Spring Green

The ushering in of spring has been noted as a celebration of new beginnings since antiquity. Trees bursting with buds, fresh bright blades of grass, and sprouting garden seeds are the hallmarks of new life’s arrival. by Jessica Maier Let there be light! A brilliant pair of light green lamps, that is. Laura Jones & Co. ($60)

It seems more poignant now than ever (explanation not needed) to welcome the refreshing new outlook on life that spring inspires in us by donning her lush and delicate greens on our bodies and in our homes. This season’s collection is all about capturing the youthful optimism flaunted by spring’s light shades of green like pistachio, soft mint, and ash green.

Let there be light! A brilliant light green lamp, that is. Laura Jones & Co. ($249)

Refresh your walls by displaying a beautiful collection of bird motif plates encircled by springy green lattice work.

If you have to endure spring’s final gasps of cold air, you might as well look good doing it…not to mention feel good (100% cashmere, anyone?)

Looks like leather, feels like leather, but it’s definitely not leather. This smart wine tote is made in Tuscany out of washable paper. It even patinas like leather over time.

This vintage gemstone ring will surely inspire (green) envy in all who behold it.

Built in 1889, the three-story Victorian house features beautiful antiques, artfully decorated rooms, a sitting parlor, gourmet breakfast, and extensive gardens and water features. Extended stays and special events are welcome.

SUMMERVILLE, SC (843) 851-1058 / flowertownbandb.com

Located across the street from historic 'Short Central', each cottage features a full kitchen and unique Southern decor, perfect for experiencing Historic Downtown Summerville.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-212-2865 / StayInSummerville.com

Historic Home and Gardens.

SUMMERVILLE, SC stay@linwoodinn.com

Your local coffee roaster, bakery and community spot. Enjoy select wines, craft beer, music, events and so much more.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-376-4559 / coastalcoffeeroasters.com

A blend of modern amenities, spacious private suites featuring 14 foot ceilings and original heart pine floors. Easily walk to Hutchinson Square, shops, and restaurants in the Historic District.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-212-2865 / StayInSummerville.com

Open since 1944, Eva's On Main is located in Downtown Historic Summerville and serves a Southern comfort menu for breakfast & lunch, with brunch on Sat. & Sun. Dine-in | Takeout | Curbside Pickup

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-873-5081 / evasonmain.com

The cafe is known for daily specials and rotating soups, homemade condiments, & gluten free and vegan options. They have 3 locations that focus on quality, healthy, casual cuisine.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-804-9410 / fiveloavescafe.com

Offering studio spaces for artists, engaging exhibitions, art classes, music events, an outdoor market, a special event rental space, and so much more.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-860-0742 / publicworksartcenter.org

Family owned and operated since 1974. Open seven days a week. 18 hole PUBLIC golf course featuring an outdoor event venue, the Candlelite Pavilion, available for rent.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-873-2210 / summervillecountryclub.com

A Fun Place to Shop! Home to over 150 vendors/consignors. Easy parking at 619 Old Trolley Rd., Summerville. Antiques, Vintage, Gifts, Local Artisans.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-900-5386 / antiquesandartisansvillage.com

A home furnishings and accessories shop. We have a constantly changing showroom featuring beautiful furniture, garden elements, and thoughtful gifts with an acquired look.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-875-0609 / laurajonesandcompany.com

Everything Chic is a Southern gift shop full of eclectic home decor, jewelry, candles, furniture, and local specialty items. Our prices are reasonable and our staff is friendly!

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-879-2099 / everythingchicetc.com

Established at the Summerville Farmer's Market in 2011, family-owned Lowcountry Olive Oil now carries over 65 olive oils & vinegars, and dozens of locally made gourmet foods.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-695-8327 / lowcountryoliveoil.com

Our promise at FLY is to deliver the best quality materials while giving you the comfort, fit, and style you desire. Each season FLY will bring you the newest trends.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-225-3661 / flymodernapparel.com

OK Florist, located in the heart of historic, downtown Summerville, has been providing beautiful blooms and lasting memories to Summerville and the Lowcountry area since 1947.

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-873-3681 okflorist.net / okfloristevents.com

A premiere fabric and quilting emporium, with books, patterns, beautiful displays, classes, sewing machines, and good times throughout this wonderful store of 6,000 Sqft!

SUMMERVILLE, SC 843-871-8872 / ppquilts.com

110 booths full of antiques and uniques.

SUMMERVILLE, SC facebook.com/SummervilleAntiqueGallery 843-873-4926

"Enter as a Customer, Leave as a Friend"! Over 6000 sqft of vintage treasures, local artisans, fair prices and some of the friendliest smiles in Summerville!!

SUMMERVILLE, SC www.facebook.com/vintagevibesonmain/ 843-879-9529

Summerville is directly positioned at the heart of the most beloved attractions in the Lowcountry. Its small town-atmosphere and proximity to Charleston and the beaches makes Summerville the perfect home base for all your adventures . visitsummerville.com

AT THE HEART of it ALL ®

features azalea magazine

spring 2021

Picture Perfect A dining room with a perfect mix of historic and modern adornments

LIVING HISTORY

pg.52 THE STORY OF A STORY TELLER

pg.58

Coming Home This Page Clockwise: A garden bench; historic plantation shutters; the house in all its glory; the house proudly faces one of Summerville's most historic streets. Opposite Page Clockwise: a warm welcome; gas lanterns illuminate the front porch; a perfect spot for a Spring day; the Wishman children at play

photography by

DOTTIE & WILL RIZZO

Clockwise: the wraparound porch is perfect for lazy days or neighborhood gatherings; keepsakes on display in the dining room; unlike many historic homes, the steps to the porch are on the side of the house ating your E words usually provides one with a meal that is hard to swallow. The dining room of the Sumter Avenue home of Ashley and Ryan Wishman is the perfect setting for Ashley to dine on hers – and she couldn't be happier. When they married almost a decade ago, neither had any intention of returning to their hometown of Summerville. "I grew up here, and Ryan moved here when he was fifteen. I had said a long time ago that I would never come back here to live." Then Olivia came along, and four years later, Hunter joined his big sister in their West Ashley home, and Ashley's mother moved in to help out with the children. Jackson and Lily, their notso-little, four-legged babies, rounded out the growing family. In addition to needing more space, the couple realized that they wanted to

Clockwise: The Wishmans; a front yard path; the living room; the home came with a trove of historic records

raise their children in a more familyoriented place. "I started eating my words," Ashley says with a laugh. "You know how it is. You have children, and everything changes."

That's not to say that there weren't a few caveats when they began looking at homes in the area. After living West Ashley for a few years, they realized that they wanted to live somewhere more family-centered. It had to be an older home in Downtown Summerville, preferably historic. It had to be a short golf cart ride away from restaurants and the park, and it went without saying that it should be close enough that an ice cream cone wouldn't melt on the way home from Guerin's. A few of the houses they looked at showed promise, but they knew they were home from the minute they walked into the house on Sumter. "We went straight to Oscar's after looking at it," Ryan remembers. "We immediately started to figure out how we could make it happen."

The decision was made, and they have not looked back for a moment. The pair had recently renovated a beach house at

Edisto. Ryan, a hard-core "This Old House" devotee, couldn't wait to put his skills to use on the historic home. He immediately went to work. "It was a jungle," says Ryan. "Our neighbors had to be a little worried about who was moving in, particularly given the big purple dumpster sitting on the street for two months and the Bobcat, chainsaw, and tractor going in the back yard. But the neighborhood kids loved it!"

It has been said, "We are all living history, and it's hard to say now what will be important in the future." The profound sentiment makes the words that follow even more profound. "One thing is certain, though: if we throw it away, it's gone." It is a philosophy that the Wishmans are embracing as they continue to work on their home. The home was lovingly cared for by its previous owners, but as with most older homes, there was much to be done. Both Ashley and Ryan want every repair or addition to be done right. Ryan has taken on many projects that contractors weren't willing to touch. Though it makes every project take a little longer, maintaining the house's character and honoring its history is a priority.

Ashley worked with luxury interior designer Megan Molten to establish her family's identity within the mid-19th century architecture. Her touches have created a soothing, comfortable ambiance that is modern but beautifully enhances the house's traditional characteristics. Quirky little spaces incorporated to meet a growing family's needs fit as though they were always meant to be. "There are a lot of doors that go to tiny closets or hidden rooms that must be from all the additions that have been added over the years," Ashley reveals. Although they have many original documents that track the property's past, both wish they knew more about the people who lived in the house and the stories it could tell.

The Wishman family will one day author its own chapter in the story of a gracious Summerville home. It will be a tale that resounds with the happy laughter of Olivia and Hunter and the contented sighs of belly-rubbed dogs. It will tell of bare feet on age polished floors, of birthdays and anniversaries and the ups and downs of everyday life. It will reveal how it drew two people back home, knowing they were the perfect fit. And it will celebrate the days of a family happy and grateful to be living history on Sumter Avenue. AM

This Page Clockwise: Hunter navigating the staircase; the side porch is perfectly equipped for dinner parties. Opposite Page Clockwise from top left: the main hall runs the length of the house; the master bedroom; the home is well appointed with a mix of antiques and modern touches; the family room is bright and welcoming

White's work is inspired by the forms, textures, and patterns that are found in nature, with an emphasis on how light interacts with each piece.

T H E STORY OF A Azalea Magazine gets into character with Tim Lowry, Summerville's master story teller TARA BAILEY Dottie Rizzo by photos by STORY TELLER

Weaving Words Tim Lowry doing what he does best

A combination of theater, folklore, and creative writing, storytelling is both an art and a craft that dates to ancient times. From the epic tales of Homer’s “The Odyssey” to Native American culture thousands of years ago, oral tradition is the common thread that weaves together the human experience, including the tragedy of loss, the adventure of discovery, and the hero’s journey of Everyman.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a recent graduate of any local school who has not at some point been entranced by renowned storyteller Tim Lowry. A household name in the Summerville community, the former educator and gifted performer has shared his talents with schools across the Lowcountry for a generation. His performances aren’t limited to children, however. People of all ages have lost themselves in the time and place he creates for each story, told on stages throughout the country as he travels with his family to give audiences a unique experience with each telling.

A combination of theater, folklore, and creative writing, storytelling is both an art and a craft that dates to ancient times. From the epic tales of Homer’s “The Odyssey” to Native American culture thousands of years ago, oral tradition is the common thread that weaves together the human experience, including the tragedy of loss, the adventure of discovery, and the hero’s journey of Everyman. Br’er Rabbit and Ebenezer Scrooge, Odysseus and The Wide Mouth Frog, Gilgamesh and Enkidu all owe their immortality to prodigious storytellers. Stories are the reason we binge-watch, go - or went—to movie theaters, pay exorbitant ticket prices to see Hamilton, and indulge children for “just one more” before bedtime. They are the reason you picked up this magazine. Stories are a necessary part of our existence, connecting us with others and even ourselves. Tim Lowry’s job is making those connections.

“Professional storyteller” is not a vocation most people think of when planning their futures, and Lowry’s own story arc began at Bob Jones University in Greenville. There he enrolled as a theater major after his family moved to South Carolina from Kentucky in 1988. He became enthralled with an elective class in storytelling that would eventually put him on the path of a career performer. But first, he had to discover that path.

As a fine arts major, Lowry was required to also become a certified educator as part of the Bob Jones curriculum. He graduated with a certificate in speech education and then made his way to Charleston, finding employment as a carriage driver. In that role he captivated paying customers who were eager to hear the costumed guide spin tales of the South’s history and mythology to the rhythm of a horse’s gait. Wanting to learn more about storytelling and to spend time with like-minded artists, Lowry called the local library to inquire about local organizations. He learned of two area storytelling clubs and quickly became an active member of one of them, immersing himself in meetings and making connections. Before long, he had auditioned to join the South Carolina Arts Commission and was accepted, where he flourished in his talent while continue to earn his living as a city guide.

He later supplemented his income with a parttime teaching job at Goose Creek High School. As his network and reputation grew, he was invited to perform at local schools, including Summerville Elementary. It was there where Lowry forged a lasting friendship with thenprincipal Dr. Gene Sires, who quickly became one of Lowry’s biggest fans. Lowry says that Dr. Sires was the only principal who would stay and listen to his every performance, no matter how many times he had seen his shows.

“He even had his favorite story, ‘The Drainjo Man,’ that he would demand I tell before I could leave. He would wave my paycheck over

his head until I told it,” Lowry said. When Sires died in 2009, Lowry was approached to tell the story at his memorial service, which he did, bringing comic relief to the ceremony. ‘The Drainjo Man’ was a story straight out of Lowry’s imagination, originally told spontaneously to fill a small window of time at one of his shows. It became an instant crowd favorite, eliciting belly laughs from both school children and life-long educators. The tale is now a Lowry classic.

Dr. Sires was the person responsible for so many Summervillians’ exposure to the storyteller. One day the beloved principal called Lowry into his office, telling him of his plan to ask him to become the school’s artistin-residence thanks to a newly-earned grant. Yet, Sires recognized the effects of Lowry’s stories on children and their desire to hear - and read - more. So Sires instead proposed using the grant money for Lowry to perform in local schools across the district, and before you could say, “Jack Robinson,” there wasn’t a child in Summerville who didn’t get excited about a visit from Tim Lowry. Lowry was soon in high demand in schools beyond the Summerville town limits. But as anyone who has made a living off grants knows, the future was still uncertain. While attending a drama conference with his wife, Bonnie, also an educator, the couple had an epiphany: Lowry had grown in his art to the point where he might no longer have to depend on grants. He felt that his gift was a calling, and pursuing a calling is an act of faith. With strong faith in God, Tim’s talent and each other, the Lowrys decided that he would become a professional storyteller full-time on his own accord. Bonnie had left teaching when their first daughter arrived. With this new decision, she became a full-time wife and homeschooling mother to their two daughters, and the entire family hit the road for performances near and far.

Lowry considers the national storytelling community an “extra family,” as members have become close friends at national and regional festivals. The pandemic has temporarily eliminated this part of Lowry’s life, sending him and other storytellers online for virtual performances rather than working with the

energy and reactions of a live audience. When asked the difference between theater and storytelling, Lowry replies, “What is true of theater is truer of storytelling,” meaning that the dynamic between performer and audience is different with each telling, as the audience is a partner in the story. “I avoid Zoom like the coronavirus,” Lowry says of virtual experiences, which relegate his five-dimensional talent to a two-dimensional screen. Yet, the show must go on.

After months of figuring out how to adapt his craft to a digital setting, Lowry began creating videos, live streams, and even led a virtual theater camp. He also saw this down time as an opportunity to pursue an idea that had been percolating in his fertile mind: with a publishing goal of February 1, Lowry plans to launch an online periodical called All The Year Round, which he describes as a family magazine based on Charles Dickens’ own publication. The magazine will include everything from stories and writing to games, videos, and more. This project enables him to continue creating while exploring other outlets for his imagination with hopes of finding his online audience as robust as his live ones. While Lowry can’t wait to resume his live shows, including his monthly performances at the Timrod Library, Lowry is excited and optimistic about his new venture. The present time allows him to employ his teaching skills by working with Bonnie in homeschooling their daughters while contemplating the post-pandemic world of storytelling.

Lowry’s oral library ranges from timeless folk tales to original fiction and personal narratives. If you’ve somehow missed his masterful telling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, then you now have a new goal for the future. No doubt, this past year will inspire new material, similarly to how recent years have been the muse for his popular tale, “Br’er Rabbit for President.” While there hasn’t been much to win applause over the course of a year marked by loss and isolation, if anyone can find a story worth telling imbedded in a time of contagion, it’s Tim Lowry. After all, as his own hero, Dickens, says, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” AM Lowry’s oral library ranges from timeless folk tales to original fiction and personal narratives. If you’ve somehow missed his masterful telling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, then you now have a new goal for the future.

by Ellen E. Hyatt

Someone touches a flower. It's surfinia in a planter on town square covered by a stretch of morning mist. A blossom falls.

Someone touches a flower. It's a white rose, lying on a bench at a bus stop. Its color, texture, scent— enough to enliven memory.

Someone touches a flower. It's a Panda anemone in the bouquet of a May bride who's crying because pollen from the flowers stains her gown.

Someone touches a flower. It's a magnolia on a tree—genteel, in place—while nearby azaleas spill over one another, cutting a shine.

Someone touches a flower. It's one of five tulip buds. His plan: tuck a ring in it for her. But she, like tulips, has plans of her own.

Someone touches a flower. It's jessamine. A 4-year-old boy doesn't know the risk. He likes the fragrance because it smells nice like his mama.

Someone touches a flower. It's one of the dried sunflower heads. What remains of seeds for wildlife in winter, let's plant today for a future.