Dear Friends,

In her book of essays Upstream, the writer Mary Oliver wrote, “I could not be a poet without the natural world. . . . For me the door to the woods is the door to the temple.”

This has been a month in which many things would not be possible without the natural world, without the path to comfort, peace, and spirituality opening through the door in the woods. Our community suffered unspeakable losses in April 2024. So did much of the world. But in the process of spotting an Ovenbird on the path at the Land Trust's Gateway Property, of visiting a rookery with members of a Master Birder Class and watching nesting Roseate spoonbills feed their young, in the joy of having Daisy Scouts and fourth graders from St. Francis visit Cannon's Point Preserve, it was the world of wooded wonders that helped to keep us steady.

It was also a month in which we paid tribute to many during National Volunteer Week and when we thanked two incredible board members whose terms of service expire today. It was a spring in which we partnered with two other nonprofit organizations to host a stroll along the Frederica Greenway and show off the new boardwalk, bridges, and viewing platforms at the John Gilbert Nature Trail. It was a season in which we added native plants to the Pollinator Garden in the front yard at our office and seemingly overnight watched those plants grow and thrive.

At church on the last Sunday of the month, I teared up when the congregation sang "The Servant Song." As I stood with my mother, my husband, and my dear friend Anita, the words were a sweet refrain of love. And the birds outside the window composed a hymn of reconciliation and hope.

“May I be the tiniest nail in the house of the universe," wrote Mary Oliver. "Tiny but useful. May I stay forever in the stream. May I look down upon the windflower and the bull thistle and the coreopsis with the greatest respect.”  Amen.

Emily Ellison

Executive Director

We were delighted to host a group of lively Daisy Scouts from Troop 30111 at Cannon's Point Preserve this month. Accompanied by parents and scout leaders, these girls had fun exploring the Preserve and learning about local plants and wildlife. They used the Land Trust’s Passport to Preservation pamphlets to guide them on a scavenger hunt for pinecones, oak trees, oyster shells, and more, which was a great opportunity to practice the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles. The scouts built on what they had learned about their five senses study to make observations in nature, such as seeing butterflies, hearing birds sing, and smelling the sulfur in the air by the salt marsh.

The pollinator garden at the Land Trust Office is growing every day! A dedicated team of Land Trust volunteers worked alongside staff to plant more than 60 new plants sourced from the Coastal WildScapes Annual Spring Native Plant Sale. The native species planted include spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata), orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida), swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus grandiflorus), and more. Victory Gardens in Savannah generously donated several wild white indigo (Baptisia alba) plants. We can all look forward to seeing this garden flourish throughout the changing seasons.

Land Trust board member and Coastal Georgia Audubon Society board member Bob Sattelmeyer led an enthusiastic group of a dozen or more birders on a walk along the nature trail at the Land Trust’s Gateway Property. The nearly 10-acre parcel of land is contiguous with Gascoigne Bluff Park, and because of its proximity to the Frederica River and the marsh, it’s a haven for many native and migratory birds. As Dr. Sattelmeyer predicted, the group heard the songs and calls of more birds than they actually saw because of the dense foliage along the trail. But one species that the group was able to spot (and most had never seen before) was the Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla), a small songbird in the warbler family that forages near the forest floor. This little beauty gets its name from the dome-shaped nest it builds that has one opening (like an oven) and is covered with sticks and leaves. After walking the Gateway Trail, the group headed to the banks of the river where they listened for and spotted more spring migratory birds.

Last week, members of the American Impressionist Society painted artwork while on-site at the Land Trust's Mildred Huie Property. The artists painted a variety of images including portraits of local artist Kevin Pullen (at left), different angles of the Mildred Huie historical home and museum, and landscape paintings.

Millie Wilcox, the daughter of the late Mildred Huie, welcomed the visiting artists who came from across the country to participate in the conference. What fun it was to see artwork come alive on that property again!

Earth Month provided an abundance of green hues and blooming plants across Land Trust properties. A few of our favorites include striking bottlebrush blooms at the SSLT office, a vivid green anole at Cannon's Point Preserve, and a beautiful bigleaf magnolia specimen found along the Alice Richards Botanical Trail.

If you find interesting plants or wildlife while visiting Land Trust properties, please share your photos with us! Pictures can be emailed to Raleigh Kitchen at rkitchen@sslt.org.

Our first “Walk the Frederica Greenway” event held on April 20 with Bike Walk Golden Isles was a hit! More than 50 community members joined us for a casual walk up Frederica Road to visit and learn about a few of the Land Trust’s most beloved protected properties including the Land Trust's office, Mildred Huie property, Stollaway, Wildlife Drive, and John Gilbert Nature Trail.

We are especially grateful to Roger Steffens, Millie Wilcox, Marty Moody, George Barger, and Ben Slade for providing attendees with so much information about the history and ecology of each property. Thank you also to the Land Trust volunteers and those from BWGI and Golden Isles Track Club who helped the event run smoothly.

At the Annual Meeting of the Land Trust's Board of Directors on April 19, a new slate of Officers was elected, with terms beginning May 1. The new roster of Officers includes: Jim Barger, Chair; Robert Sattelmeyer, Vice Chair; Mary Jenrette, Treasurer; Susan Shipman, Secretary; and Greer Brown, remaining on the Executive Committee as Immediate Past Chair.

Additionally, two board members whose terms of office end today, after providing six years of dedicated service to the Land Trust, were thanked at the Annual Meeting. Those include Nancy Dorn who served two terms as Co-Chair of the Development/Communications Committee and one term as Secretary of the Board. Also departing the board today is David Wright who, like Nancy, helped to lead the Development and Communications Committee for a number of years and served one term as Board Secretary.

--Emily Ellison, ED of the St. Simons Land Trust

During National Volunteer Week (April 21-27), the Land Trust held a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at its office to thank and celebrate its incredible family of volunteers. The event, attended by nearly 40 people, included an informative living shoreline presentation by Stewardship Director Stephanie Knox who emphasized the crucial role that volunteers played in its success. A short video showcasing our 2023 Top Volunteers (see below) was shared with the attendees, and the evening was concluded with a delightful dinner.

We hope you will join us in thanking the 2023 Land Trust Top Volunteers and Volunteer of the Year! Together, this group of dedicated individuals donated 500+ HOURS of their time last year to help further the mission of the Land Trust. Incredible!

As a thank you, the group enjoyed a day trip to Little St. Simons Island guided by LSSI Ecological Manager and SSLT board member Scott Coleman.

Jerry Barnes, Scott Baynes, Nancy Berlin,

Richard Burgner, and Lynn Finnegan

The Dorothy Gilbert Award is named for the late conservationist and philanthropist Dorothy Gilbert, who gifted the invaluable 40-acre marsh front John Gilbert Nature Trail to the Land Trust in 2006. The award is made, as warranted, by the Board of Directors, to an individual that has contributed significantly to the mission of the Land Trust.

Join us in congratulating the 2023 award recipient Roger Steffens! Roger, a local landscape architect, is a Charter Member of the Land Trust and has served as a dedicated member of our Stewardship Committee for more than 20 years. Most recently, Roger designed the layout for the beautiful Pollinator Garden in the front yard of the Land Trust's office. Thank you for all you do, Roger!

at Old Stables Corner.

Island Hot Sauce is a locally owned small business that was created with humble intentions: to create a delicious sauce that enhances our food, opens our senses, and fortifies our bodies. Owner Patrick Langley shared that the business began as a hobby inspired by his love of gardening and cooking. His appreciation for flavor inspired him to fuse peppers, fruits, vegetables, and spices in creative and original ways. "I’ve made moves to gradually transform my recipes into an amazing final product that I’m proud of," Patrick said.

Flexer Enterprises is a family owned and operated apparel branding and promotions company located in Brunswick, GA. Started in 1980 by island native Bruce Flexer as a small cut and sew operation, the company has transformed into decorating apparel/hard goods for corporate partners and retail shops from Alaska to Georgia and every state in between.

The business, now operated by Bruce's son Jay Flexer, offers in-house services of screen printing and embroidery, but can accommodate any of your promotional needs.

please call (912) 267-6217 or email flexersales@bellsouth.net.

and the Land Trust's dedicated Pennies for Preservation partners.

Pennies for Preservation businesses raise funds to preserve and protect St. Simons Island.

1) Collecting a voluntary 1% or specific dollar amount donation from

their customers' receipts/invoices.

2) Donating 1% of their companies' proceeds or services.

As a way to honor the island's natural beauty and encourage everyone to get out on protected land throughout the spring and summer, we are sponsoring the third-annual St. Simons Land Trust PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST!

Submissions are due to Raleigh Kitchen at rkitchen@sslt.org by Friday, July 19.

Our new Columbia Booney hats have arrived! Whether kayaking saltwater creeks, hiking mountain terrain, birding, golfing, or simply gardening in your backyard, this hat fits the bill when you desire a little more sun protection on your adventures.

Booney hats are vented, sun blocking, moisture wicking, and have a 3-inch brim for shade. They also have an adjustable chin strap and toggle in back to secure the hat when it gets a little windy.

The 2023 GADNR Coastal Georgia Ecosystem Report Card was recently release showing a passing grade of B, or 78%, for the region.

According to the DNR, this is an important tool for "planning restoration activities and conservation. It provides a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of health in coastal Georgia. Coastal Georgia health is defined as the progress of indicators toward scientifically-derived thresholds or goals. The twelve indicators in the report card examine aspects in human health, fisheries, and wildlife."

Read more from the Report Card HERE.

May 1: Wednesday Warbler Walk with Coastal Georgia Audubon. Horton Pond/Tupelo Trail, Jekyll Island. 8am.

May 4: Coastal WildScapes Postell Creek Paddle with Southeast Adventure Outfitters. 2:30-5:30pm.

May 5: Pennies for Preservation Community Celebration at Old Stables Corner. 1-3pm.

May 8: Wednesday Warbler Walk with Coastal Georgia Audubon. Cannon's Point Preserve, St. Simons Island. 8am.

May 11: One Hundred Miles Naturalist 101 Field Trip: Tour Cumberland Island. 9am-3:30pm.

May 14: One Hundred Miles Teach-In: Let's Talk About Lighting. 12pm.

July 13: FJ Torras Causeway Centennial Celebration. Gascoigne Bluff Park. 9:30am.

July 27: Historic Harrington School Film Festival. College of Coastal Georgia. More info to come!