Dear Friends,
Autumn has always been the most anticipated season, the one where you walk out the door on a cooling morning and suddenly the light and the air have changed. You inhale and say to your loved one, "Do you smell it? There's fall in the air."
I wish Einstein could tell us, though, whether the arc of time is bent by age. Does it only seem that the space between July 4th and Halloween collapse more dramatically each year as we grow older? During the last two or three years in particular the seasons have telescoped in and out -- butting up against one another, more continuous in temperature, weather, climate.
Still, fall is something of a miracle, even if the thermometer doesn't register much differently from what it did at the end of August. The light truly does shift, the colors evolve to a golden brilliance before they darken, the days start to narrow, the snow birds (human and otherwise) take up temporary residence on the coast and diversify our habitat. And we begin to nest.
My beloved prefers spring, a time of beginnings, fresh starts, surrounded by a delicate greenness that will not be seen again for another eleven or twelve months. But for some of us, it's autumn that provides those glorious months when our spirits sprint along wooded trails, when we take long, deep, rejuvenating breaths, and embrace everything about our lives before the inevitable winter arrives.
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Emily Ellison
Executive Director
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This month, we celebrated Cannon's Point Preserve's
NINE-YEAR anniversary!
On September 28, 2012, with the support of so many of you, 608 acres on the north-end of St. Simons were preserved for present and future generations. Today, the Preserve boasts 644 acres of permanently protected habitat for wildlife such as oysters, birds, fish, and manatee and is part of the globally important Altamaha River corridor.
"Nine years ago, significant and exciting conservation work began on St. Simons Island through the purchase and permanent protection of Cannon’s Point Preserve. We are truly grateful to the dedicated Land Trust members, volunteers, and partners including The Nature Conservancy and Georgia Department of Natural Resources who continue to play a role in conservation with us."
--Stephanie Knox, Cannon's Point Preserve Manager
Read more from our CPP Property Spotlight HERE. |
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BAFA TRAINING
Training for the 2021 season of BAFA research has begun at the Preserve! BAFA, or Butterflies of the Atlantic Flyway Alliance, was formed to bring together conservation land managers and citizen scientists in Georgia to collect data on native species of butterflies. Through five years of surveys in the Coastal Georgia counties, BAFA will gather the information necessary to create land management recommendations for property owners and managers in our region and enhance the populations of these species.
Learn more about the research and see 2020 stats HERE.
Speaking of butterflies, check out this jaw-dropping footage of monarch butterflies overwintering, and then taking flight, in Mexico. |
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SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECT
We were pleased to welcome back members of Coastal Georgia's Conservation Biology class to Cannon's Point Preserve this month. As a part of their service-learning project, these students will be mapping invasive species on Land Trust properties, mostly focusing on CPP and Guale Preserve.
Thank you to Eamonn Leonard (GaDNR) for educating the students about invasive species and for being our partner in preservation.
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JACKIE MAGNANT
Jackie Magnant has been a volunteer since 2018 as a Cannon's Point Preserve docent, and she has put in countless hours as a lead docent, trail trimming, and trail monitoring at CPP. She has also been a great help with GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping at the Preserve.
When asked what she would say to someone considering becoming a volunteer, Jackie said,
"It’s a terrific place to volunteer. You become an essential part of educating our visitors on the importance of land preservation and the SSLT’s role in saving some of our most valuable environmental, cultural, and wildlife habitats."
Read more from Jackie's spotlight questionnaire HERE.
To become a member of the dedicated family of SSLT Volunteers,
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Long-tailed skipper nectaring on Spanish needle |
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If you have recently driven past the Land Trust's Stollaway property along Frederica Road, you may have noticed the abundance of small, white blooming flowers. While the property may not appear landscaped at the moment, it is a blooming meadow filled with native nectar plants that are perfect for a number of pollinating insects including long-tailed skippers, bees, and gulf fritillaries.
In order to protect these fall wildflowers and the pollinators that depend on them, the Land Trust has decided to refrain from mowing these native meadow areas through the fall. Read more HERE. |
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Members Kim and Phil Belt
Acadia National Park
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Volunteer Kendra Johnson
Iliamna, Alaska
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Members Wayne Kissinger
and Ann Pequigney
Colorado Springs
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Online orders and in-person visits to purchase Land Trust hats have been abundant this past month! We are thrilled so many of you will be representing SSLT on your upcoming adventures! Be sure to email us or tag us on social media at @stsimonslandtrust to be featured in upcoming E-newsletters and social media posts! |
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Don't have a hat? Let's fix that!
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You may also call our office at (912) 638-9109
to purchase yours over the phone.
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When you step into this new mid-island upscale restaurant you're immersed in a Singapore-inspired setting with British Colonial decor and a stunning view of the iconic Old Stables Corner with its serene greenspace and close to 50 majestic live oaks.
Dorothy’s Cocktail & Oyster Bar has a sweet legacy. It was named in honor of Daniel's maternal grandmother, the gracious Dorothy Crane, who was a sensational cook and homemaker.
The restaurant serves raw fresh seafood and other coastal cuisine alongside many dishes inspired by the Auffenbergs' travels to Southeast Asia. From Sambal Fried Oysters and Fire Roasted Chicken to Salmon Aguachile and the Dorothy's Burger, their custom-made wood burning grill and oven create mouthwatering dishes for every taste.
For those who are thirsty, Dorothy’s specialty is craft cocktails, both original and classics. They have one of the largest spirit collections on St. Simons with an ever-growing cocktail list. Stop by to enjoy them during happy hour from 4-6pm!
In addition to being our partners in preservation, Dorothy's donates their oyster shells to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to be used in the construction of artificial reefs along Georgia's coast.
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"Dorothy's has decided to partner
with the St. Simons Land Trust
because we strongly believe in
the work they do to preserve
this beautiful island we now call home.
We are so fortunate to look out over the Old Stables Corner from our patio
and hope that with our partnership
we can assist in preserving more
historic spaces like this one."
-- Daniel and Claire Auffenberg
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Let's Keep it Local!
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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Thank you to all participating Pennies for Preservation businesses,
their teams, and their patrons!
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SSLT BOOK NOOK - STAFF PICK |
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This month, the Land Trust's "Staff Pick" is
by south Georgia native Janisse Ray.
The Altamaha River, to which Cannon's Point Preserve is linked, is deep and wide bordered by swamps. Its corridor contains an extraordinary biodiversity, including many rare and endangered species, which led The Nature Conservancy to designate it as one of the world’s last great places.
From childhood, Janisse Ray dreamed of paddling the entire length of the Altamaha to where it empties into the sea. Drifting into Darien begins with an account of finally making that journey. With praise, biting satire, and hope, Ray goes looking for wisdom and finds a river.
to purchase this and many other captivating reads by author Janisse Ray.
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December 1 -- SSLT 2022 Oyster Roast tickets go on sale!
January 1 -- Glynn County residential home recycling begins being provided by SUBSCRIPTION ONLY.
January 22, 2022 -- SSLT ANNUAL OYSTER ROAST, Gascoigne Bluff, SSI
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CONTINUED THANKS TO OUR
2021 BUSINESS SPONSORS:
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AS ALWAYS,
FROM ALL OF US, TO ALL OF YOU,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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