Dear Friends,

We always joke at the Land Trust that by the time July 4^th rolls around, it will only be a hot minute before pumpkins are being lined up by everyone’s front doors. This year, October came and went with more speed than ever, with hardly a moment to breathe in the cooler air and take note of the slight change of seasons on the island. But even in our busy-ness, this tenth month was as spectacular as always with its full autumn moon and the gentle swaying of muhly grass.

Muhlenbergia capillaris, with its long, pink, hair-like leaves, is one of the joys of October. There are mass plantings of it near the living shoreline at Cannon’s Point Preserve. As the water rises and falls around the CPP peninsula, and as fall breezes blow, the muhly (pronounced mewlee) undulates as if one with the tidal creek, the Altamaha, and the rhythms of the sea.

Recently, we’ve been planting this native perennial in the new Pollinator Garden in the front yard at the Land Trust’s office. Thanks to contributions from Southeast Nursery, in the coming years there will be four-foot-tall waves of this pinkish-purplish seeded plant, providing food for pollinators and a spot of beauty that will be a joy to share with the community.

We have been working diligently to “walk the walk” about landscaping with native plants and replacing turf and hardscapes with surfaces that are conducive to proper drainage and creating habitat for native and migratory birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. On the front end, it’s much harder than mowing and blowing a spotty patch of grass. But in the end, it creates a low-maintenance garden, one far closer to the dynamics of the natural world, with plants that tolerate our coastal heat and humidity, salt air, and occasional droughts.

Although it’s very different from all the “orangeiness” of the season, muhly grass has become one of the local markers of October – a stunning sign that the birds are migrating, the temperatures are dropping, the hurricanes (knock on wood!) are swirling down the drain of the Atlantic before reaching land, and that there are more treats than tricks on this 31^st day of the month. Happy Halloween from all of us at the Land Trust.

Emily Ellison

Executive Director

Land Trust staff, partners, and volunteers came together this month to break ground on a new Pollinator Garden at the Land Trust's office. This long-held dream of creating habitat for pollinators has become an exciting reality thanks to so many, especially sisters Peggy Dean and Pam Anderson, whose incredibly generous donation to the Land Trust in memory of their parents has helped to fund the project.

Chaired by SSLT Volunteer Jeffry White and SSLT Stewardship Committee member Roger Steffens, the Pollinator Garden Committee worked together to design the space and select the species and numbers of mostly native plants that would thrive in our front yard, creating a sanctuary for native and migratory birds and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bees, and other insects. The Committee also included SSLT Board member Bob Sattelmeyer, Stewardship Committee member Cliff Gawron, Land Trust member and avid birder Yve Morrell, and SSLT staff members Rebecca Cushing, Sue Tuttle, and Emily Ellison.

Landscape Architect Roger Steffens, who is a Charter Member of the Land Trust and has served as a dedicated member of our Stewardship Committee member for more than 20 years, designed the layout for the garden that now features nearly 150 plants and 25 different species. Carter Land Services worked closely with the Land Trust to complete the initial landscaping transformation, and Southeast Nursery on St. Simons Island and Florabundance Gardens in Darien have offered generous donations of plants. The garden is a work in progress and will include a bird bath, bird feeders, walking paths, seating, and additional species of plants will be installed in the coming weeks.

We hope you stop by soon to walk through this beautiful new space!

On Saturday, October 14, nearly 100 community members visited Guale Preserve for its first-annual Family Day hosted by the Land Trust Ambassadors. Families from across the Golden Isles enjoyed guided hikes along the Preserve's Ancient Dune Trail, learning from our partners through interactive booths, participating in scavenger hunts, and simply spending time in nature together.

A special thank you to all Ambassadors and Volunteers, and to our partners at Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Sea Island, Coastal WildScapes, Coastal Georgia Historical Society, Fort Frederica National Monument, Fuse Frozen Co. and Sandy Bottom Bagels for helping to make the day unforgettable!

The Land Trust, in partnership with Coastal Georgia Audubon, hosted two Fall Bird Walks at Cannon's Point Preserve this month. These walks were held during what is typically peak migration. Between the two events, more than 30 different species were spotted including a bald eagle, white-eyed vireo, black-and-white warbler, eastern towhee, pileated woodpecker and many more.

Cannon's Point Preserve is considered an e-Bird Hotspot with 162 total species observed onsite. Learn more from eBird HERE.

Land Trust properties are alive with some of our area's most interesting flora and fauna. This month, our staff and volunteers encountered (from a safe distance) two rattlesnakes at Cannon's Point Preserve - a canebrake and eastern diamondback! Several fall blooming plants were also spotted, including white crownbeard which was found along Janet's Trail at Guale Preserve's waterfront.

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

College of Coastal Georgia students proved that college is not only "better by the beach" but also on protected land, where they worked this month with Land Steward Technician, Rebecca Cushing, to survey and manage invasive plant species across several Land Trust properties including Cannon's Point Preserve, Guale Preserve, John Gilbert Nature Trail, Stollaway, and more.

The students utilized the ArcGIS Survey123 app to complete field surveys, collecting geospatial data for the Land Trust to monitor the spread of invasive species over time. The students also worked hard to remove roughly 500 invasive plants ranging from small seedlings and saplings to larger plants. Some of the removed species included tree of heaven, largeleaf lantana, air potato, Japanese privet, Chinese tallow, Japanese wisteria, and others.

This project is part of the service-learning program in which Dr. Tate Holbrook’s Conservation Biology students gain ‘real-world’ experience in addressing conservation challenges while helping to advance the mission of community partners like the Land Trust.

On January 20, 2024, the Land Trust will once again host its annual Oyster Roast under the beautiful live oaks at Gascoigne Bluff Park from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM. We can't wait to see you all there!

Tickets for this beloved community event will be available to the general public on Monday, December 4.

If you would like to receive a discount on Oyster Roast tickets and EARLY ACCESS to purchase them on Sunday, December 3, be sure to renew your membership or become a new member TODAY!*

Get ready to enjoy mouth-watering coastal cuisine (including oysters, of course) from numerous local restaurants, invigorating live music all evening along, preferred beverages, and more! More details coming soon.

*Members can purchase up to four (4) tickets per household on Sunday, December 3. If more than four tickets are needed in your party, those non-member tickets can be purchase on Monday, December 4.

Join us in welcoming our NEWEST Pennies for Preservation partners,

Tree Spirit Candle Company and St. Simons Bait and Tackle!

Calling all yogis! Traci Lee, owner of East Beach Yoga and a dedicated Pennies for Preservation partner, is excited to offer Land Trust members a very special discount on yoga classes this holiday season.

From now until December 31, 2023, all current Land Trust members can receive:

In order to receive the discount, simply inform Traci when booking that you are a current Land Trust member. The East Beach Yoga studio schedule can be found on their website HERE.

Studio space is limited and requires a reservation. Please call or text (912) 771-9021 to reserve a spot with 24 hours notice. Payment can be made with cash, check, or card.

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.

Land Trust hats were spotted on outings and adventures in Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Iceland this month! Little Jocie wore her hat while helping her grandparents in the garden while Scotland and Peggy used their hats to keep their heads warm at Glacier Lagoon in Iceland. The Baker family brough their hat along when visiting Haleakalā National Park on the stunning island of Maui. What fun!

Don't have a hat? Let's fix that!

All four versions of SSLT hats can be purchased in-office or on our website below.

November 2: SOLD OUT "William Bartram in the Golden Isles" presentation by Dr. Bob Sattelmeyer. SSLT Office. 5:30PM.

November 2: One Hundred Miles Naturalist 101 VIRTUAL PRESENTATION: We Are All Whalers - Lecture with Dr. Michael J. Moore, WHOI. 7:00PM.

November 5: One Hundred Miles Naturalist 101 VIRTUAL PRESENTATION: Ebenezer Creek Paddle. 7:00PM.

November 25: Harrington Community Meet & Greet: Learn about the many events scheduled to celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of the Historic Harrington School in 2024. 1:00 - 4:00PM, Harrington Historic School. Free admission & light refreshments.

December 3: EARLY ACCESS to purchase Oyster Roast tickets for CURRENT Land Trust members.

December 4: Oyster Roast tickets ON SALE for the general public.

December 7: One Hundred Miles Naturalist 101 VIRTUAL PRESENTATION: Genetic Tools for Sea Turtle Conservation - Lecture with Dr. Brian Shamblin, UGA

December 9: Coastal WildScapes' Member Appreciation Oyster Roast, Sapelo Island Visitors Center, Darien

January 20, 2024: St. Simons Land Trust OYSTER ROAST, Gascoigne Bluff Park, SSI.

February 17, 2024: The Bridge Run by Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation