The Comya Gardener: Gardening in South Carolina's Lowcountry
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June 28th, 2020

6/28/2020

15 Comments

 

Welcome!

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​The Gullah people of South Carolina have two great words for newcomers and natives of the area – Comyas and Binyas.  Comyas are people who come from away and there are many of us who have escaped the frozen north to move here.  Binyas have been here for more than just while – 150 years or so.  Certainly the Gullah have every right to be called “Binyas.”  This is their land in so many ways and their unique culture enriches the newcomers to the Lowcountry.
 
I am certainly a Comya.  I moved here from Cleveland and before that I lived in Boston for 43 years.  There is not a trace of the South in my speech.  While I have learned to like Duke’s Mayonaise and White Lily flour, I still cherish my lobster and Indian pudding.   When it comes to gardening though, I have had to adapt to the Southern ways and the many challenges.


 
What does it take to garden in South Carolina’s Lowcountry?  Well, to begin with, you need to wear many hats:
 
You must be a Civil Engineer.  Every year I put down 20 bags of compost only to have much of it wash away during one of our torrential rainstorms.  Where does it go?  Darned if I know.  My lawn looks pretty good though so it might wash onto it, what little there is of it.  Our drainage is hampered by clay soil and wash outs are frequent.   So I construct little channels, edging devices, and rock battens to try to keep the soil in place.  The next storm, the water (and topsoil) will no doubt find another route, but I carry on constructing, earth moving, and damning up potential streams.
 
You must be a Wildlife Manager.   There always seems to be some sort of creature in the garden.  It might be benign like a small anole lizard or it could be an alligator enjoying the sunshine.  Armadillos love to dig for grubs in flower beds, snakes like to hide under shrubs, and tree frogs seem to take delight in jumping down the front of your shirt. Those sticky little feet feel very weird.  I spend a lot of time trimming up shrubs to 12” above the ground to prevent hiding places or at least to give me a clear view of what might be lurking.
 
You must be a Chemist.  Welcome to the wonderful world of NPK and all the other trace elements present (or not) in our rather unique soil.  Usually, we have lots of phosphorous since it was mined here in the past.  Nitrogen?  Hope for a lightning strike.  Potassium?  Oh yes, you might need that, or not.  A soil test will tell you what you have and what you need, but you will need to call up your 11th grade Chemistry class notes to figure it all out.
 
You need to be a Funeral Director/Grief Counselor.  Plants will die!   Patience will be needed as well as a certain toughness of mind and the ability to let go. Do not get too attached to anything.  You must remind yourself that a dead plant can become good compost (perhaps to be washed away in the next storm  -- the never ending cycle of Lowcountry life)
 
Having said all this, gardening in the Lowcountry can be very rewarding.  How fun to post Facebook or Instagram photos of flowers in December to the envy of your Northern friends.  Spring comes in February with the first yellow masses of Carolina Jessamine in bloom.  I often shoveled snow in April in Boston.
 
I am hoping that this Blog will give you some insights, ideas, and practical tips to make Lowcountry gardening a more fun and less stressful activity
 

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And another one bites the dust! Euphorbia, that is!
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Where oh where did my topsoil go?
15 Comments
Casey Cassino
7/3/2020 03:04:15 pm

I wanted to keep reading ...
I look forward to reading your future blogs Wendy and learning more about Lowcountry gardening from an avid gardener that strives to educate not only herself but that she cares enough to blog in order to help the rest of us succeed with our plants.
Thank you, thank you, for your courage to admit death of a well loved plant and the inevitable disappearance of soil from your garden during one of our delightful rain storms. Many of us deal with similar situations in our yards as well and it's comforting to know we are not alone in this cycle of
constant repair. Thank you for your ongoing mentoring! I look forward to learning more. - Casey -

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Alice
7/6/2020 12:06:39 pm

This is wonderful Wendy! A great read and one we can all commiserate with.

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skip robinson
7/7/2020 05:24:11 am

Great voice. Keep me on your email list

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Darlene S Sneden
7/7/2020 05:35:51 am

I'd like to subscribe to your blog. Where can I sign up? I don't see a "button."

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Janet link
7/8/2020 07:27:39 am

I really like your blog. It so reminds me of problems I’ve had over the years. Thanks for sending this interesting blog

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Dottie Foote
7/8/2020 03:43:20 pm

Wendy,

Such a great idea especially for lowcountry newbies. I look forward to future dates in the blog.

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Luci kent
7/14/2020 10:37:34 am

Sign me up?

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Ginny McBride link
8/7/2020 05:15:38 pm

Looking forward to turning my brown thumb green.

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Kay Roller
8/30/2020 10:51:19 am

Wendy, as I red the recent Callawassie Tidings, I found the information about your blog! I love your style and voice! I could hear you as I read it. I live that most of us are Comeyas and found this comforting. Your tips are helpful; I’m wondering what I will find when I return, both : some fried and some that have taken over , in addition to everything that will need to be trimmed! Loving Ohio but also missing Callawassie ❣️Thank you Wendy💕

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Lisa Holt
9/24/2020 06:14:16 pm

Love the way you write! I am a new transplant from Massachusetts and your honesty about Low Country gardening validates my feelings perfectly. Keep it up

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Beth Evans
10/17/2020 07:37:55 am

I look forward to more!

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marti webster link
10/30/2020 11:19:18 am

Look forward to your posting. Helpful and delightful to read.

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Janina Cushman
1/24/2021 11:35:41 am

Redoing my garden, I love antique roses.

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Linda Linner
2/14/2021 06:40:08 am

I am new to the area. Took the Master Gardener program.
Taking it all in.. Love planting my yard with natives and perennials!

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linda linner
4/18/2021 05:07:05 am

New to the area from Naples, Fl - love your posts . Really helps.

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