Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Summer Wine Strolls at Middleton Place in July

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How about spending a relaxing Wednesday evening at one of Charleston’s most beautiful gardens? In July the popular Summer Wine Stroll at Middleton Place takes place on July 7, July 14, and July 21.

Enjoy a leisurely walk through America’s oldest landscaped gardens while sampling a variety of summer wines at Middleton Place. During each wine stroll Middleton Place will host the wine tasting in a different garden location.

Wine tasting in the gardens of Middleton Place takes place on Wednesdays from from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Cost is $10.00 per person and reservations are not required for the event.
Summer Wine Strolls every Wednesday through September.

For more information visit www.middletonplace.org or call (843) 556-6020.

Butterfly Festival 2010 – Jacksonville, Fl

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At the Butterfly Festival you will experience a close encounter with 1000 of the gossamer-winged creatures. The festival takes place at Treehill Nature Center on April 24, 2010, from noon to 5:00 p.m. and culminates with nature’s fireworks – a live native butterfly release. This is something you don’t want to miss.

If you ever thought about starting your own Butterfly garden, come to the festival to find out more. You can visit the butterfly exhibit and there’s lots of activities for children, live music, vendors, and much more.

There’s also Art in the Park where local artists showcase their art. In the Get Back to Nature area you can meet experts from local nurseries who can tell you all you need to know about native plants and herbs. You can also shop at the Monarch Mall for everything from plants to jewelry and much, much more.

Thousands of visitors come to the popular butterfly festival. So plan on getting here early, and staying all day. Tickets are $4 for adults, $3 for seniors/military and $2 for children. Click here for a $1.00 off coupon
The proceeds goes to support Treehill Nature Center.

Watch our video from last year’s event – and below it the Tour of Treehill Nature Center!

Watch the Tour of Treehill Nature Center!

Charleston Farmers Market Opens on April 3, 2010

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On April 3rd, 2010, Charleston Farmers Market will again open at Marion Square in the downtown area. The Farmers Market offers fresh locally grown produce as well as other foods, and arts and crafts. The market will continue during the season until December 19, 2010.

The 2010 Poster
The special 2010 poster, Peter Piper’s Peppers by Ginny Versteegen,  will be unveiled at 10:30 am by Charleston City Councilman Kathleen Wilson and Ellen Dressler Moryl, Director City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.  The South Carolina Broadcasters, a local bluegrass band, will perform until 1:30 p.m.

Green Market
This year, the Charleston Farmers Market will organize a planning process to transition into a “Green Market.” Only a few farmers markets in the U.S. are officially recognized as “Green Markets.” This transition includes recycling and/or re-using all of the materials that are produced by the market as well as educating vendors and the public on the value of being green, including using recycled products, re-using products and composting.

New Additions
New farmers and vendors in the 2010 market include:

• Messy Apron will offer fresh hot and cold soups made with local produce for eat-in or take-out.
• Meat House, owned and operated by Jason Houser, will offer charcuterie products, including sausage, bacon and pâté.
• BJ’s Brats is a local food vendor from Seabrook Island that will offer locally made bratwurst and Italian sausage.
• Family Trees owned and operated by Kara Viacrusis, will sale jade house plants which are offspring of her grandmother’s 30-year-old jade tree.

Popular Vendors
Among the vendors who are returning to the market for another season and offering additional products are: Captain Hatt’s, a full-service fish market will also offer pickled shrimp and crab and shrimp dips; Chucktown Chicken has lemon grass as well as farm-raised chickens, River Run Farms will offer its grass-fed beef as well as kiwi fruit and other kiwi products and luffa sponges and compost products. Nelly’s Farm is expanding their organic produce selection by offering mixed greens, cucumbers, basil as well as arugula and flowers. Burden Creek Dairy will also supply goat milk as well as plain and flavored chèvre.

“Not only is the weekly Charleston Farmers Market a testimony to the wonderful quality of life we enjoy in here in Charleston, but Charleston farmers are becoming an integral part of the community, offering produce to many of the local restaurants and as a result are significant contributors to a thriving, sustainable local economy. We are so thrilled to welcome the market back to our Saturday routine April 3rd,” says Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.

About Charleston Farmers Market

Founded by Mayor Joe Riley in 1989, the Charleston Farmers Market is produced by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with the City of Charleston Parks Department. Over the years, the Charleston Farmers Market has received numerous awards: In 2005, the Charleston Farmers Market, newly revitalized and relocated back in the renovated Marion Square, received the Three Sisters Award from the Charleston Save the City Committee. In 2008, the Market was ranked by Travel and Leisure magazine as one of the top 10 best Farmers Markets in the nation. In the Charleston City Paper reader’s poll, “Best Of,” the Charleston Farmers Market was named 2009 Best Outdoor Event. Now permanently located in Marion Square, in the heart of historic downtown Charleston, S.C., the Farmers Market is open each Saturday, from April 3 to Dec., 19, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Farmers Market is dedicated to the support and advocacy of Lowcountry farmers and growers and offers a variety of local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers as well as breakfast and lunch vendors, live entertainment and an assortment of juried arts and crafts from local artisans. The Charleston Farmers Market attracts citizens and visitors alike. It is the community connection every Saturday morning from April through December, bringing together people from all parts of the Lowcountry and beyond.

Spring Winefest at Middleton Place – Charleston, SC

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There is no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring but with a trip to the beautiful gardens of Middleton Place. There is a special Spring Wine Tasting at Middleton Place, where you get to sip wine while enjoying the beautiful view of thousand of azaleas, dogwood and wisteria. The colors of the blooming flowers are reflecting in the water of the Rice Mill Pond. The tasting takes place from 5:30 – 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 31 and April 7. Reservations are required. Cost is $20 per person. For reservations, call 843-556-6020.

Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens 2010

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The city of Savannah is known for its beautiful squares, remarkable architecture and hidden gardens.  Put on your comfortable walking shoes, get out your water bottle, and get ready for Savannah’s Tour of Homes and Gardens. This is one of the absolute best ways to experience some of Savannah’s finest homes and most beautiful gardens. The 75th Annual Tour of Homes and Gardens takes place in Savannah, Georgia, March 25 – 28, 2010.

The self-guided house tours featured a different historic neighborhood each of the four days. Tour participants receive a guide book with a color coded map. Volunteers are at hand to assist you at each tour site. You do this tour at your own pace.

Savannah has the largest urban landmark historic district in the U. S.  In this 2.5 square mile area, there is an astonishingly preserving the  beauty, architecture and history of the old South.  The city of Savannah was founded back in 1733 by General James Edward Oglethorpe whose grid design influenced the city.   To this day there is twenty-one oak-canopied squares giving Savannah its unique character.

Walking Tour tickets will be priced at $40 per person, per day with six to nine sites on Tour each day. Click here to buy tickets.

Please call 912-234-8054 with questions.

Download the brochure for the event here!