Walk & Talk - Cypress Gardens tour with Gabe Schuler

Saturday, May 21, 2022

It was a warm but cloudy day, which made it a perfect morning for our walk through the gardens, the Butterfly House, and Swamparium (eww). Gabe was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Thanks Gabe.

The garden includes 200 acres, and is in Berkeley county. The Kittredge family created flower gardens all around the swamp. Wisteria is invasive and very aggressive. Poor Gabe has the task of keeping it under control. Good luck Gabe :-)

In the swamp, in and around the Duckweed, we saw scented water lilies, bronze frogs, baby alligators, Jack in the Pulpit, Bald Cypress, Lizard’s Weed, Wild Blueberry, Pickerel Weed, a Southern Toad, Swamp Primrose, a Bat Hotel, Lilies, hydrangea, and Astors

In their own gated community, we found Boss, a 75 year old alligator, 13 ½ feet long, and Ally, who is 44-45 years old and 9’6” long.

We learned so many things, as we always do on our Master Naturalist walks. I’m sure we each went away with new knowledge of different things.

This is what I learned, in addition to the plant names above:

• Tupelo honey comes from hives on the Tupelo tree.
• Alligators reach mating age at 16-17 years.
• Wood ducks nest in holes made by the Red Headed Woodpecker.
• Petals and bark of the Magnolia can be made into a tea for anti-anxiety.
• Mulberry is good for headaches and hangovers.

Lizard Tail

Pickerel Weed

Water Lillies