A Tale of Two Gardens Two coastal NC gardens offer different experiences

A Tale of

Two coastal NC gardens offer different experiences

Story and photos by Leah Chester-Davis

A visit to

Wilmington is packed with possibilities. Among them, nearby Wrightsville beach, the charming Riverwalk, a wide range of restaurants and shops, and two mustsee gardens: Airlie and the Arboretum of New Hanover County.

Airlie Gardens is the more historic and expansive of the two, with its 67 acres and massive live oaks dripping with Spanish moss and exuding coastal Southern charm. The Arboretum, much smaller with only seven acres, packs both personality and a pleasing array of plants in several types of gardens that both inspire and educate. It’s a treasure for anyone seeking to learn more about gardening or for those simply wanting to enjoy a beautiful space.

The gardens are near one another, just a mile apart, making it easy to visit both. Both offer educational experiences.

Airlie Gardens

Historic Southern Charm

Airlie has a long history, dating back to the late 1800s when it was part of a larger estate and privately owned by Pembroke and Sarah Jones, who transformed it into a picturesque garden. The couple entertained such notables as Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry Flagler and W.K. Vanderbilt. Later owned by the Corbett Family, Airlie played a role in the state’s first Azalea Festival and will be part of the Cape Fear Garden Club’s garden tour during the April 2022 festival.

Now owned by New Hanover County as a public garden, its size and location along Bradley Creek, its mix of live oaks, magnolias, azaleas, camellias, sculptures, tree-lined trails, and elegant vistas give it a stately appearance. It is a beautiful place to walk, or visitors can hop on a tram to travel throughout the estate while being treated to the history of the place by friendly tram operators.

Airlie is beautiful anytime of the year though it delivers springtime enchantment with thousands of azaleas, camellias, tulips and other spring blooms. The signature Airlie live oak is nearing 500 years old, and is a popular backdrop for weddings and other events.

One of the more recent additions is the Butterfly House that serves as a seasonal home to native butterflies and plants. It is a popular spot from May through mid-October for visitors of all ages.

Another point of interest is the Bottle Chapel, a tribute to the artist Minnie Jones Evans, who was employed at Airlie for 25 years, was

Airlie Gardens

A Tale of Two Gardens

Airlie Gardens

self-taught, and became internationally recognized. No doubt the garden inspired her, as evidenced by one of her quotes: “Green is God’s theme color — he has 600 and some shades of green.”

To enhance the educational experience of the garden, Nature Discovery Kits are available for elementary age children or anyone who would like one. They include activities such as making a stick-bound journal and documenting observations, learning basic birdwatching skills and the “Build a Nest Challenge,” and a plant scavenger hunt.

Airlie is a favored spot for bird enthusiasts. It’s part of the North Carolina Birding Trail, offering a Coastal Region site to observe a wide range of species. The Bradley Creek Overlook is a great place to view coastal birds. Bird Hikes are available at 8 a.m. on select days and advance tickets are required.

Arboretum of New Hanover County

Arboretum of New Hanover County

Hands-on Education

The small Arboretum of New Hanover County is designed to be a teaching garden in a lovely setting. Extension educators, Master Gardeners, and Friends of the Arboretum are actively involved in the garden and plant clinics are held frequently to answer home gardeners’ questions.

The Arboretum features several specialty gardens, and each is equipped with educational signage that provides helpful information. Plants throughout the garden are labeled with both scientific and common names, which is a useful

PLAN YOUR VISIT: Airlie Gardens

300 Airlie Road, Wilmington airliegardens.org or 910-798-7700 Gardens open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed certain holidays and Mondays in winter). Advance tickets are required, unless you are a member: $9 general admission; $5 for New Hanover residents and members of military; $3 for children. Check the website for special events such as a summer concert series. Arboretum of New Hanover County

PLAN YOUR VISIT: Arboretum of New Hanover County

6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington arboretum.nhcgov.com or 910-798-7660 Gardens open: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Free admission. Check the website for information on special events throughout the year. feature for the visitor who may want to add a plant like it to their own garden.

The raised bed garden, with a wide range of vegetables, provides a glimpse of what is possible in your own backyard, along with information on how to attract beneficial insects to your garden. A composting area is included at its edge with a how-to guide.

Other garden areas are the pollinator, native plant, herb, rain, camellia, rose, and Military Memorial Contemplation Garden. A Japanese Garden is tucked into the far back corner. Japanese lanterns and orange torii gates lend traditional features and welcome visitors to the tranquil space. The many plants — Japanese maples, Hinoki cypress, deodar cedar, satsuki azaleas, Japanese iris, sweet flag, Japanese ferns, various ornamental grasses, among others — give the visitor an idea of what can be created in a relatively small space.

Sculptures, a children’s playhouse, and brightly painted toadstools add a touch of whimsy to other spots. A StoryWalk will keep children engaged as they learn about the natural world.

Carolina Country Contributing Editor Leah Chester-Davis loves to explore North Carolina. Her business, Chester-Davis Communications (chester-davis.com), specializes in food, farm, gardening and lifestyle brands and organizations.

The independence you want. The safety you need.

In emergencies big or small, the Lively™ Response Team is here for you, 24/7. Just press the button on the Lively Mobile Plus medical alert to speak to a friendly, caring certified Urgent Response Agent. The Lively Mobile Plus has the fastest call response time1, enhanced GPS accuracy and the most reliable network coverage2 . It’s also one of the most affordable mobile medical alert systems you can purchase3 . Adding Lively’s Fall Detection service4 means that when you wear your Lively Mobile Plus on our specially designed lanyard, you’ll be connected to an Agent when a fall is detected, even if you’re unable to press the button. The Lively Mobile Plus is a truly mobile medical alert that doesn’t require a landline or a base station. It offers you two-way communication with the Lively Team. They can dispatch emergency services or connect you to a board-certified doctor or a registered nurse at the touch of a button. And the Lively Link™ app alerts family and friends anytime you contact Urgent Response. It’s waterproof and even has a long-lasting battery so it can go PLANS AS LOW AS $2499 anywhere and everywhere that you do. Plus, AARP members save $60 per year on the Preferred or Ultimate Plan.

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1“GreatCall review”, TechRadar.com (Jul. 21, 2020). 2Consistently rated the most reliable network and best overall network performance in the country by IHS Markit’s RootScore Reports. 3Based on device cost, activation fee, plus 12 months of service among competitors with similar products and services (comparison conducted on 3/4/21). 4Fall Detection is an optional feature and may not always accurately detect a fall. Users should always push their button when they need help, if possible. Fall detection only available with purchase of Ultimate Health and Safety Plan. 5Monthly service fee excludes government taxes or assessment surcharges and may change. Urgent Response Service tracks an approximate location of the device. Urgent Response or 9-1-1 calls can only be made when cellular service is available. Urgent Care, provided by FONEMED®, is not a substitute for dialing 911 and should not be used in a case of emergency. FONEMED’s registered nurses and contracted physicians, through MDLIVE, offer advice regarding healthcare decisions and may prescribe certain medications and make diagnoses. We are not liable for any act or omission, including negligence, of any FONEMED employee or contractor. Waterproof rated for up to 3 feet for up to 30 minutes. LIVELY is a trademark of Best Buy and its affiliated companies. © 2021 Best Buy. All rights reserved. AARP commercial member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions.

A smart thermostat can save you 10%1 on

energy use

As a member of South River EMC, you can lower your energy costs and make your home more energy efficient this summer. For a limited time, get a FREE2 ecobee3 lite smart thermostat with FREE professional installation when you enroll in Connect to Save. As a bonus, you will also receive a $50 annual incentive for each year you participate.

Get your FREE smart thermostat today!

ConnectToSaveNC.com 844-577-SAVE (844-577-7283)

1 https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/thermostats 2 Free ecobee3 lite is part of a limited-time promotion expiring August 31, 2021.

While supplies last. Terms and conditions apply, see site for details. Sales tax may apply. ecobee smart thermostat is a trademark of ecobee.

Fly Fishing in the Tuckasegee River

Fish Like a Pro

Embrace these habits to catch bigger fish

Anyone who has put time in fishing knows that the big one isn’t always caught by the most experienced angler. In other words, there can be a lot of luck in fishing. On the other hand, if you want to consistently catch more fish and bigger fish (and create your own luck), you can set yourself up for greater success if you follow these tips.

Go to the fish. It sounds obvious but it’s important. Conditions in some areas produce an outsized number of fish or trophy-size fish. For example, professional bass fishing tournaments tend to be conducted on big bodies of water known for their big numbers. Before you head out, read fishing reports online. The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ website offers coastal reports (bit.ly/coastal-reports). The regional summaries estimates catches of various fish by interviewing hundreds of anglers throughout the coast. Resources on the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s website (bit.ly/fish-attractors) include a map that shows ponds and lakes where fish attractors have been placed. Wobbling is good. Big fish zero in on wounded fish for an easy meal. Lures that mimic wounded motions include the Original Floating Rapala, a lure created with natural balsa wood that recreates the wobbling motion of a wounded bait fish.

Use needle-sharp hooks. Many fish have hard mouths so you need to use a hook that will hold on when a fish bites down on your bait. Fishing pros like Ott DeFoe and Jacob Wheeler rely on needle-sharp hooks to win major bass tournaments.

Focus on structures. Have you ever noticed when you go to a party how everyone hangs around the island in the kitchen? Fish are no different, really — they like to hover around rocks and reefs, hang around dock and pier posts, and hide in weed beds.

Keep asking why. In a fishing magazine article, pro angler Mike Iaconelli was asked about why he loves fishing and why bass pros are so good at it. Iaconelli said he looks at fishing like solving a puzzle. When he catches a fish, he asks himself, “Why did that happen?” so he can learn from it and keep catching more.

Replace your fishing line. Don’t take a chance. Check your line regularly for nicks and abrasions, according to professionals at Sufix, and get in the habit of replacing your fishing line annually if you fish frequently.

Dangle big lures. In general, big fish are kind of lazy. They want to eat as much as they can while spending the least amount of energy getting their food. It’s hanging out on the couch all day and having a fully stocked fridge within just a short reach. So, when you’re going after bigger fish, try using bigger lures.

—Brandpoint

Fishing the sea

Learn more about the fun (and big rewards) of charter fishing, starting on page 12.

Health from Home

Availability of telemedicine continues to grow

If there is a silver lining to the challenges the pandemic created for families and seniors, it may be the expansion and affordability of virtual care. The ability to see a doctor today with little notice, using your phone, computer or tablet, offers a new level of flexibility in accessing health care.

Virtual care, or telemedicine, can span a wide range of services to address a family’s health needs without going to a doctor’s office and provides easy access to experts and specialists. Telemedicine services are covered by most insurance providers.

From care for specific illnesses to managing ongoing concerns, here are some ways that telemedicine might be a good fit for your family’s health care needs. To learn more about telemedicine, you can visit websites such as teladoc.com and your own insurance company’s website. Everyday illnesses In the past, if your doctor’s office couldn’t get you in to help treat conditions like allergies, sinus infections or other common illnesses, urgent care was one of your few remaining options. Now, virtual care can address non-emergency needs and everyday illnesses in place of urgent care.

Specialty care Even with a referral, it can take weeks or months to get an appointment with some specialists. One example is dermatology. Instead of waiting months to be seen by a dermatologist, with a virtual provider, you can seek and receive treatment in a matter of hours.

Mental health As a result of the pandemic and related social implications, many organizations have been reporting substantial upticks in requests for mental health support. Phone and video visits for mental health have been shown to be as effective as in-person treatment, according to the Telemental Health Institute.

Wellness care Most people think of their health needs in terms of reactive care for known problems, but it can also be useful for wellness care, such as nutrition. Registered dietitians can provide virtual consultations to help ensure everyone, including family members with special dietary needs, receives proper nutrients.

Get that second opinion If you’re unsure about a diagnosis, need help choosing treatment, have medical questions or concerns, or want an expert’s advice or second opinion, some virtual care providers can connect you with leading specialists to give you the answers and confidence you need to make informed decisions about your family’s health.

Make time for self-care

Using telemedicine is a form of self-care, just as anytime you address your mental and physical needs. Other ways to care for yourself mentally and emotionally include making time for enjoyable activities, such as listening to music, painting, drawing and working with wood. Carve out time to connect with family and friends and help your kids to do the same.

—Familyfeatures.com

August 2021

South River EMC Communicator

THE BOOKWORM

Hargrove Elementary will welcome something new to its school this year, and it’s something that only one other school in Sampson County has, and only 550 schools nationwide.

It is a vending machine, which might not sound all that unusual, however it is what’s in the machine that makes it so unusual. The Bookworm is a book vending machine, and at Hargrove Elementary, it will hold picture and chapter books.

“I actually got the idea from a Facebook group for school librarians that I’m part of,” said Lauren Strickland, media specialist. “The librarians who had one just raved about it and I knew I had to have one!”

The Bookworm was an idea proposed by a vice principal at a New York School to improve reading scores. This individual contacted a local company, Global Vending Group, and proposed the idea. Scores aside, it is a different and exciting way to present new books to students.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the students are going to love it! Many of our students do not ever get to purchase a NEW book,” said Strickland.

continued page C

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Coordinated Resources B

Bright Days, Bright Ideas D

Field Of Honor E

Advise Guys H

The Power of Coordinated Resources

As the peak of hurricane season in North Carolina approaches, South River EMC remains focused on grid resiliency and preparedness efforts. This year-round effort to limit power outages and recover quickly from those that do occur includes conventional efforts like tree-trimming to keep limbs away from powerlines, as well as efforts that incorporate advanced technologies and support our commitment to power a brighter future. As technology evolves, we see new energy assets added throughout the electric system in households, businesses, substations and elsewhere – often called “distributed energy resources” – as an exciting opportunity. These resources can be large enough to power several homes, like a microgrid or utility-scale solar farm, or as small as a smart thermostat inside your home. By working with electric co-ops statewide and other partners, South River EMC is exploring opportunities to add flexible local resources to our energy toolbox and coordinate them to work together across the grid. By integrating and synchronizing these assets, we can maximize the benefits to the grid and all cooperative members.

Resilience is one important benefit. Integrating grid resources closer to homes and communities provides local power options, while also diversifying the resources we can call on to provide power. Statewide, electric cooperatives have integrated five microgrids that can power local areas when needed and also support the grid as a whole. While new resources support resiliency, we are proud that the grid today is already very reliable. Our reliability rate is 99 percent, and we will continue working to maintain and improve even further.

Coordinating distributed energy resources also supports our sustainability goals. Take solar power: It can present a challenge because it is only available when the sun is shining, but our members need reliable power all the time. By pairing solar generation with flexible resources such as batteries, South River EMC and our power supplier can make intermittent generation sources into stronger grid assets while also increasing sustainability.

Managing costs to keep them as low as possible is always part of South River EMC’s mission. As prices for new energy resources are decreasing, the economics for implementation are improving. And, by deploying distributed resources in a coordinated way, we can use the grid more efficiently and better manage energy distribution. This helps us save, not only by reducing demand for power when energy consumption peaks and wholesale electricity is most expensive, but also by delaying or even avoiding the need to invest in expensive new infrastructure, like substations. Because cooperatives like South River EMC are not-for-profit and provide power near cost, savings directly benefit co-op members.

These technologies also have created opportunities for our members, like you, to partner with us to achieve shared value like when you participate in smart thermostat programs, such as Connect to Save. This program enables you to purchase a Nest or ecobee smart thermostat at a significantly reduced rate, in exchange for helping us to use less energy during peak times. This provides a benefit to you and the Cooperative. The Carina water heater device works under the same premise. You can have a Carina water heater device installed for free and we will be able to control it during peak times. The Carina device will make sure you don’t run out of hot water and it will send a message when it indicates that you might have a problem developing in your water heater – this is a win-win for everyone.

MESSAGE FROM CEO CHRIS M. SPEARS Continued on page D

BOOK Continued from page A

“I try to have new books in the library for them to check out, but obviously they have to return those. I think they are going to be thrilled that they actually get to take the book home and KEEP it!”

So, Strickland wrote an Operation Round Up grant application for the Bookworm and the initial books for the machine.

"It is no secret that books open children's minds and imaginations and this project will help create readers and thinkers," she said. "By helping our students get quality literature in their hands, we will help young minds grow through books and gain better understanding of skills and standards that are taught. Our students are constantly asking for particular and exciting books to read; they just can't seem to get enough, which is an excellent problem to have!"

Books are purchased with gold coins, called inchy golden tokens, and there is already a plan for how students will earn these tokens.

“Our plan is to incorporate the gold coins and Bookworm machine into our Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS), as well as reading goals. Currently, students earn “tickets” for modeling good behavior and going above and beyond expectations,” said Strickland. “Each week the tickets earned are put into a drawing. There are several winners and they receive a prize. We think a gold coin to visit the Bookworm would be an excellent prize!” Strickland also has a plan to incorporate the Bookworms into students’ reading goals for the accelerated reader program.

The Bookworm will hold approximately 250 books, and those were carefully researched.

"I knew I had to get cost efficient books because the machine is going to have to be refilled. I also knew I had to get books the students would be interested in and actually want to take home," said Strickland. "I also had no idea how some of the books would actually fit in the machine."

However, upon turning to the Facebook group, she found that Scholastic has a program that provides book for the Bookworm.

Although the vending machine delivery was delayed, both teachers and students are eagerly anticipating its arrival.

In her grant application, Strickland also requested some updated reading material for the library. "North Carolina has guidelines for libraries and their collections," she said. "Currently, the average copyright date of books in a school media center should be 2008 to be considered 'at level.'"

Hargrove's library collection average is about 2009, a year above the minimum, and as standards update, Strickland is trying to make sure the media center is keeping up.

While this is not Hargrove Elementary, or indeed Strickland's first grant request that was funded, it was different this time.

"I was absolutely ecstatic," Strickland said. "Although I have received Operation Round Up grants in the past, somehow this one was extra special due to the Bookworm. I could not be more excited to share this amazing machine with my students!"

With a majority of students that love to read, there are still those that just do not and Strickland is trying to find books all students will enjoy.

Continued from Page B

An added bonus is that you receive a $50 incentive for each thermostat and water heater device enrolled after each year that you participate in the Connect to Save program.

Electric vehicles, or EVs, also provide a big opportunity. Not only do EV drivers benefit from lower costs, but also reduced maintenance, better performance, zero tailpipe emissions and more convenience. Additionally, by charging at home overnight, when most people are not using large amounts of power, EV drivers can help the co-op can utilize its infrastructure more efficiently, which benefits all members.

By adopting proven technologies and deploying distributed resources at scale, South River EMC can provide many benefits to members: added resilience, enhanced sustainability through renewable generation, optimization of the grid, cost savings, and new services for members, to name a few. We see these benefits compounding over time, especially as more of our members, from large commercial businesses to residents interested in a smart thermostat, decide to participate with us in building the grid of the future.

This storm season and beyond, as part of our Brighter Future vision, you can count on South River EMC to continue to take steps to enhance grid resiliency and deploy resources that bring real benefits to members.

BRIGHT DAYS FOR BRIGHT IDEAS

As we enter the dog days of summer, you and your family might be preparing for a return to school.

Teachers are also preparing, they have to meet the learning needs of their students and many are finding innovative ways to connect.

Planning for the new school year and engaging students and their different learning styles takes preparation, planning, and funding.

And more often than not, it comes to teachers to spend their own money on classroom materials.

South River EMC has an option to get classrooms ready. Bright Ideas is a grant program for teachers in public, K-12 schools, who have bright, innovative classroom-based ideas.

In the past few years, the Cooperative has awarded over $50,000 per year to local educators.

Since 1994, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have awarded $13.6 million in grants to 2.7 million students.

Grants can be written for any amount up to $2,500 and for any subject.

If you are a local educator with an innovative idea, apply at ncbrightideas.com by Sept. 15. If you submit your application by Aug. 16, you may be eligible to win a $100 Visa gift card.

For questions, visit sremc.com/ bright-ideas.