Naturally Kiawah Magazine Volume 31 | Page 54

62 er 63 After celebrating our 13th year as permanent residents, all of these things are still high on my list of things I love about Kiawah. To them, of course, I would add the many good friends we have come to know and love here on the Island. But the one thing I would note as something I love, especially as a photographer, is our changing seasons. I love that we have gloriously bright green shoots sprouting up through the winter’s beige in the marsh grasses every spring. I love knowing that the magnolias are about to bloom and the shore birds will be building their nests and filling them with baby chicks. In the summer, I love that the ocean breezes cool the air and the stately live oaks provide shade from the season’s brightest sun. I love that the fall brings us the lush pinkish/purple of sweetgrass in bloom and an occasional burst of red or gold alongside its dainty stems. I love the cooler weather and the seeming explosion of male deer seeking to establish their harems. And finally, I love that our winter is short and relatively mild - but it is still winter. The days that drop to the 30s can easily be followed by a burst of sun and a lovely day in the 60s. Many of our plants and grasses stay green and the marsh transitions from the golden grasses of fall to the soft, muted beige of winter. Birds remain and are more easily spotted as the trees’ leaves become more sparse. And spring, always, is just around the corner to start the cycle all over again. So to those who might complain that our summers are too hot, or our winters too cold, I say variety is the spice of life and the changing seasons on Kiawah are one of her most endearing attributes. - Tina Schell 64 ll My husband and I first visited Kiawah in 1994 in our search for the right environment for an active retirement. We had seen many lovely communities across Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, but from the moment we first saw Kiawah, we knew it was where we wanted to be. We loved that the Island had both a pristine beach and wonderful golf. We were impressed by the beautiful homes, each unique but with a consistent feel. We especially liked the way the landscaping made it look like they had been designed as part of the natural environment. We loved that the wildlife coexisted so nicely with the residents and remember seeing deer, dolphin and many gorgeous birds on our first visit. We fell in love with the marsh and decided that would be our first choice for a homesite. We saw residents biking, golfing, swimming and playing tennis, and knew we could be happy here. Of equal importance, we were happy that the charming city of Charleston was nearby, as was a reasonable airport. Fa Seasons Su mm Sp r in g Wi nte r 61