Dear Friends,
Sometimes it's fun to imagine how all of this would have turned out if God had put Hank and Wendy Paulson in charge of that garden in Eden instead of Adam and Eve. It's probable that Wendy would have resisted a bite of the apple, not because someone told her not to touch it (even The Almighty), but because she would have done her research and weighed the pros and cons of partaking of the forbidden fruit. She would have been far more interested in sustainability than Eve and in making certain that paradise was protected for future generations.
Not every thing that The Man Upstairs designed was perfectly perfect (take the mango seed, for example, or the horsefly), but Lord knows that he did some very right things when he created the Paulsons and they became the stewards of Little St. Simons Island.
Last Saturday, one of the staff naturalists at LSSI, Adam Weber, spotted four American flamingos on the island. At first he thought they were part of a flock of roseate spoonbills. But then one of these graceful beauties raised its elegant neck, and Adam realized with a start that he was seeing what was likely the first recorded sighting in Coastal Georgia of Phoenicopterus ruber. This large, exotic, pink-plumed wading bird is native to the West Indies, parts of South America (including the Galapagos Islands) and the Yucutan Peninsula. Although the species, with its long, S-shaped neck and spindly legs has long been a symbol of Florida, there are now few resident populations in the state, even in its most southern reaches.
American Flamingos rarely travel far distances unless water levels rise on the mudflats where they normally reside. But yet there they were, lingering in the area around Little St. Simons Island's Myrtle Pond. Since they remained there over the weekend, LSSI's leadership quickly invited dedicated naturalists and conservation volunteers to take advantage of such a rare treat and join them in observing the birds. Those who made it over to Little St. Simons this week said it was one of the most remarkable things they had ever seen in nature. One passionate birder told me that it left him speechless.
While most of us are far from being pantheists, when the world seems "too much with us," as Wordsworth wrote, there are few things that soothe the soul and help us make sense of the universe better than the natural world. Sometimes we get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see something like those pinkish-red flamingoes on Little St. Simons. Or we read about the synchronization flash patterns of fireflies during their three to four-week adulthood. Or we hear the percussionist symphony of this year's cicada emergence.
While The Big Guy may have made a tiny slip-up or two, we can forgive minor mistakes (sandspurs and ticks occasionally come to mind), because 99.9% of what's in nature is miraculous. Those tall, balletic flamingos. Lightning bugs. Singing cicadas. Hummingbirds. Sea turtles, sea shells, Wilson's plovers. And, of course, the Paulsons -- and all those other birders, hikers, conservationists, thinkers, and doers who have dedicated their lives to caring for Eden. Bless them every one.
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Emily Ellison
Executive Director
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CANNON'S POINT PRESERVE SUMMER HOURS |
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Beginning May 25, the Cannon's Point Preserve hours of operation were updated to the below:
Saturday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
(Southern area ONLY)
Sunday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
(Southern area ONLY)
Monday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
(All Preserve areas open as usual)
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If you have questions about these changes,
please call Stewardship Director Stephanie Knox
at (912) 638-9109 during normal business hours.
Thank you!
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Tomorrow, June 1, is National Trails Day. While access to the five-mile roundtrip hike to the north-end of Cannon's Point Preserve and other parts of the extensive trail system at the Preserve are limited during summer hours, there are many trails to take advantage of in the Southern section of CPP near the South Tower and the former Taylor's Fish Camp. We also encourage you to enjoy the many miles of trails on other Land Trust properties. See a full list with links to maps below. Happy Hiking!
From north to south:
*Glynn County Partner Property
Photo by Volo Project
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SPOTTED
See below for interesting plants or wildlife found on Land Trust properties.
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American alligator
Cannon's Point Preserve
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Sea ox-eye daisy
Guale Preserve
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Black racer
Cannon's Point Preserve
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Volunteers at Cannon's Point Preserve came upon some very exciting reptiles this month! Both an American alligator and a black racer were spotted taking advantage of the spring sunshine and warmth. At Guale Preserve, sea ox-eye daisy was found providing a perfect pop of yellow along the waterfront shoreline.
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.
Note: Please remember that there is a "no take" policy on all protected properties.
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P4P COMMUNITY CELEBRATION |
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Sincerest thanks to all who were able to join us at Old Stables Corner on Sunday, May 5 to celebrate the $1 MILLION mark surpassed by our Pennies for Preservation business partners and their customers/clients since this giving program was founded. It was especially gratifying to see so many from the community enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon on everyone's favorite corner and to see so many families and children playing games, having their photos taken, and learning about coastal wildlife. |
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WELCOME, NEW BOARD MEMBERS! |
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Few nonprofit organizations are blessed with as many dedicated board members as is the St. Simons Land Trust. Whether our Directors are professional conservationists, business leaders, attorneys, educators, entrepreneurs, or retirees, they are all passionate about the SSLT Mission and in protecting the natural beauty and quality of life on St. Simons Island.
Our four newest board members, who began their terms of service on May 1, 2024,
are no exception. What IS exceptional is their range of expertise, experience, and commitment to community. They include:
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Susan Fant, the founder of Preservation Partners, a consulting firm specializing in historic preservation and heritage tourism planning, is a native of Braselton, Georgia, who recently relocated permanently to her home on Sea island after 25 years in Washington, DC. Susan is a graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman's College (now Randolph College) and holds a JD from Vanderbilt University's School of Law.
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Ann Pequigeney, a longtime supporter of SSLT who has served on its Development & Communications Committee, is a native New Yorker who worked in the investment business for more than 30 years and held positions and lived in Boston, Dallas, and Atlanta. She is a graduate of Trinity College in Washington, DC, and has served on numerous nonprofit boards.
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Manning Rountree was born and rasied on St. Simons Island. He holds a BS in Mathematical Economics and a BA in English, Summa Cum Laude, from Wake Forest University, as well as a JD from the Northwestern School of Law, and an MM, With Distinction, from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He is CEO of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd., and he and his family live in Lyme, New Hampshire, with frequent stays in the Golden Isles.
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Bill Stembler, an Atlanta native, received his BS in Business Administration from the University of Florida and his JD from the University of Georgia Law School. His first job out of law school was with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an enforcement attorney. Two years later he left the SEC to join his family's business, the original Georgia Theatre Company that was founded in 1920. He is Chairman of the Georgia Theatre Company Employee Stock Ownership Trust (ESOT), that is headquartered in Coastal Georgia.
Welcome, Ann, Bill, Manning, and Susan!
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P4P CELEBRATION
Thank you to Scott, Ethan, and Robbie (not pictured) for helping serve popcorn and other treats to the attendees of the P4P Community Celebration on May 5!
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LETTER STUFFING
Volunteers Claudia, Marti, Betsy, and Denise dedicated their time to fold, stuff, seal, and stamp hundreds of thank-you letters and other correspondence this month.
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CPP DOCENTS
The docents at Cannon's Point Preserve continue to welcome visitors and enhance their experience by providing historical and ecological information about the area. Thank you all!
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Thanks, as always, to those volunteers who come twice a week to water the Land Trust's Pollinator Garden and Native Plant Gardens. Who restock the books in our Little Lending Libraries, and who help us almost every day with both special and mundane tasks.
We could NOT do our work without this dedicated corps of committed and cheerful community leaders.
Thank You!
If you're interested in becoming a Land Trust volunteer, please click the button below!
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Join us in thanking our Ambassador of the Month,
J.P. THORNTON!
A Golden Isles native, J.P. has been a dedicated Land Trust Ambassador for two and a half years. He also provides invaluable input while serving on the organization's Development/Communications Committee. J.P. is incredibly reliable and works hard to plan and execute many Ambassador events throughout the year. We are so fortunate to have him as part of the A-Team!
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"Cocktails for The Kitchens"
Yesterday evening, Land Trust Ambassadors hosted, instead of their usual "Cocktails for Conservation" gathering, a special "Cocktails for The Kitchens" event at V Pizza. This heartwarming and uplifting event was designed to benefit the Land Trust's Communications Director Raleigh Kitchen and her family as her husband, Jacob, recovers from a traumatic brain injury. Thank you to the nearly 200 attendees who joined us for food and drinks, live music from John Belt & Chris Morgan, and of course lively conversations. Special thanks to V Pizza's ownership and staff for the great food and service and for donating most of their proceeds to the fundraiser. It was certainly a reminder of just how special is our Golden Isles community.
UPDATE: We are grateful to be able to share with you that Jacob was dismissed from ICU last weekend and is slowly recovering while he and Raleigh await the birth of their second child in the next few days. Please know how truly appreciative we are for the concern and generous support you have shown to this beloved young family. Thank you!
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Please remember to continue supporting our Golden Isles businesses
and the Land Trust's dedicated Pennies for Preservation partners.
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Participating businesses raise contributions by either:
1) Collecting a voluntary 1% or specific dollar amount donation from
their customers' receipts/invoices.
OR
2) Donating 1% of their companies' proceeds or services.
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Photo by 2023 Photography Contest Winner, Steve Kendall |
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Don't forget to submit your photos to the
third-annual St. Simons Land Trust
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST!
Submissions are due to Raleigh Kitchen
Winning photos may be featured in the Land Trust's 2025 calendar, online media, and in print media.
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Ann Pequigney and Wayne Kissinger
Ireland
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Michael Nyenhuis and Susie Copley
Panama
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We love seeing Land Trust hats and T's adventuring all over the world! This month, hats were spotted as far away as Guatemala, Ireland, and Panama. Thank you all for sharing your photos with us! Where will your Land Trust swag be seen next?
All SSLT merchandise can be purchased in-office or on our website via the button below.
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June 14: Taste of Gullah Celebration. Historic Harrington School, 5:00 to 7:00 PM
July 27: Historic Harrington School Film Festival. College of Coastal Georgia. More info to come!
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THANK YOU TO OUR
2024 12-MONTH SPONSORS
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