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Wow! Simply WOW!

8/18/2023

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Last weekend and the weekend before, I had the privilege to explore the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve in Conway, SC. Actually, I only got to see a tiny portion of the 10,427-acre natural preserve. Still, I was mesmerized by the unique, diverse selection of flora surrounding me, and there were so many species of insects!

It is home to a number of threatened or endangered plants and wildlife.

My first trip was a field day sponsored by the Xerces Society’s Southeastern Bumble Bee Atlas (SEBBA) to survey the variety of bumble bees in the preserve. I’ve conducted a couple of surveys of my own and have only come across one species. However, that day we found four out of the five species living in this region. It may not sound interesting to you, but that’s a big deal, folks!
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My second adventure concentrated on dragonflies, butterflies, and other winged wonders. My goodness, I never knew those guys came in so many sizes and colors. From inch-long damsel flies to the magnificent dragonflies patrolling the boggy landscape, I discovered there are countless creatures living around us, minding their own business while playing a significant role in the environment. That included a water moccasin we encountered (at a distance) while exploring one of the streams.


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As fascinating as the bugs were, a couple of carnivorous plants captured my attention as well.

​The Yellow pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava) grows in damp, moist terrain. It depends on insects for nutrients.

Insects are attracted to the pitcher-shaped hollow leaves that contain a pool of water.  As the insect travels to the water, it encounters downward-pointing hairs that prevent the insect from exiting. The water pool contains insect-digesting enzymes that assist the plant in digesting its lunch.
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It has been estimated that 97.5% of pitcher plant habitats have been destroyed in the southeastern United States. They have been threatened by ongoing development and habitat loss. I’m happy to report that LOBHP has a healthy population of the pitcher plants.

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The highlight of my second visit was being shown the location of Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) growing in the wild.

​It grows in nutrient-poor soils along the coastal plain of the Carolinas. This plant gets most of its energy through photosynthesis but also receives some of its nutrients from digesting insects too. A small spider, ant, or other tiny insect crawling across a leaf brushes against tiny hairs that trigger the leaf to snap shut.  

Horry County has the only remaining wild population of these rare plants in South Carolina, so they are protected from unwelcomed visitors and poachers. I feel privileged to have been trusted with their location.

Unfortunately, some bad guys try to make a few bucks by digging up and illegally selling these rare plants to unwary buyers. The US Fish and Wildlife Service offers tips on how to avoid purchasing a poached flytrap.
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 I can’t believe I’ve lived in this area since the 1980s and never knew the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve existed. It is a fantastic place and well worth the two 102-mile round trips to visit. I will return there soon and tell you all about the treasures I find. In the meantime, if you are in the Myrtle Beach, SC area, drop by and see the wonders for yourself.

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    Greta Burroughs

    Through the Lens of a Nature-Lover

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    No creature, whether it has two, four, six, eight, or no legs, should ever be homeless. Every living being deserves the basics of food, water, and shelter. By planting native plants, trees, and shrubs, I can do something toward providing the food and shelter these creatures need.

    ​It's amazing how plants and insects evolved to interact with each other, and how one could always instinctively rely upon the other for survival.

    That's what Mother Nature intended.

    Unfortunately, humanity's carelessness and greed disrupted her master plan.


    ​I'm on a quest to help restore Nature's balance by collecting seeds from, transplanting, or propagating the indigenous plants I find along the roadsides and fields before they are mown down or poisoned with pesticides.

    Then, if my gardening skills don't fail me, my yard will eventually provide a year-round oasis of native flowers, trees, and shrubs that'll provide the food and shelter insects need to thrive and never be homeless again. 

    Through the Lens of a Nature-Lover will share my journey as I discover, photograph, and rescue the plants and bugs no one else notices.

    Please join me in my quest to end homelessness. Thank you for caring.


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I will read forever because it lets me visit in my mind the worlds that I will never be able to see; it helps me put away the stresses of the day and relax into the rhythm of the story before me; it lets me bring to the surface and experience without regrets those feelings I hide away; it lets me re-experience the thrill of first love through someone else's eyes; it keeps my mind juiced so that it will never desert me; it is always there for me even when there's no one else. I will read forever no matter whether it is print or digital because the words will always call to me. ~ A Sassy Scribbler