South Carolina's SCIWAY News, No. 105 May 2011

SC Picture of the Month – Botany Bay Plantation

People visit Botany Bay Plantation to enjoy time in an unspoiled coastal wilderness. Botany Bay is a 4,630-acre wildlife preserve located on Edisto Island.

John Meyer, who died in 1977, deeded the property to the State of South Carolina to be used as a wildlife preserve, but only after the death of his wife, Margaret. While living there during the remainder of her lifetime, she took great care to protect the land and to foster a diverse array of habitats throughout the property including maritime forests, salt marsh, tidal creeks, freshwater ponds, and hammock islands.

Today, recreational opportunities at Botany Bay include seasonal hunting, catch and release fishing, birding, and an interpretive driving trail.

Many, many thanks to Paul Gowder of Lexington who submitted this picture.

Submit your SC pictures to SCIWAY and the next photo of the month could be yours!

10 Ways to Make the Most of May in South Carolina
		1. South Carolina Book Festival Columbia – May 14-15, 2011 The 15th annual South Carolina Book Festival will be held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. This festival is perfect for the casual reader or serious book enthusiast. There will be workshops, speakers, exhibits, and autograph sessions with award winning authors.
2. South Carolina Strawberry Festival Fort Mill – May 4-7, 2011 "The more the berrier" is the motto of the fun-filled Strawberry Festival! Strawberry lovers can spend four days in historic Fort Mill enjoying "Strawberry Jam" music, rides, a pageant, recipe and eating contests, fireworks, and more.
		3. Pine Straw Festival Patrick – May 19-21, 2011 Join Patrick residents in celebrating their abundant and beautiful long-leaf pines. The three day festival includes the 'Taste of Patrick', a rodeo, and a parade.
4. Spartanburg Spring Fling Spartanburg – May 6-8, 2011 Spring has arrived and what better way to celebrate the sun than with a three day event in our very own Sparklecity! The Spartanburg Spring Fling includes Disc Connected K-9s (frisbee dogs), an antique car show, a professional bicycle race, and live entertainment on six stages.
		5. Beaufort Air Show Beaufort – April 30th & May 1, 2011 The Blue Angels will be flying into the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort to put on a spectacular show – for free! There is an after party Saturday night that will have live music, drink specials, and even a mechanical bull.
6. Greenville Greek Festival (site no longer exists) Greenville – May 19-22, 2011 For four fun-filled days, Greenville becomes "Greekville" as the magic of Greece comes to town. This "Glendi" or party includes live music, folk dancing, children's rides, arts and crafts, tours, and of course lots of food! Opa!
		7. Aiken Bluegrass Festival (site no longer exists) Aiken – May 13-14, 2011 The Aiken Bluegrass Festival is back for its 6th year, featuring 10 bands and a BBQ dinner event. Bring your tent and setup camp to fully enjoy the bluegrass during this two day event. Proceeds benefit STAR Riding and Driving.
8. Charleston International Film Festival Charleston – May 18-22, 2011 The Charleston International Film Festival is being held at local venues like the American Theater, Cinebarre, and the Hippodrome Widescreen. The festival features over 60 not-yet-released films, shorts, documentaries, plus workshops.
		9. Artisphere Greenville – May 13-15, 2011 This three-day art event includes visual arts, live performances, an opening night gala, and a 'Kidsphere' area.
10. North Charleston Art Festival North Charleston – April 29 - May 7, 2011 The fabulous nine-day celebration of the arts is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the Lowcountry, providing over 30,000 residents and visitors with a wonderful array of performances, exhibitions, and activities.
		Complete Calendar of May's SC Events Statewide – May 1-31, 2011 Want to see the full calendar? Just click here to check out SCIWAY's complete calendar of May SC events! Also, remember that all our event calendars, for every month of the year, are available on SCIWAY's website 24/7/365 – just go to https://www.sciway.net/calendar.html.

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