about us from the lake
PUBLISHER
Vince Johnson
EDITOR
Kayla Green
COPY EDITORS
Rhonda Barrick
Melanie Smith
WRITERS
Deirdre Currin
Kayla Green
Alaysha Maple
Bruce Mills
PHOTOGRAPHY
Janel Przybyla
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Janel Przybyla
ADVERTISING / GRAPHIC DESIGN
Cary Howard
Janel Przybyla
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS
Karen Cave karen@theitem.com
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COVER STORY 30
Tom Mullikin, the director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), took office in February 2025. His career has spanned roles in environmental law, policy, academia and international work, including teaching climate change in Ecuador and working in the U.S. Senate.
Photo by Janel Przybyla
Spring festivals From kites and dogs to crawfish and sweet potatoes, fill your calendar this spring with fun events and things to do across the region
Meet Tom Mullikin The new director of SCDNR
Campground The transformation of a historic fishing campground into a full-scale fishing resort
Spring Home and Garden Tips, tricks and trends that will help you make your home, inside and out, ready for the season
& What to do Where to go
SUMTER COUNTY
Grand Closing Bash with Fabulous Equinox Orchestra
Major renovations are beginning soon for the historic Sumter Opera House. Join the moment as they go out in style with a Grand Closing Bash on June 13, 7-10 p.m., 21 N. Main St. Don your finest 1930s attire and get those toes tapping and hearts singing with The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra on the Main Stage. Afterward, we’ll hit Main Street in a New Orleans-style dirge — a spirited farewell where we'll ceremoniously lock opera house doors as it begins the long-awaited renovation and historic revitalization project. Following, we'll enjoy a parade down Main Street to see the old girl off! The festivities will cap off with an afterparty at La Piazza featuring live music, dancing, delicious bites and plenty of drinks. It’s the bees' knees and a swell way to say auf wiedersehen, au revoir, arrivederci, until we meet again ol’ gal! Tickets for the concert and the afterparty are sold separately, but if you’re a hep cat looking to make the most of this grand evening, purchase both together to snag a special discount. https://www.sumteroperahouse.com/grandclosing
23rd-Annual Shrimp Feast
Join the Sumter County Museum, 122 N. Washington St., for the 23rd-annual Shrimp Feast from 6-9 p.m. on April 24. Enjoy all-youcan-eat shrimp prepared in a variety of ways including boiled, grilled, in grits, on a skewer and in a boil. Entertainment by Chappell Court. Don't miss out on the silent auction in McKenzie Hall. Bid on incredible items and take home something special. https://tinyurl.com/5fmwchkx
Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day
Temple Sinai Jewish History Center invites you to light a candle in memory of the victims who were persecuted and killed in the Holocaust. The free event is on April 25 from 1-4 p.m. at the temple, 11 Church St. For more information, find Temple Sinai Jewish History Center on Facebook.
Fifth-Annual Willie Sue's Charity Car And Motorcycle Show
Carolina Cruisin' Dj's with Dj Bobby Schwabenbauer, emcee Vic Nielsen and Steve Price will be back for the fourth year at the fifth-annual Willie Sue's Charity Car & Motorcycle Show on May 3, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 3355 Patriot Pkwy. The event raises money to help Turbeville Children's Home. For more information and entry fees, contact Wayne Oxendine. Rain date set for May 17. https://www.facebook.com/ events/1384625945835975/.
Sumter Microbrew - Rockin' the 80's
Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 10, from 6-8:30 p.m. for the Downtown Sumter Microbrew Festival, brought to you by the Palmetto Optimist Club. Taste 20 microbrews from Yahnis. Enjoy music and snacks at each location. Put on your best hippie gear. Visit with friends. Start at 4 Liberty St. For tickets, go to https://www.palmettooptimistclub. com/.
CLARENDON COUNTY
Crown the Lowcountry Bass Fishing Tournament
This exciting event will take place on Saturday, May 3, on Lake Marion at Bells Marina & Resort in Eutawville, 12907 Old Number Six Hwy., 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m., with lines in the water at safe light and weigh-in at 3 p.m. Enjoy music, food, a cornhole tournament, raffle, games, prizes and a catch-and-release tournament for children. This tournament is more than just a day of fishing — it’s an opportunity to support young women in their educational and leadership journeys through the Crown the Lowcountry Scholarship Organization. Proceeds from this event will help support deserving candidates in the community.
Hello Summer Concert
Join the community in Downtown Manning for an unforgettable kickoff to summer with the first in the Hello Summer Concert Series on May 29. Bring a chair to Brooks Street and listen to music from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
KERSHAW COUNTY
Wake up With the Birds
Enjoy a guided bird watching hike with Robert Carter, PhD, Extension Forestry and Wildlife agent, on April 18, from 8-10 a.m. at Nature as Teacher Preserve for Education, 247 Chestnut Ferry Road, Camden. Gates open at 7:30 a.m. Leaving trailhead at 8 a.m. Don’t forget your binoculars and comfortable hiking shoes. All are welcome, and minors under 18 require adult supervision. $5 per participant. To register, email aebranh@clemson.edu.
COLUMBIA
Big Bounce America 2025
Welcome to the biggest, craziest touring inflatable event in the entire world. Spend quality time with family and friends in a magical, candy-colored wonderland of action-packed inflatable adventure April 18-20 at the Historic Columbia Speedway, 2001 Charleston Hwy. Cayce. Individual sessions are available to suit all age groups from toddlers through to adults only. Bounce house themes include “The World’s Biggest Bounce House,” obstacle course, deep sea adventure, space and sports. Tickets from $22-$45. https://thebigbounceamerica.com/.
7th-Annual Columbia Taco & Tequila Crawl
The Columbia Taco & Tequila Crawl is back on April 12 in The Vista, 703 Gervais St., Columbia. Enjoy eating tacos, sipping margaritas, taking tequila shots and dancing your taco-loving butt off. With your ticket, you'll start with the registration party. You'll receive your map to guide you to bars and taco tokens that you can exchange at any participating bar for your free signature taco. Each stop will have discounted signature margaritas, beer and tequila shots. DJ's will play at a few stops for you to dance off your tacos and margs. You'll go at your own pace eating the best tacos and sipping tasty margs at five-plus bars until you end at our afterparty for the ultimate fiesta. Noon-5 p.m. Tickets from $24.99-$42.99. https://barcrawlusa.com/.
2025
Local Festivals
Festival on the Avenue – April 10-12
Puddin' Swamp Festival – April 11-13
Striped Bass Festival – April 25-26
Artfields – April 25-May 3
Birdfest Festival – May 2-3
Kite Festival – May 3
Briggs v. Elliott Festival – May 16-18
Iris Festival – May 16 - May 18
Black Cowboy Festival – May 22-25
Lizard Man Stomp – June 29
THE RUNDOWN
When: April 25-26
Where: Manning, SC
Striped Bass Festival
Striped
Bass is a celebration of spring. It’s a tribute to the beauty of the county and the region, and it’s a salute to the fish that fills Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, which make up Santee Cooper Lakes and put the region on the fishing map of the world.
April in Clarendon County is a sight for winter-weary eyes. Festivalgoers will be surrounded by azaleas, wisteria, irises, tulips, geraniums, roses, magnolias and more colors and blooms amid a landscape with strokes of rural countryside, small-town architecture and lake views.
The event is an economic driver for Manning and Clarendon County, and the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce has a lineup with something for everyone, from food and activities to exercise and community taking over Manning April 25-26 with separate, related events in the weeks leading up to Super Weekend.
Entrance to the festival, such as attending the parade, listening to the live entertainment, checking out the vendors and watching the weigh-in for the fishing tournament, are free. Other aspects, such as buying from the vendors, food options and participating in the fishing tournament, have fees.
Festival T-shirts will be available for purchase at the event. They are also usually for sale ahead of time at Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce.
LEARN MORE
For more information, contact Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, go to their Facebook page @ ClarendonSCChamber, or visit www.ClarendonCounty.com/SBF.
SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
S.C.O.T.T. – Cast into the Santee Cooper Open Team Tournament, “where the big ones are waiting!” Grab your gear, reel in some memories, and let’s see who has the best catch. | John C. Land III Sports Fishing Facility, Summerton | Guaranteed $5,000 prize | Registration: https://tinyurl.com/acpr67vm
SATURDAY, APRIL 19
Dam Run 5K – Lace up for the Striped Bass Festival 5K on the Santee Dam. Run against the beautiful backdrop of the dam, enjoy the fresh air, and embrace the festival spirit.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
Opening Ceremonies – Join the community as Manning kicks off Super Weekend | 6 p.m. | Live music from Soul Candy | Carnival rides | Food from vendors
SATURDAY, APRIL 26
- Parade – “March to the rhythm of the community joy” at the Striped Bass Festival Parade | 10 a.m. | Bring the family and make lasting memories on the festival route.
- Car & Art Show – “Rev up the fun” at the Striped Bass Festival Car & Art Show. Check out cool rides and awesome art. This is a laid-back day of wheels and creativity that you won’t want to miss. - Downtown vendors – Get ready to enjoy vendors throughout Super Weekend. Taste delicious bites, snag unique crafts, and soak in the good vibes.
*The Striped Bass Festival Pageant and Pickleball Tournament will have already taken place, but follow the festival and The Sumter Item for coverage.
THE RUNDOWN
When: April 10 - 12
Festival on the Avenue
Every year, the heart of South Sumter comes alive as Festival on the Avenue transforms historic Manning Avenue into a tapestry of music, food, art and tradition.
Inspired by the Bimbé Celebration, a West African Festival of Harvest, the festival celebrates South Sumter through various traditions of African American culture, including visual and literary arts, dance, music, soul food and family. However, though deemed a festival, the beloved event serves as more of a homecoming. Family members from across counties and even states away travel in to walk the familiar street, embracing friends and loved ones they haven’t seen for quite some time. Conversations don’t skip a beat as memories as old as time are shared in the midst of making new ones. Generations come together to honor the rich legacy of the community and embrace the spirit of unity.
The three-day festival gives the community a platform to recognize its people, organizations and positive influences that contribute to South Sumter’s diverse development and cultural identity.
Beginning April 10, the celebration kicks off with Heritage Night at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 609 Manning
Ave., an evening dedicated to honoring history, culture and contributions of Black icons. From nationally known figures to local entrepreneurs, artists and community leaders who have shaped the area, it serves to bring generations together for storytelling and special recognitions.
On April 11, get ready to tee off for the 11th-annual Golf Tournament at Crystal Lakes Golf Course, 1305 Clara Louise Kellogg Drive. This annual event brings experienced golfers and newcomers to the game for a friendly competition and networking.
Working up a sweat that morning
Where: Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 609 Manning Ave.
allows for a soulful reward that evening, and you can find it at A Taste of Soul at Sumter Farmers Market, 337 Manning Ave. Featuring a live performance by Terence Young and Finesse, enjoy delicious cuisine to the sounds of smooth jazz and R&B. Stroll through the market, sample some of the best soul food, and let music set the tone for the highlight of the week.
And it’s bound to be big, starting off with the annual Festival on the Avenue parade happening April 12.
A full-day celebration begins as soon as you step onto the avenue. The
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, APRIL 10
Heritage Night - Remembering the Past
Where: 609 Manning Ave.
When: 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, APRIL 11
11th-annual Golf Tournament at Crystal Lakes Golf Course
A Taste of Soul at Farmer’s Market
Where: 337 Manning Ave.
When: 6-9 p.m.
Entertainment: Terence Young and Finesse
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
savory aroma of local cuisine, the infectious sounds of live music filling the air and the undeniable energy of people proud of their heritage spans a strip of Manning Avenue, all of which you’ll want to explore.
After being on the receiving end of grand smiles and excited waves during the parade, take to the street – literally – and browse the mouthwatering vendors, artisan booths and interactive activities for all ages that line its sidewalks.
Festival on the Avenue Parade
Where: Starts at the corner of South Main and Bartlette streets
When: 10 a.m.
Details: Food, music and family fun along the avenue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entertainment: TBA
For more information, visit www. festivalontheave.org/. For updates, visit Festival on the Avenue on Facebook.
Puddin Swamp Puddin' Swamp
No one knows for sure where the "puddin'" in Puddin' Swamp came from, even those who have lived in Turbeville their whole lives.
There are a few more popular legends and one published account, so most just go with one of those.
The most likely myth has to do with Francis Marion. The American Revolutionary War officer camped in the Turbeville area, and someone in that camp really liked bread pudding. That's the fact. Where it gets a little swampy is who it was.
The other one "everybody goes with” is that the swamp separated two friends' properties, and when one woman went to bring her friend some pudding, it fell into the water.
Yet another story passed down involves an old man who used what was left over from hunting hogs to make blood pudding.
However the swamp got its name, it seemed the obvious choice for the name when a group of community leaders gathered in 2007 to create a festival celebrating the town.
Thousands come out for the festival each year. Families schedule reunions around the weekend. People come from out of state. One year, a couple even stopped by while in town for their wedding from Illinois, wedding dress and all.
More than wedding dresses will abound, with one of
the main events being the Miss Swamp Bottom pageant, where men don wigs, heels and dresses to compete for votes by the actual dollar. The pageant is a fundraiser for the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
While a detailed schedule wasn’t available before Lakeside went to print this spring, the festival is set for April 11-13 in Turbeville, with most of the festivities taking place around Town Square.
Since introducing an opening parade upon the festival’s return from its COVID-19 hiatus, it has rolled on the Friday of the festival. This year’s will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street.
Saturday is the main day, with vendors, a craft fair, entertainment activities, food, live music and more taking over the town. Winners of the Student Art Contest will be announced at the Main Stage. Participants were encouraged to choose their favorite theme/subject in four divisions by age grades 1-12. There will also be a car show, which is free to enter and is open to all makes, models and years. Registration is from 9 to 11 a.m., and the show is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Division trophies will be awarded at 2 p.m. For info, call Troy Cottrill at (843) 260-0293.
For more details as the festival approaches, follow organizers on social media at www.facebook.com/ psfestival.
THE RUNDOWN
When: April 11-13
Where: Town Square, Turbeville
ArtFields
Art is in a field of its own – and you can see it up close and personal in Lake City this April
Deemed “The South’s Most Engaging Art Competition and Festival,” ArtFields, which doubles as the name of a charitable program, started in 2013 to honor artists of the Southeast with a week’s worth of celebrations and competitions in the heart of the traditional yet blossoming Southern town of Lake City.
In the weeks leading up to the festivities, South Carolina’s most prosperous agricultural community is turned into a living art gallery as 470 pieces of artwork are scattered throughout more than 40 locally owned venues, including renovated warehouses and professional art spaces to the restaurants, boutiques, barbershops and much, much more.
In addition to the artwork of seasoned adult
artists, young creatives also get the chance to showcase their skills, as about 200 student art pieces are displayed throughout the town.
The competition and exhibition span from April 25 to May 3, with a plethora of events, classes and chances to enjoy the town, the artwork and the community.
More than 40 venues are open each day of the festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. except Sunday, when viewing hours are 1 to 6 p.m.
Artwork comes from artists across the Southeast, and numerous artists have come from the county lines of Sumter and surrounding areas. If you’re looking to bask in the beauty that is ArtFields, keep an eye out for any art pieces crafted by your neighbors.
THE RUNDOWN
When: April 25-May 3
Where: Lake City
Schedule
April 25:
• 2025 competition and festival ribbon cutting from 10 to 10:15 a.m. at Festival Welcome Center, 110 E. Main St.
• Competition artwork on display from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Downtown Lake City every day of the festival
• Lake City Live from 7 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Lake City
April 26:
• Back Country Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at ACL Building, 103 Irvin St.
• Makers Market Day 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Truluck Property, 152 E. Main St.
• Portrait Contest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Bean Market
• Live music sponsored by City of Lake City from 7-11 p.m. at Village Green
April 27:
• Makers Market Day 2 from 1 to 6 p.m. at Truluck Property, 152 E. Main St.
• Artmakers from 2 to 5 p.m. at The Bean Market
May 2:
• Sundown Rundown Artist Talks from 5 to 7 p.m. at TBD
May 3:
• Wet Paint Competition from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Downtown Lake City
• Art Explorers: Creativity with Jessica Willis (Grades 3K - 2 ) from 10 to 11 a.m. at TBD
• Art Explorers: Creativity with Jessica Willis (Grades 3-6) from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at TBD
• ArtFields Jr. Awards Ceremony from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at OT Hall
• 2025 Competition and Festival Finale from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Village Green
For more information and updates on the ArtFields schedule, visit artfieldssc.org.
BirdFest BirdFest
Pinewood’s BirdFest music festival is fast approaching, offering the type of festival you don’t see all too often in this part of South Carolina.
Taking place on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, BirdFest occurs at the beautiful South Carolina Waterfowl Association Wildlife Education Center at 8444 Old River Road. The festival gives attendees the unique opportunity to listen to a large line-up of bands while surrounded by South Carolina’s nature.
BirdFest’s musical line-up for 2025 includes Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Della Mae, Fireside Collective, Chatham Rabbits, Holler Choir, Stoneface Mountain, Cosmic Possum and the festival’s host band, Steep Canyon Rangers.
Food and drink vendors will offer a variety of goods for attendees including barbecue, coffee, seafood and pizza.
If the bands aren’t a draw for your
THE RUNDOWN
When: May 2-3
kiddos, the number of kids’ activities BirdFest features should reel them in. Bounce houses, zip lines, face painting and a petting zoo are all free kids’ events for ticketholders. Even better, children 12 and younger get in free. Tickets can be purchased here: https://birdfestmusic.com/buytickets/. For the camping or glamping sorts, there are options to purchase a spot for an RV or a tent at the URL below. Tickets are only available online and are liable to sell out.
Where: South Carolina Waterfowl Association Wildlife Education Center, 8444 Old River Road
Photos from BirdFest Facebook
Kite Festival
National Foster Care Awareness Month
The event is open and free to the public. Phase Three is collecting donations to support local organizations, such as Knowledge for College, which is a two-week summer program which helps
students explore careers. Donations can be made at https:/ /www.phasethree. org/many-ways-to-donate. For more information, visit Phase Three Center Inc. on Facebook.
became very, very close to my heart. I would bring them to my house, and they would play and didn’t want to go home. That’s when I realized the disconnect between families and the foster care system,” she explained. “[The child] would tell me about the dreams that she had, and I always wondered if she would be able to realize those dreams.”
Phase Three Center seeks to improve the quality of options for transitional foster children and at-risk youth by creating a safe space where they can mature into productive members of society with a solid foundation for a bright future.
But Ross’ daughter, Desaray, vice president and social services director of Phase Three, sought to take it one step further. After watching at-risk youth filter in and out of the juvenile justice system as a juvenile probation officer of nearly seven years, she took her frustration at the lack of local mentorship to implement a mentor program within Phase Three.
By investing in local youth, the Rosses and the Phase Three team hope these young dreamers will invest in themselves when it matters most. So, to raise awareness for their mission, they’ll raise a kite at their annual Kite Festival.
When she was a child, Elanda Ross’ introduction to the summertime was always marked by the annual Kite Festival in Boston. The exuberant colors, fierce patterns and one-of-a-kind creations that covered the crystal blue sky brought children and families from across the city, and even the state, together to revel in a good time. Now in Sumter, she strives to do the same.
Though held in April during its inaugural year in 2024, Phase Three’s event was moved to Saturday, May 3, at 11 a.m. to raise awareness of National Foster Care Awareness Month.
“It's to bring attention and have a little fun in the meantime,” Elanda Ross said through a smile.
The team is still reeling from last year’s event, calling it a “sight to see” as the creative kites soaring high were reflected in the bright eyes of the carefree children and adults steering them.
They hope to recreate such a scene in 2025 at Patriot Park, 380 General Drive, Field 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 3.
Elanda Ross encourages attendees to bring their kites, picnic baskets and lawn chairs to get the full experience.
THE RUNDOWN
When: Saturday, May 3, at 11 a.m.
Where: Patriot Park, 380 General Drive Field 6, Sumter, SC
Photos
Briggs v. Elliott Festival
THE RUNDOWN
When: May 16-18
Where: Summerton, SC
One spring festival in Clarendon County with a different theme but certainly not to be forgotten centers around Summerton’s historic educational equality case, Briggs v. Elliott.
Organized by the Clarendon County NAACP, the annual festival will be from Friday, May 16, through Sunday, May 18, in Summerton and will include jazz music, a parade, festival, historical site tours, gala and a culminating worship service, among other activities.
The civil rights story of the mid-1950s begins with parents Harry and Eliza Briggs who helped organize a lawsuit against then-president of the Clarendon County School Board, R.W. Elliott. Their demand for school desegregation included dedicated bus transportation services to and from school for Black students. White students at the time in Clarendon had buses, but Black students had to walk to school.
Briggs v. Elliott became one of five desegregation cases settled as Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 by the U.S. Supreme Court. In that case, the high court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the previous “separate but equal” doctrine that had help up in courts until that time.
Willie Briggs, a second cousin of Harry Briggs and lifelong Summerton resident, provided all of this year’s festival details.
On May 16, a free jazz in the park event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. at Summerton Resource Center, 1154 4th St., which is the site of the former Scott’s Branch School for Black children.
Saturday, May 17 -- which will mark the 71st anniversary of when the Briggs v. Elliott suit was filed -- will include numerous activities, Willie Briggs said.
A free parade will start at noon with an area high school band performing. All Clarendon County elected officials and schools are invited to take part in the parade, Briggs added. Parade lineup begins at 11 a.m.
A festival will follow the parade to include food vendors and inflatable bounce slides for kids.
Historical site tours will also begin at 2 p.m. and start from the Scott’s Branch School location and will include the former St. Paul School, the old Taw Caw church, Harry Briggs’ house and the former Levi Pearson house in Davis Station, among other stops. Pearson was the first person to file in court regarding equal bus services for Black children and his actions initiated all the ensuing legal proceedings, Briggs said.
A semi-formal gala will follow on Saturday at The Matrix Center, 4648 Kingstree Highway in Manning, where the Pearson Scholarship Foundation will distribute some scholarships, he added.
On Sunday, the festival will conclude at historic Liberty Hill AME Church with a worship service program beginning at 4 p.m. The service will include a full history of the Briggs v. Elliott case, Briggs said.
Local residents and out-of-town guests annually attend the festival.
Briggs said the festival’s purpose is to help people better understand the suffering that residents endured in the 1940 and ‘50s and that everyone should be treated equally as Americans.
“Everyone should be able to get a proper education and all facilities that are provided should be on the same level, regardless of color or religion,” he said. “There are many people who we follow in their footsteps who have not been recognized.”
Iris Festival
May event promises even more fun than usual
Sumter is home to the longest-running festival in South Carolina, which is, of course, the Iris Festival.
Surrounded by beautiful irises cared for by Master Gardeners and the scenic natural beauty of the gardens and water, the Sumter Iris Festival is not one you want to miss.
In Sumter’s idealistic Swan Lake Iris Gardens, the festival is seen as one of Sumter’s best, but this year there will be one change. Even when the festival began back in 1940, it was on Memorial Day weekend, but this year, the iconic festival will take place the weekend before from May 16 to May 18.
The date shift follows changes to the dates of the school year, said City of Sumter Communications and Tourism Director Shelley Kile. If the festival took place on its usual weekend, it would have coincided with five different graduations, spreading Sumter’s police department thin and affecting volunteers who had celebrations to attend. With the new date, not only will it be more convenient for the public, but it will also allow city employees and volunteers to have the holiday weekend off for the first time.
For those who don’t know, the Iris Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Sumter, with a large focus on the arts. One of the city’s stipulations of use for acquiring Swan Lake Iris Gardens was to never charge an entrance fee, so the Iris Festival is completely free.
In fact, it’s completely possible to enjoy the day without spending any money, as only purchasing from vendors costs guests money. The musical entertainment, games and rides are all free. The festival is also the only time the city offers boat rides on Swan Lake, and even that is free.
On the topic of vendors, there will be more than 150 to choose from, coming from not only Sumter, but other states as well. These will be selling various items including art, crafted goods, toys and artisan food. And, of course, what’s a festival without food?
A variety of good eats will be available to choose from, including Thai food, Mexican cuisine, barbecue, popcorn, and there will even be a coffee food truck.
toward Sumter County Civic Center.
In the past, the festival has had certain rides on certain days, but this year, to quell any disappointment from missing a certain attraction, the festival will have all rides and games for the whole weekend. There will be something for everyone, including a large foam play structure for the littlest of children, an activity trailer from Department of Natural Resources, a dunk tank, skee ball machine, basketball hoops, a large rock-climbing wall and jungle gym.
The festival will also coincide with the Moonless International Film Festival on May 18, which may become an annual event. You can catch some of the actors and actresses who were part of the film festival in the parade.
Every year, the Iris Festival showcases an art and that discipline’s local artists. This year, it will be the literary arts, and local authors will be available to read excerpts from, sell and sign their books.
Though the official dates for the festival are May 16 – 18, it will kick off on the night of Thursday, May 15, at 6 p.m. with “Taste at the Gardens.” The event was described by Kile as a “foodie event” where there will only be food vendors and local chefs serving up dishes. Entertainment for the night will be DJ Howie D, and there will be the crowning of the king and queen of the Iris Festival.
For the first time, the festival will feature a large tent with seating, providing shade for those who need a second to sit down or a cool place to eat.
The festival is so old, one of the only times it was canceled was during World War II, so it has seen a lot of iterations throughout its life, but some things have stayed the same. For example, the parade. On Saturday at 10 a.m., the festival will have its traditional parade. Sponsored by Palmetto Optimist Club, the parade will start at USC Sumter and travel down Miller Road to Liberty Street heading
THE RUNDOWN
When: May 16-18
The crowning of the king and queen of the Iris Festival is also traditional. Two seniors — one female and one male — from every high school in the county are nominated by the schools. All of the nominees get scholarship money, but the king and queen of the Iris Festival will get the most with $500 in scholarship money.
If one thing is true, it’s that the Iris Festival has a lot to offer its attendees this year. Go to https://tinyurl.com/bdhtv48y to learn even more about the three-day celebration.
Where: Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter, SC
S a r d i n i a S a r d i n i a
G a b l e G a b l e
ion & Lake Moult rie
H a r v i n H a r v i n
th Car olina
S i l v e r S i l v e r
W i l s o n W i l s o n ee
Santee Lakes
S t P a u l S t P a u l
Caw Marina
J o r d a n J o r d a n
F o r e s t o n F o r e s t o n
G r e e l e y v i l l
W o r k m a n W o r k m a n
H e i n e m a n H e i n e m a n
W e l l s W e l l s
E u t a w v i l l e E u t a w v i l l e
e
F o u r F o u r H o l e s H o l e s
S a n d r i d g e S a n d r i d g e
W h i t e s v i l l e W h i t e s v i l l e
B o n n e a u B o n n e a u
Black Cowboy Festival
If you love horse shows, fish fries, line dancing and anything country and cowboy, there’s one festival you shouldn’t miss this spring.
Now in its 28th year, the Black Cowboy Festival is set to kick up dust and bring entertainment, education and cultural appreciation to all ages of guests who admire the “rich legacy and enduring contributions of African American cowboys and frontiersmen” May 22-25 on the land of Greenfield Farm in Rembert.
“The narrative of the Black cowboy is a profound chapter in America’s history, often overlooked. The post-Civil War era saw thousands of African Americans venturing into the West, embodying the spirit of resilience, and shaping the cowboy culture. Their stories are integral to America's cultural fabric, fostering inclusivity and historical awareness,” the festival’s website says. The threeday event is organized and promoted by the nonprofit Black Cultural
Enlightenment Society and is the brainchild of Mark and Sandra Myers.
The native South Carolinians are descendants of African American farmers and sharecroppers. They bought land formerly sharecropped by Sandra’s family, enabled by the sale of Mark’s family home in Horatio in 1991. Mark connected with cowboy values from a young age, developing a love for the “outdoors, open space, animals and nature” and a yearning to promote the history of the Black cowboy. Descended from slaves, African American cowboys helped explore the West and “sought to better life for themselves,” the festival’s website states.
The Myerses “are committed to offering outreach activities to the community,” such as children’s education and projects, riding lessons and day retreats for children, adults and animal and outdoors lovers with special needs.
10 a.m. May 22-25
Rembert,
TICKETS
BlackCowboyFestival.net
Thursday fish fry – $25
Friday night Western Dinner and Dance (adults only) – $100
Saturday rodeo, adults 13 and up – $35
Saturday rodeo, children 12 and under –$15
Saturday night Motown Jam (adults only) – $40
Sunday service and brunch – $35
4-day weekend pass (adults only),
Thursday-Sunday – $220
3-day weekend pass (adults only), Friday-
Sunday – $205
SCHEDULE
Gates open at 10 a.m. each day
THURSDAY, MAY 22
• Agriculture workshops – 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Agri-tourism presentations – 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Horsemanship exhibition – 10 a.m.-noon
• Documentary – 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Buffalo Soldier presentation – 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Fish fry – 6:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, MAY 23
• Cowboy trail ride – 11:30 a.m.
• Documentary – Noon-2:30 p.m.
• Line dance class – Noon-2 p.m.
• Western dinner and dance – 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, MAY 24
Gospel show
• The Johnsoneers – 10:30 a.m.
• Sons of Faith – 11 a.m.
• The Anointed Voices – 11:30 a.m.
• Minister Roland Johnson & Company – Noon
Horse events
• Begins at noon with the national anthem
• Gaited horse show and competition (Main area) –12:30 p.m.
• Historical presentation (Homestead area) – 12:30 p.m.
• Black Son of the West-Mark Myers (Main) – 2 p.m.
• Rodeo (main) – 3 p.m.
• Motown Jam featuring Live in the Flesh – 8:30 p.m.-midnight
• Ms. Lillie’s cooking, featuring chiltlins, rice, greens, cornbread, pig feet and sweet potato pie (Homestead) – All day
• Documentaries – All day
• Mechanical bull rides – All day
• Vendors
• Live music
SUNDAY, MAY 25
• Church services with Pastor Michael Clea – 10:30 a.m.
• Brunch – Noon
‘The Stomp’ preserves Lizard Man legend
The Lizard Man Stomp has become Bishopville and Lee County’s annual festival in recent years to draw out-of-towners into the community after the Lee County Cotton Festival stopped about a decade ago.
“The Stomp,” as some refer to the event, will be in its fourth year in 2025 and is centered on the county’s famous 8-foot reptile – the Lizard Man. Margaret Copeland, an event organizer, provided a preview of the festival that will be held on June 28.
As folklore goes, the Lizard Man – a giant reptile that walks upright like a man – was first spotted June 29, 1988, in Bishopville's Scape Ore Swamp in the Browntown community.
That summer, local, state and national media descended upon Bishopville to hear residents’ stories on sightings of the swamp monster that soon came to be known as the Lizard Man.
Then-Lee County Sheriff Liston Truesdale launched a fullscale investigation to locate the creature from the area swamp. It was reported that butter beans were being stolen from Elmore Butter Bean Shed on Browntown Road, suspect unknown. Once the oversized reptile was sighted, many thought he -- or it -- was the subject in the thefts.
Since then, there have been sightings throughout the county of big footprints and scraped-up car hoods, among other damage to vehicles. The monster has never been reported to hurt a person, according to the legend.
Since 2022, the county has hosted The Stomp in downtown Bishopville, and the free festival includes arts and crafts, kids’ games, face painting, a local car show, vendors and food trucks.
Copeland said live music this year will include DJ Tiz Laney, among others.
Always occurring on the last Saturday in June, the festival will again be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and kick off with a parade
THE RUNDOWN
When: June 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Downtown Bishopville
down Main Street.
Children under 12 receive a free lunch, she added.
According to Copeland, the Lizard Man will appear again this year for pictures with children and adults.
“We have a costume suit that a guy wears for the Lizard Man, and he walks the streets and greets everybody,” she said.
“We want to make the festival family oriented because the Lizard Man is not bad, and he likes people,” she said. “The only reason he tore up bumpers off the cars was he was trying to scratch his scales on his back because he is 8 feet tall, and he doesn’t have a back scratcher. So, he just tears up bumpers every now and then to scrub his scales.
“But he never tried to attack anybody, ever. And the children love him. They run up to him at The Stomp and get their picture made and get a hug. You know he can’t be bad if children love him.”
The festival is held annually to preserve the legend and draw tourists into the small city and the county to promote what is available to do there.
Copeland noted Bishopville has various attractions, including Pearl Fryar’s topiary gardens, Harry and Harry Too restaurant, South Carolina Cotton Museum and Lee County Veterans Museum in addition to parks.
The festival is a boon for downtown businesses, she added, because people come to town from across the state and out of state.
“We are just trying to keep the legend alive. Don’t let it die,” she said. “Preserve the legend – that is our motto.
“I feel like we are on our way to preserving it, and if it is done every year it will become a standing thing just like other cities’ festivals.”
Mullikin:Tom
ENVIRONMENTALIST, EXPLORER, AWARD WINNER AND S.C.’S NEW DNR DIRECTOR
Words by Deirdre Currin | Photos by Janel Przybyla
They say when you have a job you love, you never work a day in your life, but it is rare to meet someone who truly loves their job enough to work it every day with no breaks and no complaints. But for South Carolina Department of Resources Director Tom Mullikin, this is reality.
Since Mullikin was sworn in as SCDNR’s newest director on Feb. 5, he hasn’t taken a single day off, and that’s how he prefers it.
“I wake up sometimes, [and] I pinch myself,” Mullikin said with pure joy. “People say, ‘You’ve got to slow down’ – I’m not going to slow down. I’m gonna ride it hard as I can; I love every minute of it. I don’t feel a minute I’m doing this like I’m working.”
Mullikin’s love for his new position comes from a deep fascination with the environment, starting back in fourth grade when he was president of his school’s ecology club. Now, the same fourth-grader who was learning how to plant a tree is planting millions of trees under the orders of S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster.
A Camden native, Mullikin went to college at University of South Carolina, starting as a biology major who was tracking pre-med requirements, but when he became an intern for thenU.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, he fell in love with environmental law and policy.
After finishing his undergraduate studies, Mullikin worked for Hollings in Washington, D.C., and in 1986, Mullikin
graduated from University of South Carolina School of Law. Before being asked to be DNR’s new director, he was the owner of Mullikin Law Firm and had a joint appointment between University of South Carolina and Coastal Carolina University. Mullikin was a research professor in the college of Marine System Science at Coastal and an ecotourism professor at USC, with another class on climate change he taught at USC’s law school. When he accepted his new position, he gave that all up, stepping down from his professor roles and terminating his relationship with his law firm.
In the last dozen years, Mullikin was a professor at Universidad San Francisco de Quito - Galapagos campus in Ecuador, where he spent more than a month out of the year teaching environmental law and climate. Another job that kept Mullikin traveling throughout the country and world was his law firm because though his firm was based in Camden, most of his clients weren’t in South Carolina.
Some may think it is a downgrade to go from scaling volcanoes and traveling all over the world to helping conserve even more of South Carolina’s plentiful acres, but Mullikin loves the state he grew up in.
“We [South Carolina] have the most beautiful place on earth, and I say that with confidence having traveled many times to every continent on earth, and we’ve got to have smart planning,” Mullikin said. “The single biggest priority given to me by the governor is conservation.”
Every chance Mullikin has to wrap his head around an environmental issue, he has taken. Mullikin is someone who learns through experience; he has summited mountains in every continent to examine deglaciation and scuba dove in every ocean to see what is happening with marine life. Now, he is using his skills across South Carolina.
There isn’t just one way Mullikin’s job looks. Throughout the week, he travels across the state doing a variety of different environment-related tasks. One morning, Mullikin started his day in Charleston meeting with S.C. scientists in the Marine Resources division to ensure S.C. has a good population of fish, later he met with turkey rehabilitation specialists, then he met with the U.S. Army Corps about the Clean Water Act to make sure compliance is being maintained. And that is just one day for him.
“It maybe sounds cliché, but I don’t really feel like it’s work because I love it,” Mullikin said. “I love what I do – the thought that I could participate in this historic opportunity to save, conserve this many acres, it’s sometimes stressful because we’re trying to
pull in a lot of people with different views and different ideas.”
As if his biography isn’t hefty enough, Mullikin also served in the United States Army, where he was an international legal officer attached to special operations. After that, he spent two years as a special assistant to the lead prosecutor for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He later retired as the major general/ commander of the South Carolina State Guard after being dedicated to natural disaster issues.
“Everything, as I look back over my life, has been, in one way or another, dedicated to protection of the environment, natural resources and also really dispelling this idea that you have to choose between economic and environmental sustainability,” Mullikin said.
To that last point, Mullikin said as he has traveled, he often sees that areas without environmental sustainability also have no economic sustainability.
Mullikin does not just believe conservation of the environment is necessary; he finds it to be Biblical.
Mullikin has a Ph.D. from Columbia International University, which focuses on ecological theology. Mullikin defined this as “scripture related to protection of the Lord’s garden.”
“I’ve read a lot, I’ve been in school a lot, I’ve taught, I’ve lectured all over the world; the single best treatise I’ve found on the environment is the Holy Bible,” Mullikin said.
Mullikin has done a lot with his one life. He got married to the love of his life, Virginia Ann, after college (which she made Mullikin attend), had children, has explored the world and even gotten the Order of the Palmetto. But there was a time when it seemed as if Mullikin’s future as an environmentalist would be much more limited. When Mullikin was born, doctors said he would never walk because he had bilateral clubfoot in both feet, but as he got older, his father would make him walk even with a cast on him that went up to his hips.
“As I have summited Mt. Kilimanjaro or Mt. Elbrus in southern Russia or any of the other mountains around the world I have climbed, I think I have more satisfaction knowing I feel like maybe if he was here, he’d be proud that he pushed me as hard as he did,” Mullikin said. “I think some people might have looked at it as too much, but he would never let me give up, he would never let me feel sorry for myself, and he told me I was going to be able to do everything that I wanted to do or put my mind to, and he was right.”
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for protecting and managing the state’s natural and cultural resources, from fish and wildlife to plants and special places. Its over 1,100 employees working across all 46 counties are technicians, biologists, game wardens, educators, scientists and administrators who work to balance science, conservation and the public’s best interests. The agency enforces hunting, fishing, boating, and other state and federal laws to protect the resources and those enjoying them while also researching solutions to new challenges, studying the breadth of our resources, advocating for sciencebased decisions and providing outdoor recreational opportunities on hundreds of thousands of acres of managed public land.
*Source: SCDNR
Casting lines and making
New owners at Lake Marion inlet campground plan to grow it as fishing resort
Words and photos by Bruce Mills
Jack’s Creek in Summerton and Clarendon County has been forever known as an ideal location for fishing with natural beauty to boot, and new Carolina King Fishing Resort and Marina owners Chris Biddle and David Hall sat down recently to discuss how they plan to grow
the business.
Biddle, Hall and their wives are the four owners and have rebranded the campground under the Relaxed Retreat name, and now it is officially known as Relaxed Retreat at Carolina King. The campground includes 70 cabins and has picturesque views and is considered a destination spot, Biddle said.
In the ownership changeover that began on Aug. 1, 2024, customer service has been a major focus.
“We are doing things very differently, and a focus is taking care of our customers,” he said.
Google reviews have improved since the selling date less than one year ago, and by mid-March, Relaxed Retreat already had 50 “excellent” reviews, Biddle added.
The operation has also been modernized to include booking online and system efficiencies as opposed to a completely “paper and pencil” business beforehand.
Front-row cabins are rented nightly generally to fishermen, Biddle and Hall said, while others are rented monthly, and all are fully furnished. Cabins vary in size from a studio level – like a hotel room – to one bedroom and some two bedrooms. There is also one four bedroom and 2.5 bath cabin that was undergoing remodeling in the spring.
Full kitchens are available in all cabins above the studio-cabin level, Biddle said.
At the time of the ownership switch, cabins were generally in good physical condition, he added, but mattress and pillow covers
Owners pictured from left are Cynthia Hall, David Hall and Chris Biddle.
were added to all the cabins for safety and comfort. Additionally, showerheads were raised and shampoo dispensers added as comfort additions, Biddle said.
Worn furniture is also being replaced one by one, he added.
“We have a rustic but comfortable theme with the cabins,” Biddle said. “They are nothing extravagant, but there is a focus on cleanliness for our guests.”
Wi-Fi should be available to guests later this year.
The total property owned by Relaxed Retreat is 10 acres that includes the cabin areas. The new owners also lease five acres of shoreline from Santee Cooper, which owns the entire shoreline of Lakes Marion and Moultrie, he added.
HOW ABOUT THE FISHING?
An inlet on Lake Marion, Jack’s Creek has a wide variety of fish including largemouth bass, catfish, shellcracker, crappie and striped bass. The marina goes back to the 1950s and has always been considered a hot spot, Biddle said.
Catfish and largemouth bass bite 12 months a year, but the spring and summer months have the most action for all species, he added.
“That’s what really brings people here,” Biddle said. “All those fish being in one place. Some of the best fishing in the world is right here.
“It’s always a good time to fish here but especially the spring and summer because of the warmer temperatures. Everything is biting.”
The inlet is also an ideal area for kayak fishing because those anglers seek out places with protection from the wind and traffic prevalent on the big water, he added.
Recently, Carolina King became an authorized dealer of Big Adventures Fishing Kayaks, based in Fletcher, North Carolina. Guests can either rent or buy them.
In late March, the new ownership hosted two kayak fishing tournaments.
“More of our guests right now are in bass boats or pontoon boats, but over time, I see it being more balanced with more kayaks here,” Biddle said.
Boat rentals are also available at the campground but not jet skis or pulling tubes.
“The reason for that is there are many stumps and debris in the water here, which is excellent for fishing and terrible for tubes and jet skis,” he added. “Another reason is that it’s no longer great for fishing if you have people zipping around in jet skis. So, we are going to prioritize fishing in everything we do.”
A marina store is also centralized on site for fishing tackle and necessities.
SELLING NATURE THEME
Being out in nature and enjoying it is the theme Relaxed Retreat is selling, the new owners said.
Biddle added there will not be a swimming pool or playground for kids.
“We do love kids, and we want kids here, but we want kids who love being in nature,” he said. “They do exist. It would kind of kill the whole Relaxed Retreat theme if we just had kids screaming and yelling and splashing and all this sort of stuff. We think we have plenty to offer nature-loving kids here. It’s also a good chance for them to get off iPads and iPhones for once.”
S pring HOME AND GARDEN
DECIDING BETWEEN A DECK OR PAVERS
Annual flowers to plant in your garden this spring bird feeders and the birds they attract
THINGS TO CONSIDER TO BOOST YOUR HOME VALUE BEFORE SELLING
How to
decide between a deck or pavers in an outdoor remodel
Outdoorliving spaces have become sought-after commodities among homeowners. A 2022 survey of homeowners conducted by the New Home Trends Institute found that open yards are less appealing to home buyers than they once were. The survey noted that just 28 percent of respondents chose open yards, while 65 percent preferred patios and 55 percent chose decks. Green spaces remain popular, but the survey indicates that many would-be home buyers also want an outdoor living area to make the most of their home exteriors.
Homeowners aspiring to transform their home exterior spaces typically must decide between a deck or pavers when the time comes to plan such areas. That’s a personal choice homeowners must make, but those without strong feelings on either option can consider these tips as they try to decide if a deck or pavers are for them. Homeowners may like an elevated deck that steps down to a patio, which can easily distinguish between the spaces and establish the area as a multifunctional space.
Each option can work, and homeowners may even want to combine the two.
Things to consider
Determine your budget.
Budget is a notable variable with any home renovation project, and the addition of an outdoor living space is no exception. The materials homeowners choose will ultimately determine the cost of each project. For example, composite decking materials tend to cost significantly more than wood decks, but that higher price tag also comes with less maintenance and typically a longer life span. Pavers may prove less expensive than composite decking, but those cost savings may be negligible if a yard requires extensive excavation to prepare an area for a new patio. It requires patience, but gathering estimates of the various materials can serve as a good starting point when planning an outdoor living space. In addition, homeowners must recognize that material costs can fluctuate considerably over time, as such prices are often contingent on a range of variables,
including supply chain issues. So it’s best to gather estimates in a short period of time to make the most accurate price comparisons.
Identify your vision for the space.
Homeowners who have a vision for their outdoor living space, even if they are not sure about which material they prefer, may find the process goes more quickly and even more smoothly than those who are unsure about what they want. Those who prefer a flexible multi-use space may be best going with pavers, as the spaces can be easily converted and areas simply designated as one might differentiate between rooms inside the home. For example, an outdoor living room can be separated with the installation of a pavillion and fireplace, while kitchen and dining areas can be separate spaces on the same patio. Decks tend to be less flexible, which might make them ideal for homeowners who prefer an outdoor
dining area but don’t need a more expansive entertaining space. Of course, decks can be as big as homeowners choose, which can make the spaces more multi-functional.
Recognize both may be in your best interest.
Homeowners also should know that many outdoor living spaces feature both a deck and a paver patio. Homeowners may like an elevated deck that steps down to a patio, which can easily distinguish between the spaces and establish the area as a multifunctional space.
Homeowners planning outdoor living space projects may find themselves choosing between a deck and pavers. Each option can work, and homeowners may even want to combine the two.
Source: avianreport.com
WINGED FRIENDS with these bird feeders
Birds are beautiful creatures that can make a lawn and garden feel even more serene. Providing snacks to supplement what birds naturally find in the wild guarantees up close and personal interactions with the scores of species that call neighborhoods home.
Bird feeders are particularly important in colder climates and during wintertime when food may be scarce. Keeping birds well fed helps them survive over winter and continue to repopulate in the spring. Bird feeding isn’t all for the birds, either. Ashley Dayer, an associate professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech, argues that feeding birds also is a benefit to humans because it stimulates compassion for the animals.
The type of bird feeder a person places in the yard determines which species may be drawn
Suet cakes are high-energy food sources that attract birds like woodpeckers and nuthatches. They are particularly beneficial in colder months or regions where birds need extra fat for energy. These cage-like feeders snap around the rectangular suet cake and hang from a pole or tree.
Ground feeders are simple screen-bottomed trays that sit several inches off of the ground or on a deck to help keep seeds and grain from coming in contact with droppings. Ground feeders are a
Sugar water feeder
These feeders come in different shapes, from tubes to round dishes, and are magnets to hummingbirds. They typically have red coloring to be more attractive to those high-speed flyers.
Nyjer bird feeder
Small birds like goldfinches love to dine on nyjer seeds, which are tiny, black thistle seeds. These feeders are tube-shaped mesh socks designed to hold this specific seed. The small feeding ports prevent seed waste and cater to the small beaks of finches.
Hopper bird feeder
These are the feeders many people think of when they envision bird feeders. Hopper bird feeders hold a large amount of seed and often have a roof or a design that mimics a house or barn. The covered design helps to keep seeds dry and might be the best hanging feeder for people who live in areas with a lot of rain. Hoppers will attract blue jays, grackles, cardinals, and blackbirds.
Tube feeders
Tube feeders will attract an array of birds. They are cylindrical in shape with various ports to enable birds to perch and feed.
Window and smart bird feeders
These types of bird feeders attach to windows to allow homeowners to view the birds up close. Smart varieties have cameras on the feeders that will send a feed via an app to a smartphone or computer. Some even may identify the bird species on the feeder at any given point in time.
Bird feeders provide enjoyment for bird watchers and nutritious food for various species.
Did
Since 1948, the Carolina Wren has been the official state bird of South Carolina. Previously, it used to be the Mockingbird, which was decided way back in 1942.
Source: birdwatchingacademy.com
Source chirpforbirds.com
Annual flowers
MEXICAN SUNFLOWER
Mexican sunflower should be grown in full sun and shouldn’t require watering after it’s established. You can also plant these directly in the garden or grow them in trays to transplant.
Get ahead of powdery mildew and lack of rain this summer with 3 prolific annual flowers
Words and photos by Melanie Smith
The robins seem to be taking over, the weeds are already growing in the yard, the trees are budding, and the flower garden is a blank slate. But what to plant?
If you’re like me and want prolific flowering plants with little need to drag the heavy hose around the yard, plus little worry about disease in humid Sumter, there are several options that won’t empty your wallet. My flowerbed spans almost the length of my front yard at the street, so it takes a lot of flowers to fill it and a lot of money if I let it.
In the past few years, I’ve looked for flowering annuals that will give me little trouble for less money, and I’ve had success with several that could be good options for your yard, too. One on my list that I grew last year attracted so many butterflies that I’d stand out in the back yard with my camera waiting for one to land. A few on my list I’ve started from seed, but one type can be found as seedlings at probably any local gardening center cheaply.
ANNUAL VINCA
This is the one I found last year to be inexpensive, easy to plant, and it took off quickly. I probably planted more than 100 of these small seedlings, and they grew and filled in the spaces between my daylilies so that they were blooming long after the daylilies quit for the spring and summer. I watered them a few times until they got used to their new home, and then I essentially left them alone, and they were none the worse for my neglect. They surprised
me with their blooms upon blooms, right out in the full sun of my long front flowerbed. They only finally gave up when the first frost came around last fall.
These were a great investment, although as annuals, you’ll of course have to plant them every spring. But if you wait a little longer into the growing season, you may find them marked on sale even cheaper. They also do best in that full, hot sun – I tried planting a few I couldn’t fit in that big front garden into semi-shady spots in my side yard and also under a bird bath that gets river birch tree shade, and those never really got going.
I planted them in swaths of the same color so they would be more striking to passersby – dark pink in the very back of the bed, then a row of lighter pink and finally a row of white right against the pavement of the street. This year I’m hoping to find purple ones to try out, maybe mixed among white ones this time.
These didn’t seem to have problems with disease, although by the end of the season, I noticed a few plants here and there had withered and died. But compared to the dozens and dozens I planted, annual vincas were a great success.
ZAHARA ZINNIAS
Several years ago, I tried zinnias at the very back of this same flowerbed – giant zinnias. These reached about 4 to 5 feet tall, and while they were beautiful butterfly and bee magnets, they were so awfully diseased with powdery mildew that I ended up ripping them all out earlier than I’d planned. The next year, I searched online to see if anything like a mildew-resistant zinnia even existed, and it does! They are called Zahara zinnias, and they only reach maybe a foot tall, covered in little flowers that just keep going. They make a fantastic bedding plant because they are short with small flowers covering them.
This type of zinnia is a hybrid that is drought and heat tolerant, and it’s bred to be resistant to that scourge of humid Southern summers, the powdery mildew. In my experience, they do take a few weeks to get going, but once they do, they are hands off. I’ve only seen these once in a garden store in Columbia, so your best bet is buying seeds. Search for Zahara zinnia seeds online, and enjoy picking from among the several colors available –salmon, raspberry ripple (my favorite), starlight rose, sunburst and several more.
The most foolproof way I found to grow these is in seed trays on a covered porch or indoors for a few weeks to avoid the sun drying them out quickly. I tried these a few years ago by planting them directly in my garden and watering twice per day, but even that wasn’t enough to keep them from drying out. None ever sprouted! So the way to go with these that I recommend is with seed trays, then planting the seedlings into the garden before they get too big (zinnias technically don’t like transplanting). These have done very well for me, and it’s only at the end of the long growing season here that they start to look a bit raggedy with some mildew. But for the several months they look fantastic, they have my vote.
MEXICAN SUNFLOWER
These aren’t your typical large yellow sunflowers. They are smaller red blooms on quite tall, branching plants, and they attract butterflies and bees like probably nothing else I’ve ever planted. I tried these last year for the first time to help beautify a large brick wall, and they did so well and likely attracted the pollinators to my nearby vegetable garden.
You do have to make sure you choose the right variety of seeds for these, however – Tithonia rotundifolia is the species you want. Another type, Tithonia diversifolia, is considered highly invasive and should not be planted. Seed packets should specify on the label which type it is.
The only problem I had with these is they grew to be so tall that during the first hurricane last summer, they fell over in the wind, and I wasn’t able to stake them up after. In the future, I would plant them next to something I could easily tie them to with garden twine, like the trellis in my veggie garden or next to a fence instead of the brick wall that has no anchor points. There are several varieties of shorter Mexican sunflower, but I’ve not yet tried growing those. They are “Fiesta del Sol,” which can grow to about 3 feet, and “Goldfinger,” which can grow to 2 to 2.5 feet.
Mexican sunflower should be grown in full sun and shouldn’t require watering after it’s established. You can also plant these directly in the garden or grow them in trays to transplant. Because I had ordered just one packet of seeds, I grew them in trays and transplanted them. I got only about 50% germination, and I don’t know if that’s typical of them, but you may want to keep that in mind if you’re searching for seeds.
Hopefully this short list has given you a few tried-and-tested options. Whatever you choose to grow this year, enjoy the season, and happy gardening.
Did you know?
According to the 2023 USDA Hardiness Zone Map, Sumter County, South Carolina, is in Zones 8a (10°F to 15°F) and 8b (15°F to 20°F). The best time to plant for these zones is after danger of frost has past, usually April.
Source: southernliving.com and planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
WHITE ANNUAL VINCA
HOW TO
boosthomevalue beforeselling
People considering buying or selling a home are facing a unique market. The real estate market has been in flux for several years, and high interest rates have made it more expensive to borrow.
The Mortgage Bankers Association is projecting that 30-year mortgage rates will level out to 6.5 percent for the forseeable future. That means that people who have been waiting for changes in the real estate market could be disappointed, and hesitant buyers may finally just bite the bullet and buy even if mortgage rates are not where they hoped they’d be in 2025. Homeowners with properties they are considering listing for sale would be wise to make certain changes that will help garner the best prices from buyers.
Make kitchen and bath improvements
The kitchen is the heart of many homes. Real estate agents may recommend that homeowners make minor to moderate
kitchen upgrades like resurfacing cabinets, upgrading countertops and changing fixtures or hardware to give the room an overhaul.
Homeowners also should look to bathroom updates as smart investments that can improve home value. Katie Severance, author of The Brilliant Home Buyer, characterizes kitchens and baths as “money rooms” that add the most value to a home.
Declutter the home
Homeowners should clean out items they no longer need. Decluttering can make a space feel bigger, which is beneficial in a market where open-concept floor plans remain popular among home buyers.
When buyers walk through a prospective home, they want to envision themselves living there, something that is more easily done if the home isn’t overrun with the current homeowner’s belongings.
Get to painting
Painting a home is a cost-effective renovation with a lot of oomph. Freshly
painted rooms appear clean and updated, says HGTV, and that can appeal to buyers. Homeowners should choose neutral colors to accommodate the widest array of potential buyers.
Improve the landscaping
The exterior of a home is the first thing potential buyers will see as they roll up to view a property or look at a listing online. Homeowners should start by evaluating and enhancing the landscaping. Ensure the lawn is well-maintained and add plants that provide color without a lot of maintenance.
Expand usable space
Homeowners can think about adding to the usable space in a home. This translates into finishing basements or attics or even converting garages to rooms. Or it may involve adding a three-season room.
Homeowners can consider a number of improvements to increase the resale value of their properties.
