumption as not likely to be a deterrent to consumption. When I lived in northeastern Ohio years ago, I planted extensive rock gardens and plant mounds on my property. I attempted to incorporate azaleas into my scheme, but was unsuccessful. It seemed the branches were a favorite delicacy of deer, who ate the plants down to a stub before having a chance to pop a bud.

The azaleas that helped make Summerville famous are most likely the non-native variety. These originated in China and Japan, and made their way to the U.S. via England, France, and Germany. According to azalea historian Fred Galle in the United States, Azalea Indica (specifically speaking about the group of plants called Southern Indicas) got its name because when it was discovered, Asia was known as the East Indies. The first hybrids were planted in Charleston, South Carolina.

John Grimke Drayton imported the Azalea Indica from Philadelphia--where they were grown only in greenhouses by a nurseryman who also had a branch nursery in Charleston--and introduced them into the estate gardens of his rice plantation on the Ashley River. Marie Clinton Hastie wrote about the beginnings of her grandfather's garden, "it was somewhere in the mid 1840s that the Azalea Indica was introduced to Magnolia." His garden was the first in America to plant azaleas outdoors.

Thanks to the generosity of George Segelken, a pioneer in azalea propagation, Summerville became the place to see these uncommon plants in all their abundant glory in 1935. People came from all over to view the lush beauty of the town's Azalea Park. Segelken named the salmon pink colored azalea "Pride of Summerville." The park is the predominant venue of the Flowertown Festival.

The Flowertown Festival ranks as one of the largest festivals in the Southeast with an origin that goes back to 1972. The three-day festival also carries the well-deserved distinction as one of the Top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. One of the main features of this family-oriented festival centers on the promotion of arts and crafts. More than 200 craft artisans and vendors are given the opportunity to showcase their creative wares throughout Azalea Park. The Taste is another feature that offers festivalgoers a chance to sample appetizers, main courses, and desserts from local restaurants. For the young ones, there will be a Children's Jubilee/Kid's Fest, for the adults, a Saturday farmer's market. Admission is free and parking is free. The Robert Pratt Band will be sending musical vibes through the town's historic district.

The current festival was predated by a previous one in 1941, when Summerville celebrated the first Azalea Festival—a four-day event that included dances, concerts, a parade, and a formal ball. The festival promoted local business and celebrated the town's community pride, a pride as old as the trees. Summerville's rich history dates all the way back to the late 1600s. In those early days, coastal residents sought refuge from the heat and mosquitoes among the cooler pines of Summerville. One of the trees redeeming features was the turpentine scent it emitted, and even doctors considered it a cure for a variety of respiratory ailments. Many came all the way from Europe for the pine air and its believed benefits, but it was not just for the air, they also came for the southern charm and beauty.

Spring is a great time to experience Summerville's southern beauty, charm, and community pride. It is the season to celebrate the Flowertown Festival in The Birthplace of Sweet Tea beginning on April 1st, and this is no April fools. Speaking of sweet tea, allegedly, in 2003 as an April Fool’s joke, the Georgia House introduced a bill making it a "...misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature" to sell iced tea in a restaurant that did not also offer sweet iced tea on the menu. The bill never went to a vote. You can not accuse the Georgia House of lacking in humor. South Carolina adopted sweet tea as the state's Official Hospitality Beverage in 1995.

Of course, you cannot have sweet tea without a tealeaf, and Summerville owns the bragging rights for a particular variety. With French explorer and botanist Andre Michaux's planting of Oolong tea on the Middleton Barony in 1795, South Carolina was the only colony in America producing tea plants at that time. Later, Dr. Charles Shepard founded the Pinehurst Tea Plantation in Summerville in 1888, where he made tea growing a profitable reality. While Oolong tea could be your choice in making sweet tea, any kind can be used, though black tea is always a classic.

Well, that is Summerville—azaleas, sweet tea, and the biggest festival in the Southeast. While visiting for the Flowertown Festival, grab a glass of the best sweet tea at Sweetwater One Twenty Three. When you see me walking around town, be sure to say, "Hey." I am always interested in making new acquaintances.

Summerville's Tour Guides and Tours Through the Years

Visitors were greeted by this overhead arch for over three decades in the early 1900s, welcoming them to Summerville. The brick archway meant "coming home" to travelers, as well as residents. Flanking both ends of the town's name was the phrase, "Flower Town in the Pines." When leaving, the last thing they saw was the town's motto, "Let the Pine be Sacred."

Since the early 1900s, tourists flocked to the town in early spring to enjoy millions of spring blossoms, particularly azaleas, in private and public gardens, including the mid-town Azalea Park. Thus, Summerville acquired the earned designation, "The Flower Town in the Pines."

The azalea spring bloom is just beginning. It is a prelude to the biggest festival in South Carolina, the Flowertown Festival. This year it is scheduled to take place April 1 – 3. Have you ever wondered how the name "Flower Town in the Pines" came to be?

In 1925, Virginia Lowndes Bailey entered a slogan contest sponsored by the town's Chamber of Commerce. She won the $5 prize. Her entry was "Flower Town in the Pines." The brick archway spanning Main Street near the Highway 78 intersection spotlighted her winning slogan for all to see. Virginia's son wanted her contribution remembered. She was known as "the horsewoman." So, the family donated a horse weathervane to the town, and the town council approved a commemorative plaque. The brick archway with her winning slogan is gone, but the weathervane remains and resides on top of the present Town Hall building.

In the 1930s, tour guides would stand by the brick archway holding signs in their hands, entertaining the hope arriving tourists would acquire their services. The Town Hall was another gathering place for the young guides. All local boys, upon being chosen, they would jump onto an arriving car's running board and direct the driver past the town's beautiful residential gardens and key landmarks. Berlin G. Meyers was one of those young boys. He was paid a meager five dollars for his services, but as he fondly recalled, "A real fortune for a young boy in those days." The brick archway crumbled into history, leaving fond memories of a bygone age.

In 2011, Summerville experienced a revival of its glory days when it embraced its identity as "The Birthplace of Sweet Tea." Mayor Bill Collins formed a tour task force in 2013 and tours in Summerville took on a new look in the shape of green and red colored transportation vehicles. They were seen traveling the streets around the downtown area and beyond on Fridays and Saturdays. In 2013 and 2014, sweet tea and tours put the town in the Lowcountry spotlight. As a beneficial result, the "Sweet Tea Trail" was formed, and the "Sweet Tea Festival" was established. A 15-foot mason jar named "Mason" stands in the downtown district, a testimony to the town's rights to the trademark.

The "Good Eats on the Sweet Tea Trail" was one of those tours. Immediately upon arrival to the Visitor Center doors, Tina Zimmerman, Summerville's tourism coordinator, graciously welcomed you. An offering of sweet tea was available nearby. Once everyone had arrived, the group assembled in a room lined with images of Summerville's past. Tina began the tour with an inspirational video introducing everyone to a short summation starting with the town's inception and concluding with Bill Collins, Summerville's mayor, wishing all a fun time. Storyteller Tim Lowry, as guest narrator, entertained the group after they boarded the trolleys. Summerville DREAM's Janyce Shoemake Hursey often accompanied the guests as the trolleys transported them to various local food entrepreneurs.

"Sweet Tea Trolley Tour of Historic Summerville and Linwood Gardens" was a 90 minute guided tour for $20 where you would see the preserved downtown and then travel through the back roads of the town to see its historic homes. Like "The Good Eats Tour," it started in the Visitor Center with a history film from 1939. Local historian Barbara Lynch Hill would give a guided tour on the trolley with a stop at the historic Linwood Gardens, named one of the 10 Best Bed and Breakfast Gardens in the World. In case of rain Linwood owner will board the trolley and give oral tour. A second tour concentrated on history, was more extensive and included the sites of the Tea Farm and The Pine Forest Inn.

Summerville DREAM planned on offering tour guide training for the "Sweet Tea Trolley Tours." Tim Lowery and Barbara Lynch Hill were assigned to conduct the sessions. The workshop was to be held at the DREAM office at First Citizens Bank. Unfortunately, the trolleys would eventually leave town.

Time rolled on for the town, and plans were brewing in the downtown area. On March 1, 2019, Summerville inaugurated the newly completed Hutchinson Square Project with a ribbon-cutting and celebratory party. Town representatives and residents packed the refreshed historic downtown area. The crowning touch to the restoration featured a pavilion with a roofline patterned after the old railroad station that once upon a time stood close by and a gateway reminiscent of earlier days in the town's honored history, a replica of the old brick archway. A proclamation went out declaring Summerville to be "AT THE HEART of it ALL."

The Visitor Center established the following tours to offer visitors and residents an opportunity to immerse themselves into everything Summerville today.

The Sweet Tea Trail: Created for visitors to fully experience Summerville as "The Birthplace of Sweet Tea," Participants will embark on the trail to explore the shops, sites, sips, and tastes that make life in Summerville so sweet. Trail Guides are available at the Summerville Visitor Center, at participating stops, or you can go to the Visit Summerville web page. Collect Stamps with the purchase and redeem Official Birthplace of Sweet Tea gifts and merchandise.

The Walking Tour of Homes and Flowers: A leisure one-hour stroll past 20 historic homes with a sign and QR code with information about each home. It begins at the Cuthbert Community Center in Azalea Park on West 5th South Street. Old homes framed by majestic oaks whisper their stories, and towering church steeples built a century ago recall the town's foundation. In Historic Summerville, no two houses are alike, and an afternoon spent with a cold glass of tea and a sense of adventure can reward you with a myriad of beautiful architectural visuals.

The Summerville Porch Stroll on the Sweet Tea Trail: The first porch stroll was inaugurated on June 12, 2021. This neighborhood and community event offers eight different porches where attendees can sit and sip iced tea on some of its most beautiful southern porches. With expected Summerville southern hospitality, each of the eight hosts offers unique delectables and experiences, including strolling historic gardens, farm animal snuggles, live music, and artwork by local artists available for purchase. The next one will be June 11, 2022. Proceeds benefit the Timrod Library.

Summerville is benefiting from a unique heritage that has been brewing since the early 1800s. The possibilities have become "sky's the limit." So, put out the southern welcome mat of hospitality and complimentary cup of sweet tea.

Ashley River Park Update--Pictures and Video

Ashley River Park off of Bacon's Bridge Road on the Ashley River was supposed to open late summer, but it is obvious that did not happen. On my previous picture updating excursion, August 25, it was beginning to look like Jurassic Park. Even though slow progress was being made on the buildings, the newly constructed activity area had become overgrown with tall weeds, there was no grass as of yet, and the roads were not completely paved.

The park's designs include an interactive play fountain meant to look like a map of the Ashley River, two dog parks, open lawn areas, playground and picnic areas, and an event space which holds a pavilion and tiered lawn by a large pond with fishing piers and boardwalks.

On my most recent visit, November 18, a huge change had taken place with the roads and landscaping. It is beginning to look like the Ashley River Park the county envisioned. Opening now is set for 2022. Enjoy the updated pictures and video.

Ashley River Park—Due to Open Late Summer…Pictures and Video of Progress

Do you desire to escape the Covid 19 Pandemic blues for the great outdoors? Don't we all. A good enticement for satisfying that urge is presently underway just a stone's throw from Bacon's Bridge Road. The $13 million Dorchester County Parks and Recreation Department's Ashley River Park will be an 85-acre activity oasis for Summerville residents of all ages on completion.

The County purchased the 3/4 mile riverfront property for $1.45 million in 2012 from a housing developer who went bankrupt. Thank goodness the housing development never took place. Although many sacred Summerville pines faced the ax in the clearing of the land, this is by far better use of the pristine, upper Ashley River ecosystem. The activity park will include riverside trails, a fishing pond, picnic shelters, a playground, a splash pad, dog parks, a ropes course, and a climbing wall. There will also be an event lawn and pavilion for events, such as concerts, festivals, weddings, reunions, and more. A kayak launch already exists at the Howard Bridgman River Access at Bacon's Bridge.

Due to the recent rains, my trek into the park project, to say the least, was a muddy one, but well worth the effort to provide Summerville residents with an update. On the day I visited, the construction crew made final preparations to lay the cement for the large splash pad, just one of the park's major features. When completed, a replica of the Ashley River surrounded by multi-colored concrete will snake through the splash pad and topped with blue tile. Fountains mounted on the splash pad will spray water. Many of the shelters and buildings were in various construction phases, as were the parking lot, the playground equipment, the dog parks, and the fishing pond boardwalks.

At present, it is a developing recreational island of projects surrounded by South Carolina muck. When finally finished, it will be a water and green space where families will be able to soak in the amenities and beauty along South Carolina's Black Pearl At The Heart of It All. It's scheduled to open in late summer. There will be an entrance fee to cover operational costs that at present have not been determined. Enjoy the pictures and video.

The Ashley River Park is one of five Dorchester County Park Projects. Rosebrock Park is already open with 70 acres of riverbank trails. The Walnut Hill park will feature 128 acres of wetlands and bottomland 2 miles upstream from the Ashley River Park. Summerville's Bend on the Ashley will consist of 38 acres adjacent to town-owned Herbert H. Jessen Boat Landing. Finally, a marsh park on 80 acres of the old Kings Grant Golf Course a mile downstream from Herbert H. Jessen Boat Landing is in the works. It will be managed by the city of North Charleston and include a walking trail and paddle craft launch.

The Historic Lowcountry River Flowing Through The Heart Of It All

Beginning at Slands Bridge and extending 22 winding miles through thick stands of moss-covered oaks and dense marshes to the site of Charleston's first settlement in 1670, its brackish waters and pluff mud shoreline are saturated with early Antebellum history. It was a thoroughfare to Charleston and a lifeline for its dependent downstream settlements and expansive plantations, including the Colonial Dorchester settlement and the Ashley Barony site.

Relatively undisturbed by the passing of time, this undulating liquid menagerie is unparalleled in its historic significance and natural value. People by the droves come from all over the United States to its lush banks to drink in its tranquility and wonder at its one-time opulence.

Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation, Drayton Hall, and the lesser known but equally enchanting Runnymede Plantation are poetic names indelibly written on the river's adjoining signposts welcoming visitors to their riverside gardens and reflective ponds. These scenic estate vistas are saturated with history and part of the stunning tidal river named after the 1675 Chief Lord Proprietor of the Carolina Colony, Anthony Ashley Cooper.

This living ecological attraction was and is the Ashley River Corridor--home to 26 separate sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designated a State Scenic River. Events inviting you to explore and experience the river's natural amenities are scheduled throughout the year, especially in the spring, when it all comes to life in the Lowcountry's warming sun and pleasant evenings. Something for everyone, following is a list of March's offerings.

1) Middleton Place Spring Wine Stroll--The weather and the setting were perfect. There was but a whisper of a breeze playing on the long branches of the old oaks. The fading sun cast a tranquil shade of pleasant over the beautified gardens--considered the oldest in America. The numerous reflective ponds, alive with the chatter of its amphibious residents, were one with the surroundings. Their mirror-like surfaces are disturbed only by the watchful eyes of the long-toothed reptiles common to these Lowcountry waters.

Stroll the gardens of Middleton Place while sipping on samplings of old and new world wines. Each Wednesday evening, a different garden location is paired with a selection of wines for you to sample. Enjoy spectacular views and light snacks. It begins March 18 and runs to May 27 this year.
Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at event.
Date: Wednesday, March 18 – May 27, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
4300 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC

For complete details, go to Middleton Place Wine Stroll.

Here is a sampling of a previous wine stroll.

2) Magnolia Plantation Rice Field Boat Tour--Slip back in time as your boat glides through Magnolia's old flooded rice field along the Ashley River. While you explore the cattail-fringed canals, your naturalist captain will transport you to the age of rice growing and river-going. Alligators still slip silently across its channels as egrets wade along the shore, stalking fish or frogs. You might even surprise a flock of wood ducks or spy a grackle building its nest. Today the rice is gone, but the history is still alive.

LENGTH: One hour
LOCATION: Departs from a dock in the historic Garden.
TIMES: Seven days a week from March through October each year.
COST: $8 per person with paid garden admission, children under 6 free.
3550 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC

For complete information, go to Magnolia Plantation Rice Field Boat Tour.

3) Drayton Hall Historic Entertaining and Wine Tasting--Originally a fruit orchard, Drayton Hall was built somewhere around 1738, thus making it over 282 years old. The house is part of the most significant, undisturbed historic landscapes in America and one of the earliest and finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the United States. Of course, the use of the word undisturbed must be dissolved in a glass of salty brine and consumed with a grain of rice.

Please join us for a historic entertaining-inspired interpretive conversation followed by a wine tasting. Take the opportunity to learn about the Draytons’ entertaining through research, archaeological discoveries, and Drayton diaries. Then, enjoy wines with histories relevant to entertaining at Drayton Hall through the generations.
March 21, 2020
3380 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC

For more details, go to Drayton Hall Historic Entertaining and Wine Tasting.

4) The 2nd Annual Ashley River Adventure Race at the Bridgman River Access/Future Ashley River Park Site--Features a 5k trail run through the future park, an 8-mile downriver paddle, a post-race party at the Inn at Middleton Place, and a Fun Float (no running; untimed; you paddle your boat with everyone else) for those that want to participate in a more leisurely manner. As always, post-party tickets are available for your friends, family, and general spectators.

Kayak or SUP are not provided. Bring your own, or make it super easy on yourself by renting from Edisto River Adventures who will meet you at the race start with your boat and pick it up from you as soon as you finish at the Inn. Cost is $35 for boat rental and all gear. Contact ERA at 843-695-8146 or email at info@edistoriveradventures.com.
March 21, 2020
200 Renken Road
Summerville, SC

For times and complete details go to 2nd Annual Ashley River Adventure Race.

Last year's 2019 Ashley River Adventure Race.

5) The Charleston Bluegrass Festival--A brand new event presented by Friends With Benefits Productions, Awendaw Green, and Ear For Music. The festival takes place on the pristine 6,000-acre grounds of the Woodlands Nature Reserve across from Middleton Place.
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Patrons can expect a weekend of revelry complete with some of the finest names in bluegrass across three lakeside stages. The event offers plush camping options, local food/craft vendors, and outdoor activities. Patrons can look forward to mind-bending art installations and exciting performance art.

The Charleston Bluegrass Festival reaches beyond your typical weekend music festival, offering festival-goers the opportunity to rent a kayak to fish on two stocked lakes, go for a hike on miles of wooded trails, or hop on a stand-up paddleboard and enjoy a view of both stages from out on the water, and if being lazy is the desired activity, Eagles Nest Outfitters will be on hand, providing a plethora of hammock options for fans to lounge.

The Woodlands Festival is proud to partner with some of Charleston’s finest culinary curators to offer vast food options, from local food trucks and neighborhood restaurants, offering fans from around the country a taste of Charleston. In addition to curating a world-class bluegrass lineup, The Charleston Bluegrass Festival will most certainly showcase the best of everything Charleston has to offer—nature, food, art, music, and more.

GENERAL ADMISSION WEEKEND PASS: $109.00
VIP WEEKEND PASS: $249.00--Prime Viewing/Private Bar/Private Restrooms
GENERAL ADMISSION SINGLE DAY - FRIDAY: $65.00
GENERAL ADMISSION SINGLE DAY - SATURDAY: $65.00
Ticket prices do not include camping-camping price details.
March 20-21, 2020
4279 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC

For complete details, go to The Charleston Bluegrass Festival.
Tickets.

'Tis The Season To Ice Skate--The Town Of Summerville And Summerville DREAM's Gift To Its Residents And Visitors

This past week snowbird winter made an early surprise visit to Summerville and the Lowcountry. However, if you are a reader of The Old Farmer's Almanac, you were anticipating Old Man Winter's sudden early arrival. So far, the long range forecast for the Southeast Region has been spot on.

According to the weather prognosticator, it prognosticates "Winter will be warmer and rainier than normal, with below-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will be in mid- to late November, early to mid-December, and early and late February. The best chance for snow will be in late February in the north." I have always said, "If it is going to be cold, I'd rather see it snow."

There is a certain beauty in freshly fallen snow. How it fondly clings to the needles of the pine tree branches and blankets the landscape with a sense of tranquility. The quiet is so overwhelming you can hear the air. It is the perfect time to grab the shovel and head to your favorite lake or pond, scrape away a section of snow from off the crystal clear frozen water, and strap on the ice skates. It is one of the simple pleasures of the season.

Snow is a rarity in Summerville and the Lowcountry, even when it is cold enough. Usually, when it is cold enough, there are no clouds to produce the needed precipitation. Though it adds to the aura, you don't need snow to ice skate. All you need is the ice. With that having been said, aside from the arrival of the early Southern style winter weather, something else is coming this month of November. Summerville will have their very own ice skating rink thanks to the Town and the imagination of Summerville DREAM.

The overflow parking lot at 208 S Ceder Street just south of West Richardson is being transformed into an 40' by 80' outdoor ice skating rink just in time for the holidays. "The boxed structure comes with all the piping. It's a glycogen system. It runs through a chiller," said Steve Doniger, the executive director of Summerville DREAM. DREAM has been overseeing the building and will handle the operations for what is called Summerville Skates.

The skating rink is owned by a husband-wife team called Ice Games 88. Wayne Seybold, along with his sister Natalie, performed around the world and represented the United States at the 88 Calgary Winter Olympic Games in the couples competition. The brother/sister team was the first to successfully land the throw triple lutz. Jennifer Seybold has performed in shows around the United States including an ice show at the Carowinds amusement park. Clearly, they bring to the table 40 years of experience in the area of Figure Skating and 20 years in the portable skating rink business. They were present when the work of laying out and assembling the system began.

Listening to Doniger talk about the planned rink, you can tell the DREAM team is dedicated to making it a success. The rink will afford the opportunity for the community's families and kids to enjoy something different this coming holiday season. "We want to do interesting things to show the quality of life in Summerville is such that they want to grow up here and invest here." Of course, its overall success will depend greatly on the residents themselves and a little cooperation from the weather.

Molly Willard, Director of Development/Promotion and Design, provided a proposed layout she has been working on to give an idea of what the finished seasonal ice rink will look like. There will be parking available on site, bleachers for seating, picnic tables, sponsored concession stands, and a possible split rail fence. My fanciful idea: How about a snow making machine for one of those rare cold days. Wouldn't that make for a interesting picture.

Summerville Skates will be open to the public, birthday parties, group events and community fundraisers throughout the winter season. The Flowertown Players have already scheduled an event to promote their production of Disney Frozen Jr due to open in March. In fact, auditions for the production will take place on the very day the rink opens, Saturday, November 23rd at 6 pm. So, stay up to date by checking out Summerville Skates' web page or their Facebook page.

So participants can get the most out of their experience and for safety reasons, the maximum number of people on the ice at any given time will be limited. You will need to reserve your day and time to guarantee your spot. General admission is $8 and an additional $4 to rent skates, but with the discount opportunities planned, Doniger said the average cost for a family will be $20 to $25.

Summerville Skates will run from November 23rd through January 11th. Over three hundred pairs of skates will be available for rent. Group sales and rink rental packages will be available. Hours of operation will be Monday-Friday 3-9 pm and Saturday and Sunday 11 am-9 pm.

Summerville Skates' slogan is Happiness is... ice skating. Enjoy the video.