Hilton Head Monthly Voice Voice of the Lowcountry 
BEAUFORT COUNTY'S NEW NATIONAL PARK TELLS AN IMPORTANT STORY
A new national park in northern Beaufort County honors an important and emotional era in U.S. history.
Known as Reconstruction, it’s the period following the Civil War — after slavery was abolished but before Jim Crow laws were established, a time when freed African Americans learned to read and write, owned property, and were elected to public office, including Congress.
BOTTLE TREES’ HISTORY GOES BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS
Felder Rushing, self-described “Southern garden guru” and host of the NPR podcast “The Gestalt Gardener,” is hitting the bottle — but not in the way you think. He’s leading a campaign to dispel “the same tired old history and lore” of bottle trees, the whimsical sculptures made from glass bottles — usually blue, sometimes green — placed on branches of metal or wood that dot many a garden in the Lowcountry.
OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES HAVE LONG BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SOUTHERN LIFE
If there’s one architectural element that epitomizes Southern living, it’s the porch. Sure, it’s changed over time — in the old days, porches usually were restricted to the front of the house, while today they can be found on all sides — but the porch has endured for more than 200 years.
BARBECUE UNIVERSITY EVENT TO BE HELD AT PALMETTO BLUFF
There’s something primal and undeniably fun about cooking over a live fire.
“Nobody gathers around the stove to watch a loaf of bread baking,” said grilling guru Steven Raichlen. “But when you light a fire, it’s a party.”
Name: Trixie
Age: 2 years
Gender: Female
Weight: 35-40 pounds
Breed: Hound/Shepard mix
Temperament: Gets along great with other dogs and people, house trained, crate trained.
FAITH IN ACTION IS FOUND AT GRACE COASTAL CHURCH
Wrapped up in the sermons, the service and the ceremony are two words that define the mission at Grace Coastal Church, and indeed faith itself: Gospel transformation.
“We believe the gospel is the good news that can transform us as Christians and can transform our community,” said Senior Pastor Sam Joyner. “It should not just be an insurance policy to get us into heaven, it should have an impact now.”
A PRIMER ON A FEW TERMS Y’ALL NEED TO KNOW
We’re no linguists, but you could definitely make a case that there are two kinds of American English: the highly descriptive yet ultimately boring Yankee variety, and the infinitely creative and boundlessly colorful Southern strain. Our corner of the South has been kind enough to welcome its share of Yankee-speaking Northerners, so as a public service we present the following basics of Southern slang:
HELP RARE AND COMMON SPECIES RECOVER WITH THESE SIMPLE STEPS
Can you imagine what life would be like without seeing birds soaring overhead, or hearing them sing as we awaken or set off for a walk on a beautiful summer day?
If something isn’t done to reverse a worrying trend, this scenario is not far-fetched.
WEDDING BLENDS COUPLE’S HERITAGES WITH THEIR LOVE OF THE SEA
Hunter Anderson and Meena Rao aren’t from Hilton Head Island, but their wedding at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa reflected their love of the sea. The beach has always been an important part of their relationship, and as they began to plan their big day, Meena knew she wanted the ocean to play a part. So they settled on Hilton Head as the perfect place for their family and friends to gather and celebrate.
BEHIND EVERY TEEN DRIVER IS AN ANXIOUS PARENT
Hearts pounding, our eyes anxiously scanning the surroundings for danger, our fingers gripping the seat beneath us. One foot hovers in mid-air, poised to slam against a non-existent brake pedal.
A nightmare? A scene from the latest horror movie? No, just another exciting episode in the ongoing saga we call parenting — teaching our teens to drive.
