59
No.
Red Cedar
Southern red cedar (Juniperus
virginiana var. silicicola), a variety
of the eastern red cedar (Juniperus
virginiana) – is a tree found throughout
many of Kiawah’s habitats. It is most
prominent within the Island’s salt
shrub thickets – the collars of habitat
that exist between the tidal salt marsh
and adjacent forested uplands. In fact,
it is often the first tree you’ll come
across as you leave the marsh for high
ground – and the first tree you’ll see as
you cross the Kiawah River Bridge on
your approach to the Island. This tree,
which is often overlooked among the
more majestic live oaks and magnolias,
should be noted for its toughness. It
can exist in harsh conditions, where it
is constantly exposed to wind and salt
spray, and even is occasionally met by
the highest tides. Because of its ability
to survive in these areas of the Island,
it fills a niche that supports a variety of
wildlife. Its fruit, tiny lavender cones
that look more like berries, are an
important winter food source for birds
including cedar waxwings; and its
dense form also provides nesting space
and cover for other birds and wildlife.
While many may overlook this tree and
its ecological importance, I consider
this tough fellow as one of my favorite
trees on Kiawah – not only because of
its ability to persevere on the fringes
of the Island, but also because of the
important habitat it offers.
- Justin Core
60
#
The Beauty of the Island is Ever-Changing
Like most people, what I love about Kiwah is its natural beauty. The Island features incredible plants with characteristics
atypical of other parts of the country, such as oak trees that do not lose their leaves in the winter and conifers that do.
Bobcats sun themselves on porches; red knots stop by on their long journey from the southern most part of the planet to
the far north; and the most colorful bird found in North America, the painted bunting, makes its summer home here.
Interestingly, the beauty of the Island is not static. Change is inevitable, some of it by the hand of man and some by
nature. Some disruption of the natural environment can be managed, for example by how people build and landscape their
properties, or by how we maintain the Island’s ponds. These are indeed not “natural,” having been created decades ago
by damming up fingers of marsh, but nevertheless create incredible habitat for a multitude of animals. Other disruptions
are “invasive.” The non-native tallow trees spread naturally on their way to destroying our freshwater wetlands and need
management of a different sort.
But there is also change brought here by nature that adds to the beauty of the Island. An example is the Virginia glasswort,
Salicornia depressa, with its magnificent scarlet floral display in October. I have noticed it only in recent years, and it was
not on the 1975 Environmental Inventory of the Island. It is a native plant and was identified in Virginia almost 300 years
ago. A sample taken from Virginia in the 1720’s can be found today in the Natural Histoy Musuem, London. It is not
known to be harmful -it’s even quite edible -a