Alligator on the Beach!!

The alligator had become disoriented and lost in the unusually high surf from a storm. Alligators do swim from island to island in search of food and water. Apparently, the high surf took this one farther out into the ocean than it had wanted to go and then it could not find its' way back. So, after a full afternoon in the salt water, it finally dragged itself up on the beach. From there it could not find any food or fresh water. After 24 hours on the beach, one of the men from the Serpentarium got a permit to rescue it. They gave the alligator some food and fresh water and released it back into the wild. Ken Tingman
See our Facebook Page for more pictures!!

News From Prudential Kapp/Lyons Realty

See our Spring 2011 Newsletter for information on the current real estate market on Edisto!!
Spring 2011 Newsletter

Very Satisfied Guests!

My husband and I and our Boston Terrier spent the month of March 2011 on Edisto Island. We rented Tidedown, a 5 bedroom beach house that was perfect for the two of us, as well as the rest of the family who joined us later in the month. The staff at Prudential Kapp/Lyons Realty were great to work with. We needed medication delivered to the realty company along with mail from home. They let us know immediately that they received it and they would hold it for us. When we missed our day of departure because we misread our contract, they were nice enough to prorate another night for us with a smile. We had a minor problem with our washing machine and they sent a repairman out immediately to fix it. It needed a little more work and the repairman came to fix it while we were spending the day in Charleston. We left our Boston Terrier at the house and since the repairman had already met our Boston, he said don't worry about our puppy; he had already met her and they would get along fine and we could be sure she would not get out. We had left the TV on because our Boston is afraid of thunder, and had told the office to tell the repairman to leave the TV on for her. The storms had become quite bad during the afternoon and, while fixing the washer, he made sure he turned the volume up so our dog would not hear the thunder. The beach is beautiful with lots of different shells to pick; people are extremely friendly. Botany Bay should not be missed, as well as lots of attractions nearby for a day trip. John at the video and ice cream store takes time to listen to all the requests for ice cream from all the little children with great patience. There are many rental homes on the island, and we would highly recommend Prudential Kapp/Lyons Realty.

Mary and Mike Gilbert

Why 2011 May Be the End of the Housing Crash

A very interesting article from the Sunday, February 27, 2011 issue of the Wall Street Journal!!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703796504576168822497423738.html

Come to Edisto Island & Meet Nature up Close at

BOTANY BAY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

Highlights of any Edisto vacation have always included a sense of escape from the hustle and bustle of normal routines (“Edislow”), the magical sounds of the surf and the nearness of nature. On July 1, 2007, a new natural treasure was made available to visitors and residents alike. Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area, a 4600 acre parcel of mixed pines and hardwoods, salt marsh, maritime forest, fresh water wetland and creeks and even an undeveloped beach is now the property of the people of South Carolina. The property is open daily (except Tuesdays) from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area is managed by staff of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources with assistance from numerous local volunteers.

What is there to see at Botany Bay? It offers a fascinating mix of both human and natural history. Reminders are there of the presence of Native Americans. There are visible clues to plantation life of the nineteenth century. Probably the most talked about area is the beautiful, undisturbed beach and there is much there. To get to the beach, though, one drives down a long avenue of majestic oaks and Spanish moss. On the way, the astute visitor will hear the calls of numerous bird species and perhaps catch a glimpse of a red bellied woodpecker, scarlet tanager, tufted titmouse, orchard oriole, rufous-sided towhee, indigo bunting, bluebird, Carolina chickadee, the beautiful multicolored painted bunting or even one of the Lowcountry’s birds of prey. The morning or late day visitor might be greeted by deer or wild turkey along the drive.

It’s hard not to be a wildflower enthusiast at Botany Bay. Every few weeks the colors change as wildflowers fade only to be replaced by the new colors of succeedingwildflowers. On the drive down the avenue, look for rattle bush, coral bean, tickweed, lizard’s tail, prickly poppy,wisteria, passion flower, morning glory, wild mustard, crimson clover and trumpet vine.

Upon reaching the marsh-side parking, the ½ mile walk down the causeway to the beach begins. This is an opportunity to experience multiple natural habitats in the course of a short walk. The parking area/pines merges into a salt marsh habitat and the salt marsh ends at the entranceto a maritime forest habitat which will, in turn, open onto a beach habitat. Note how the plants, trees, animals, and birds change with each habitat. Consider, especially, the special adaptations necessary for plants and animals to survive the high salt load of the marsh or the sandy beach environment.

Returning from the beach, a self-guided driving tour leads past surviving plantation out buildings, through fields and woodlands, past a pond and lake and along the marsh that borders Ocella Creek. Stop at the kayak/canoe landing for a great view of the marsh, shore birds and perhaps even watch the dolphins “stranding” their meal. On the driving tour notice how the density of the forest canopy changes in places, leading to changes on the forest floor. Enjoy the sight of varied species of ferns forming natural fern “gardens.”

What should you bring with you? Bring bug spray. This is the South Carolina lowcountry so protect yourself against mosquitoes, chiggers and ticks. Bring your binoculars to better appreciate the birds, butterflies and wildflowers. And bring your camera to record your experience. Eventhe experts find it helpful to have a good birding or wildflower reference handy.

Botany Bay is a wildlife management area and as such, is managed for wildlife rather than for humans. There are no restrooms, water fountains or food sales. Bring your own water and a picnic lunch if you like. Remember to carry out anything you bring in. Leave everything you find behind, including the sea shells. Allow the shells to continue to accumulate so that future visitors will know what a natural South Carolina beach looks like.

The price is right, too! No admission charge. A great bargain in tough times.

Experience Edisto’s “Wild Side” with an EcoAdventure with Botany Bay Ecotours

Experience Edisto’s “Wild Side” with an EcoAdventure with Botany Bay Ecotours. Whether it’s kayaking with the dolphins or sipping your favorite beverage while our biologist and captain motors you in St. Helena Sound at sunset, Botany Bay Ecotours has a tour for everyone. http://www.botanybayplantation.com/


Tours depart from Edisto Marina and Botany Bay Plantation. Botany Bay is 4,000+ acres of protected salt and fresh water wetlands, upland and bottomland hardwoods, and pine forests. It is managed as a wildlife management area and is open at certain times of the year for public hunts.

A unique part of the property is the roughly three miles of undeveloped beach. Along with the beach on Botany Island, this area hosts South Carolina’s second largest nesting aggregation of loggerhead sea turtles. The sea turtle project is managed by a local non-profit, Learning through Loggerheads. http://www.ltlonline.org/.

Botany Bay Ecotours offers low impact walking and kayak tours that explore the different habitats on Edisto and their connections to the cultural history of the area. “Since humans have lived on Botany, they have used the natural resources for building materials, food and medicine. Our tours focus not only on the variety of systems and their inhabitants, but also on these uses from the early times of the Native Americans, through the colonial and slave periods, and up until today,” Botany Bay Ecotour owner, Meg Hoyle states. Meg is a local biologist who has worked with the sea turtle project on Botany since 1999. Her tours help support the sea turtle program and are a must for people who are interested in more than just scratching the surface of this property on a self guided tour.

To really experience what Edisto has to offer in terms of ecological magnificence, a tour with Botany Bay Ecotours is a must. Local resident and avid bird watcher Henry Woodhead has been on several tours with Meg. When asked what it is about the tours that makes it worthwhile, Henry said "Meg is a deep well of information, and she can tell you not only about Botany Bay, but also about the geology of the land, the kinds of plants and animals and shells you'll see, the medicinal qualities of the plants, the lore about the people and history of Edisto, current issues about the environment that are showing up here, and all with clarity, intelligence and humor. If you want to give your kids and yourself a little "education vacation," bring them to Meg. You won't regret it. She is a tremendous resource. Look, if you were going to Washington DC, and you knew all the museums were free, would you turn down an opportunity to have the Wright Brothers guide you through the Air and Space Museum? You get my meaning?”

Botany’s proximity to Edisto Beach makes it a wonderful asset for tourists and locals. An ecotour gift certificate is a great holiday gift for those who love Edisto.

To find out more about Botany Bay Ecotours, visit them online at http://www.botanybayplantation.com/. To check when the area is open to the public, visit the SC Department of Natural Resources website at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/.

Enjoy the Rich History of Edisto Island, South Carolina

Edisto Island is blessed with amazing physical beauty and a wonderful, tranquil way of life that harkens back to another era and has been virtually lost in many of the other sea islands. Life here is very much like it was 50 years ago. And, as the “locals” and regular visitors to Edisto South Carolina know, one of the greatest attributes of our island is its rich history that still comes alive today.

While you’re here, be sure to set time aside to visit the Edisto Island Museum, which is owned and operated by the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society. Those who came to this island generations ago left a part of themselves behind, things that have a story to tell about the history of Edisto. Our museum preserves this history through photographs and artifacts, which will give you a true “sense of place” that is unique to Edisto. There are still numerous historic structures on Edisto, many of which are not open to the public except once a year when they are on our annual plantation tour. By visiting the Museum, our visitors are able to learn more about the way of life behind those private gates and doors.

One of our most precious assets that is open to the public is the magnificent Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area. This property consists of nearly 5,000 acres and about three miles of pristine beach, and is the combination of two large plantations, Bleak Hall and Sea Cloud. While neither home is still intact, several historic outbuildings and structures dating from the 1800s remain.

To truly appreciate the historic significance of Botany Bay Plantation, a visit to the Museum is a must. In addition to photographs of Bleak Hall and Sea Cloud, we also have numerous pieces of furniture, china, silver and other artifacts that give our visitors a better understanding of what life was like on these vast plantations. Your Museum visit will help put everything into perspective when you go out to Botany Bay.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the Museum is just for adults. We have a wonderful nature room so children can see – and hear – examples of animals native to Edisto Island and the Lowcountry, including snakes, birds, foxes, raccoons and bobcats. Our Museum gift shop carries items for all ages, including educational toys and books.

The Edisto Museum is located at 8123 Chisolm Plantation Road, just off of Highway 174, at the entrance to Middleton Plantation. Our hours are from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. For more information, visit our website at www.edistomuseum.org.