Plantin g Seaso n VOLUME XII - ISSUE 3 - The Longleaf Alliance
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Planting
Season
VOLUME XII - ISSUE 3 FALL 2019
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
20
15
10
President’s Message....................................................2
8 44
Nursery Spotlight....................................................20
Upcoming Events ......................................................4 L A N D O W N E R C O R N E R .......................................24
Letters from the Inbox ...............................................5
R E G I O N A L U P D A T E S .........................................29
Understory Plant Spotlight........................................7
Wildlife Spotlight .....................................................8 N E X T G E N E R A T I O N ............................................38
Virginia Department of Forestry Achieves A R T S & L I T E R A T U R E ........................................40
Containerized Longleaf Pine Production ..................10 Longleaf Destinations ..............................................44
Protecting Big Snooks: A Story of Conservation
P E O P L E .................................................................47
and Collaboration ....................................................14
S U P P O R T T H E A L L I A N C E ................................50
R E S E A R C H N O T E S .............................................18
Heartpine ................................................................53
P U B L I S H E R The Longleaf Alliance, E D I T O R Carol Denhof, A S S I S T A N T E D I T O R Margaret Platt, D E S I G N Bellhouse Publishing
A D V E R T I S I N G Carol Denhof 678.595.6405 – editor@longleafalliance.org
C O V E R A field of longleaf pine seedlings growing at Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, Georgia. Photo by Carol Denhof.
The Longleaf Leader (USPS#) is an official publication of The Longleaf Alliance, 12130 Dixon Center Road, Andalusia, Alabama 36420 and
is published 4 times a year. The Longleaf Alliance reserves the exclusive right to accept or reject advertising or editorial material submitted for
publication. Advertising rates quoted upon request.Postmaster: Send address changes to The Longleaf Alliance, Address12130 Dixon Center Road,
Andalusia, Alabama 36420. Periodicals Postage Paid at Montgomery, Alabama.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or disability.
(Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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Season of
Change
I
BY ROBERT ABERNETHY, THE LONGLEAF ALLIANCE
P R E S I D E N T ’S M E S S A G E
t is early October, and the leaves have just with the US Forest Service on the Desoto National Forest and
started to show color in the pinewoods. The working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service on
forest floor is a bit brighter than the oaks private lands in several states. Work on red-cockaded
and hickories as the wildflowers woodpeckers continues on the Francis Marion
and grasses put on their last National Forest in South Carolina and the
blush of color to beat the first frost and Apalachicola National Forest and Eglin Air
produce next year’s seed crop. The Force Base in Florida. We are also
fall
migratory songbirds are on the move, continuing our dedication to help
and many have either arrived in the restore the reticulated flatwoods
South or already departed for the salamander, gopher frog, indigo
Caribbean and South America. snake, and gopher tortoise.
2019
Landowners have ordered their As you read in the previous
longleaf seedlings and are preparing Longleaf Leader, change is also
for planting season. As soon as the coming to the leadership of The
winter rains saturate the soils with Longleaf Alliance. We announced the
enough moisture to ensure the survival president’s position and have received a
of the young seedlings, planting crews number of highly qualified applicants.
will be spreading across the South. It is Interviews are taking place with a decision
truly the Season of Change. expected in the next month or so. We are
It is a Season of Change here at The Longleaf grateful to our Board of Directors for navigating this
Alliance also. Projects are being closed out, and new projects lengthy process.
are starting up. Work will continue to grow and expand as we Change is good, and I am looking forward to the next several
help landowners ensure that their longleaf management meets months as trees are planted, the land is restored, and The
their objectives for income generation, wildlife habitat, Alliance moves into the next chapter of longleaf restoration.
recreation, and aesthetic qualities. We are expanding our work Have a great Fall and enjoy your longleaf forests!
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Longleaf Alliance Staff
Board of Directors Robert Abernethy Vernon Compton Edward O’Daniels
President GCPEP Director Project Manager
Marc Walley – robert@longleafalliance.org vernon@longleafalliance.org edward@longleafalliance.org
Chairman
Reese Thompson – Ad Platt Carol Denhof Jessica Sandoval
Vice President of Operations Understory & Media Coordinator Biological Technician
Vice Chairman ad@longleafalliance.org carol@longleafalliance.org jessica@longleafalliance.org
Rufus Duncan –
Secretary/Treasurer Anne Rilling Bobby Franklin Brian Schumann
Vice President of Business SoLoACE Partnership Coordinator Ecosystem Support Senior Team Member
Barclay McFadden – anne@longleafalliance.org bobby@longleafalliance.org brian@longleafalliance.org
Past Chairman
Charlie Abeles Lucas Furman Kaiden Spurlock
Angus Lafaye Wildlife Biologist GIS Support Specialist Ecosystem Support Team Supervisor
charlie@longleafalliance.org lucas@longleafalliance.org kaiden@longleafalliance.org
Lynda Guerry Beam
Nicholas Barys Kelsea Heider Randy Tate
Robbie Fisher Wetland Ecosystem Support Team Wetland Ecosystem Support Team Ft. Stewart/Altamaha Longleaf
Member Member Restoration Partnership Coordinator
Patrick Franklin nick@longleafalliance.org kelsea@longleafalliance.org randy@longleafalliance.org
Amanda Haralson Lynnsey Basala Lisa Lord Ben Tuttle
Ken Nichols Development Director South Carolina Field Project Ecosystem Support Team Member
lynnsey@longleafalliance.org Coordinator and Savannah River benjamin@longleafalliance.org
William Owen Watershed Project Director
Ryan Bollinger lisa@longleafalliance.org Donna Vassallo
Mickey Parker Local Implementation Team Consul Ecosystem Support Senior Team Member
ryan_b@longleafalliance.org Joseph Mann donna@longleafalliance.org
Mac Rhodes Wetland Ecosystem Support Team
Karen Zilliox Brown Member Casey White
Salem Saloom Technical Assistance & Training joseph@longleafalliance.org Administrative Assistant
Specialist office@longleafalliance.org
Latimore Smith karen@longleafalliance.org Ryan Mitchell
George Tyson Outreach & Technical Assistance Bob Wilken
Emma Browning Coordinator Fire Specialist
Phillip Woods Biological Technician ryan@longleafalliance.org bob@longleafalliance.org
emma_b@longleafalliance.org
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UPCOMING EVENTS
2019 | Calendar
October 12
Fire in the Pines Festival 2020 February 11 - 13
Longleaf Academy: Fire & Longleaf 201
Halyburton Park January 14 - 16 Tall Timbers Research Station
Wilmington, North Carolina Longleaf Academy: Longleaf 101 Tallahassee, Florida
Blue Heron Nature Center
October 22 - 24 Ridgeland, South Carolina October 20 - 23
Longleaf Academy: Groundcover Biennial Longleaf Conference
Restoration 201 January 25 Hotel Ballast
Austin Cary Forest Campus Red Hills Fire Fest Wilmington, North Carolina
Gainesville, Florida Tall Timbers Research Station
Tallahassee, Florida
November 19 - 21
Longleaf Academy: Longleaf 101
Wakefield, Virginia
For more information about events please visit The Longleaf Alliance website (www.longleafalliance.org).
FALL 2019 MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST
• Apply Fall Site Preparation Herbicides: For maximum • Harvest Native Herbaceous Seeds: Certain species, such as
efficacy, foliar active herbicides such as glyphosate the Indian Grasses, ripen and fall in a very short time window
(Roundup®/Accord®) should be applied before the first frost; (as little as 1 or 2 weeks). Ripe wiregrass can lose all of its ripe
while triclopyr (Garlon®) may be delayed until after the first seed if a cold front blows through. Be watchful and move
frost for targeting waxy leaf competitors while minimizing quickly!
impact to herbaceous groundcover.
• Order Native Seed for Understory Restoration: Seed from
• Allow time for soil active herbicides to break down before local ecotypes and endemic species is limited and expensive.
planting longleaf, especially those with the active ingredient Although some landowners and land managers have the time
imazapyr (Arsenal®/Chopper®). and expertise to collect their own seed, most restoration will be
done with seed purchased from the few seed companies that
sell southeastern sourced seed.
• Apply mechanical site preparation treatments: Scalp
agricultural sites; remember to stay strictly on the contour and pick
the scalper up regularly. Leaving water bars in the furrow will • Plant Longleaf: It’s never too early to plant longleaf if the
greatly reduce erosion. Subsoil or rip sites with hardpans, but following conditions are met: the site is prepared (see Fall Site
remember, do not plant seedlings directly into the sub soiled/ripped Prep recommendations), there is adequate soil moisture,
furrow. seedlings are available, and a planting crew is available.
• Clean up or establish fire lanes for site prep or fuel reduction
burns.
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FROM THE INBOX
Q.
Q&A Dear Longleaf Alliance, especially on wet sites. The seedling plugs should be firm and
I’m planning on planting longleaf seedlings on my property stiff with evidence of good root development and mycorrhizal
this year. As I write this, a site prep contractor has sprayed my development. Mycorrhizae is a beneficial fungus that helps the
land for site preparation, and I plan to burn the site off in 6-8 tree roots in nutrient uptake. If you grasp the seedling by the
weeks with hopes of planting between late December and mid- base of the needles and the plug droops (we call this a ‘floppy’)
January. We’re going to use containerized seedlings, and I need it is not a good quality seedling.
to know what makes a quality seedling and how should they Coordinate your seedlings and your planting crew to
be planted? minimize storage and to plant the freshest seedlings possible.
I’d appreciate some guidance! When the seedlings arrive, sort three boxes and check the
Wondering in Wilmington quality of what you have purchased; remove any doubles,
obvious hybrids, weed infested, floppy seedlings, or diseased
A. Dear Wondering,
seedlings with stem galls. Nursery partners of The Alliance
will not have many such problems, and if you did have
significant defect, will try to make it right. If you need to store
Thank you for asking! You sound like you have a good the seedlings before planting, keep them in the boxes in
reforestation plan. We recommend securing seedlings by early refrigerated storage, or at the very least shaded, cool, and
summer. If you have not already done so, order your seedlings moist. We prefer minimizing the amount of time in storage,
as soon as possible. Seedlings can be limited in many years, but if it is more than 2-3 weeks, check the boxes periodically
and most nurseries usually sell out before the fall, if not earlier! and mist them as necessary to prevent the plugs from drying
Ordering trees should be your first priority! If you cannot find out.
seedlings, contact planting contractors; oftentimes they may When planting, our instruction to the planters is that we
have extra uncommitted seedlings. want them straight, snug, and we want to see the top of the
Consider what you are ordering. Most folks are planting plug. Our research has shown there is not a penalty for
454 to 622 containerized longleaf seedlings per acre. elevating seedlings, but that mortality follows when soil covers
Sometimes slightly higher numbers. It all depends on your the bud. Elevate them more on a lighter, more mobile soil or
objectives. If wildlife is important, use the lower end of this a scalped site, aiming for 1-1.5 inches exposed, or even more
range. If timber and pine straw are a priority, use the higher on the wettest portion of a site that may briefly be saturated.
end or maybe as many as 726 seedlings per acre. Most To see a demonstration of a properly planted longleaf seedling,
landowners find that 608 (6 foot by 12-foot spacing) to 622 check out the ‘Three Minute Management’ video titled
(7 foot by 10-foot spacing) trees per acre to be a reasonable Planting Longleaf on our YouTube channel.
compromise. These are general recommendations. You can find more
Next, consider the genetic quality of the trees. Very little detailed planting instruction at www.longleafalliance.org.
work has been done in improving the genetic quality of Search for “Establish Longleaf Pine.” You will find several
longleaf pine, unlike the work that has been done with useful, in-depth articles on planting longleaf pine and seedling
loblolly. There are some first-generation seed orchards for quality.
longleaf pine, and you should request “Improved” or seed
orchard-sourced seedlings if you can. Selected seed is expected For additional information, please contact us through the
to be of better quality and should return better results in terms website. Don’t forget to burn your young longleaf early and
of growth, form, and disease resistance, especially on old ag often!
and pasture sites.
When it comes to size, many prefer to order the largest Sincerely,
volume containers. You want a large, well-developed root
system in the plug regardless of its size. Most are sold either The Longleaf Alliance
as 4, 5 or 6-inch-long plugs. I personally prefer 6-inch plugs,
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r y
PLANT SPOTLIGHT
s t o
By Carol Denhof, The Longleaf Alliance U nder
DALEA PINNATA (J.F. GMELIN) BARNEBY VAR. PINNATA
SUMMER FAREWELL
Southern Dogface
(Zerene cesonia) on Summer
Farewell (Dalea pinnata) by
Mary Keim is licensed under
CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Map showing distribution of summer
farewell. USDA PLANTS Database.
Description Wildlife/Medicinal Uses
This plant may not look like it, but summer farewell is a member It is an attractive nectar plant for bees and butterflies and is the
of the Pea Family (Fabaceae). It is a perennial with smooth larval host for southern dogface (Zerene cesonia). Birds and other
branched stems that can reach a maximum height of 2 feet. The small wildlife consume the seeds.
leaves are small (
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Gopher frog. Photo by
Todd Pierson.
WILDLIFE SPOTLIGHT
GOPHER FROG
By Lisa Lord, The Longleaf Alliance
The gopher frog (Lithobates capito) is endemic to fire-
maintained longleaf pine ecosystems throughout the
southeastern coastal plain from the Mobile River delta in
Alabama to North Carolina. Gopher frogs are fairly large
frogs, about 2-4 inches from snout to vent. They have
brown to light tan bodies with ridges down each side of
their backs and dark splotches on their legs, back, and sides.
Although gopher frogs are true frogs from the family
Ranidae, they are sometimes mistaken as toads due to their
robust bodies and short legs. Like many frogs, males have
a dark thumb pad or nuptial pad, distinguishing them from
females during the breeding season. Tadpoles are greenish- Typical habitat for gopher frog. Photo by Lisa Lord.
gold with dark spots on the tail and body and can become
quite large, up to 3.5 inches, before metamorphosis.
Within the longleaf ecosystem, gopher frogs are linked
to well-drained, fire-maintained upland habitats with nearby emergent vegetation within the wetland where it is externally
ephemeral wetlands used for breeding. Adults use the burrows fertilized by the male frog. Within just a few days, the eggs
of other animals in the uplands for refugia, including those hatch. Tadpoles take 3-7 months to grow and develop until
created by gopher tortoises, crayfish, and small mammals, or they metamorphose and head toward the uplands to find shelter
hollow logs and stump holes. Fishless ephemeral wetlands with as adults. Survival of recent metamorphs is tightly linked to
intermediate hydroperiods (those that hold water for finding refugia quickly after leaving the pond.
approximately 7-9 months) are preferred breeding wetlands. Many species that breed in ephemeral wetlands have been in
They have been observed using a variety of wetland types such decline for some time, including gopher frogs, because of the
as dome swamps, Carolina bays, sinkhole ponds, wet prairies, loss and degradation of their terrestrial upland and wetland
ditches, and even borrow pits. Gopher frogs can take advantage breeding habitat across its range. Fire suppression, wetland
of heavy wet periods throughout the year, but they most often destruction, invasive species, and climate change are just a few
use ponds that fill in mid-winter and stay wet until late spring of the threats they face. Fragmentation is also an issue as
or early summer. wetlands are converted for other uses or destroyed altogether.
During the breeding season, adults migrate to the wetlands At one time, populations of gopher frogs were made up of
where males call to attract females. The call of a gopher frog is many, connected smaller subpopulations. As habitat became
described as a deep snore. After a female pairs with a male, she degraded or disappeared altogether, numerous local populations
attaches an egg mass, with 500-5,000 eggs, to submerged or were lost, and recolonization was made impossible because of
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fragmentation. Today, gopher frogs exist as isolated populations populations on private lands and work with landowners to
across the landscape, likely remaining in small numbers. In improve management of their wetlands and uplands. Properties
areas outside of Florida, there is very little, or no, gene flow that have suitable habitat and management practices will be
between the existing populations and very little, if any, selected for surveys which will involve using acoustic loggers
opportunities for recolonization naturally. Because of this, to record frog choruses and analyzing male gopher frog calls,
gopher frogs are now being considered for listing at the federal monthly surveys for egg masses after wetlands fill, and
level. The gopher frog is not currently protected under the collecting water samples for analysis of environmental DNA
Endangered Species Act, but in 2012 the USFWS was (eDNA). Finding additional populations will help: determine
petitioned to list the species. Currently, listing is pending how this species is distributed across the landscape between the
assessments to determine if protection under the ESA is two largest known populations on the Francis Marion National
warranted. Forest and the Savannah River Site, the genetic relatedness of
To ensure the conservation of this species, the restoration and the populations due to the eDNA work, and help landowners
management of their terrestrial upland habitat and breeding improve their management practices.
wetlands habitat are critical. This includes returning fire to the
forest and burning on appropriate intervals and allowing fire References
to burn through the wetlands when they are dry enough to Jensen, J. B., and S. C. Richter. 2005. Rana capito LeConte,
burn to reduce woody encroachment. It also means restoring 1855; gopher frog. Pages 536–538 in M. Lannoo, editor.
hydrology and natural drainage patterns. Amphibian declines: the conservation status of United States
In addition to management, there’s also a need to locate species. University of California Press, Los Angeles,
existing populations. Partners in South Carolina are aiming to California, USA.
do just that. In South Carolina, the gopher frog is listed as State Humphries, W. J., and M. A. Sisson. 2012. Long distance
migrations, landscape use, and vulnerability to prescribed fire
endangered and a State Wildlife Action Plan species of Highest
of the gopher frog (Lithobates capito). Journal of Herpetology
Priority. To tackle this need, a partnership was formed between
46:665–670.
The Longleaf Alliance and the University of Georgia Savannah
Roznik, E. A., and S. A. Johnson. 2009. Canopy closure and
River Ecology Lab, with funding from the USFWS and emigration by juvenile gopher frogs. Journal of Wildlife
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and support from the Management 73:260−268.
SC Department of Natural Resources, to locate additional
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By Harvey Darden, Agency Lands Director, Virginia Department of Forestry
Virginia Department of
Forestry Achieves
Containerized Longleaf
Pine Production
Longleaf pine germinating under
shadecloth. Photo by VDOF.
The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) has been survival, the Virginia source produced significantly more
involved in diminished species restoration for over thirty years. volume per acre and ranked higher in overall performance than
The advancement of one of those species, longleaf pine, has been the other sources through the first ten years after planting. This
slow and methodical because the effort relies on seed collected is why the production of seedlings from this population
from the 200 remaining native Virginia longleaf pines in continues to be a priority for VDOF.
southeastern Virginia. These cone-bearing trees are located on Initially, VDOF did not have the equipment and facilities
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) to produce containerized longleaf pine seedlings for its
South Quay Sandhills Natural Area Preserve and VDOF’s South restoration efforts, so they reached out to their neighbor to the
Quay State Forest. south, North Carolina Forest Service, and contracted with them
Since the known native Virginia longleaf pine seed source is to grow the Virginia seedlings in their containerized operation
so diminished, VDOF conducted a study to compare its at Claridge Nursery.
performance to that of other geographic sources to help decide VDOF has a bareroot pine nursery at its Garland Gray
whether the extra effort to protect the remaining native trees Forestry Center in Sussex County where it grows approximately
and gather seed from them is justified. Primarily due to the 30 million bareroot loblolly pine seedlings annually. The
impacts of earlier growth initiation and higher seedling nursery is self-supporting, and the goal of establishing a
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Containerized seedlings under
pivot irrigation. Photo by VDOF.
WHEN COMPLETELY BUILT OUT, THE PIVOT IRRIGATION
AREA WILL SUPPORT 2.4 MILLION SEEDLINGS.
containerized operation at the forestry center was hampered by purchase of an automated seed line with vacuum seeder. The
the $400,000 startup cost. Efforts were made to receive grant T-rails were installed under one-fourth of the space covered by
funding for the operation, and in 2017 at VDOF’s celebration the pivot irrigation unit to accommodate trays for 600,000 cells
of its 2 billionth seedling produced, it was announced that (seedlings).
containerized longleaf pine seedlings would be grown at the The automated seed line unit was shipped, and two days
Garland Gray Forestry Center starting in 2018. A NRCS later the five major components had been set in place,
Conservation Innovative Grant of $75,000, U.S. Forest Service synchronized and tested, and the first mass-produced longleaf
grant of $50,000, and $29,000 from Arbor Day were key in pine containerized seedlings in Virginia were sown in May of
deciding to move forward. 2018. A total of 72,000 cells were sown with native Virginia
An aggressive timeline to purchase and install all the longleaf pine, 102,000 cells of northern source longleaf pine,
necessary equipment for Spring 2018 seeding was initiated and and an additional 367,360 cells were sown with loblolly pine.
included the installation of a pivot irrigation system; upgrading VDOF’s second containerized crop is being grown in 2019 with
of the existing irrigation pumping station; installation of T-rail a total of 128,000 longleaf pine, 275,000 loblolly pine, and
seedling tray racks under the pivot system; purchase of seedling 3,000 shortleaf pine being produced this year. The T-rail
trays, top clipper, shade cloth and fertigation system; and the seedling tray rack system under the pivot irrigation was
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First containerized longleaf pine
produced on the seed line. Photo
Fertigation unit. Phot by VDOF. by VDOF.
expanded this summer and now has the capability to hold trays Center in 2009 with a goal of producing enough cones to yield
for 1.2 million containerized seedlings. When completely built seed for 500,000 longleaf seedlings annually. The orchard is
out, the pivot irrigation area will support 2.4 million seedlings. just beginning to produce cones with approximately 20 bushels
Equipment has been purchased this year in conjunction with expected to be collected from the orchard this year in addition
the containerized operation including a tray sterilization unit, to the cones collected from the DCR and VDOF South Quay
two steel container units for tray sterilization, and two others properties.
for tray storage. A forklift and a 60 ft. boom sprayer and VDOF will continue to increase its annual longleaf
additional seedling trays were purchased for a total cell capacity containerized seedling production as more cones and seeds are
of 1.2 million. produced. Other containerized pine species will also continue
With the production of longleaf pine limited by seeds to be grown as well as plans to grow warm-season grasses used
produced from the few remaining native trees, VDOF began for enhancing longleaf pine ecosystem restoration in Virginia.
establishing a longleaf pine orchard at its New Kent Forestry
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Oxbow Lake on Big Snooks.
Photo by Josh Bell.
PROTECTING BIG
{ SNOOKS:
A Story of Conservation
and Collaboration
It was an early spring morning when I first stepped foot on
Big Snooks, a nearly 300-acre tract of private land on the
Savannah River not far from the little crossroads community
of Tillman, South Carolina. Gazing through the giant
bottomland hardwood swamp, with my view blocked only by
By Josh Bell, Lowcountry Land Trust
1970s when he would spend weekends there hunting and
}
fishing with his father and other members of the club. He said
over the years Big Snooks has become a deeply ingrained part
of his life, and, although I had only been there for less than an
hour, I could clearly see why. Making our way to the end of a
massive tupelo buttresses and head-high cypress knees, all I decades-old two-foot-wide boardwalk on the edge of the lake,
could think about was turkeys. I thought to myself, “If I was as turkeys gobbled in the background, I explained to him the
a turkey, this is where I would live.” basics of conservation easements and how they are one of the
As a passionate hunter and land conservationist, I often find best tools to ensure future generations will have the same
myself daydreaming about the pursuit of wild game when opportunities to enjoy the land as he has for so many years. He
visiting properties. However, the deeper I walked into that was sold but warned me that convincing the other five
river bottom, the less I thought about turkeys, and the more I landowners may not be as easy.
started thinking about how extraordinarily unique and Equally as unique as the bottomland, the upland areas of Big
unusually beautiful this property was. Fortunately for the Snooks consist of xeric sand ridges stocked full of natural and
turkeys, I was not there that morning to hunt. I was there to planted stands of longleaf pine. Several open fields house a
tour the property with one of the landowners to discuss healthy and thriving population of South Carolina’s most
permanently protecting Big Snooks with a conservation endangered reptile, the gopher tortoise. Adding to the quality
easement. and uniqueness of the habitats located on the property, Big
As we made our way down an old roadbed to Snooks Lake, Snooks is directly adjacent to not only the Savannah River but
an ancient oxbow lake in the middle of the swamp, he was to a ~2,700 acre privately protected tract and an important
telling me stories from his childhood days back in the early South Carolina Department of Natural Resources publicly
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Carolina General Assembly to “improve the
quality of life in South Carolina through the
conservation of significant natural resource
lands, wetlands, historical properties,
archeological sites, and urban parks” and to
date has helped protect more than 300,000
acres across the state (for more information,
visit www.sccb.sc.gov). Anyone who works in
land conservation in South Carolina can tell
you how important the SCCB has been and
will continue to be (thanks to its recent
permanent reauthorization) in perpetuating
land protection efforts across the state.
In addition to being an ideal prospect for
SCCB funding, Big Snooks was also a perfect
candidate for a new, innovative funding source
called the Savannah River Clean Water Fund
(SRCWF). The SRCWF formed in 2014 with
a mission of protecting the water supply for
communities and businesses along the
Savannah River in Georgia and South Carolina
by investing in the protection and
management of land. The Savannah River
provides drinking water for approximately 1.5
million people in Georgia and South Carolina,
so it is to the benefit of the water utilities
drinking water supply and their customers to
keep it as clean as possible before it hits their
treatment facilities. The water utilities that
provide drinking water sourced from the
Savannah River have recognized and agree that
protecting land within the watershed is a
scientifically proven and economically
effective way to ensure clean drinking water
now and into the future. Due to its
Bottomland hardwood geographic location directly adjacent to the
floodplain along the
Savannah River. Savannah River and because it contains
Photo by Josh Bell. significant areas of pristine bottomland
hardwood wetland, which among many other
benefits, functions to improve water quality
accessible Heritage Preserve. The combination of all of the by acting as a filter for pollutants from runoff draining from
above, including the enthusiasm of at least one of the six upstream, I was confident Big Snooks could be the first
landowners, quickly thrust Big Snooks to the top of my priority SRCWF funded project.
list. To back up a bit, and for those of you who are not familiar,
Now — how to persuade the other five landowners to there are basically two ways land conservation organizations
protect Big Snooks permanently? I can safely say, with certain acquire conservation easements. The first way is when the
exceptions, of course, one of the best means of enticement for landowner fully donates the conservation easement to the land
just about any given situation is to offer financial incentives, conservation organization. In the case of a full donation, 100%
right? In South Carolina, we are blessed to have multiple of the appraised conservation easement value is subject to tax
funding sources dedicated to land protection. A key funding deductions as a result of the charitable gift. The other way is
source at the state level is the South Carolina Conservation when a portion of the appraised conservation easement value is
Bank (SCCB) which was established in 2002 by the South paid to the landowner in cash with the unfunded portion of the
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the bargain-sale category, which is what it was going
to take to get all six owners on board. After all, this
was a very worthwhile project with the potential to
benefit millions of people in both South Carolina and
Dayne Mock, one of the Big Georgia, not to mention the turkeys, gopher tortoises,
Snooks landowners, next to and longleaf pine ecosystem. Several meetings and
gopher tortoise burrow. many phone calls and emails later, we had all our ducks
Photo by Lisa Lord. in a row to submit both the SRCWF and SCCB
funding applications, requesting 1:1 matching funds
from each organization. Leveraging funds is important
— the more leverage, the greater the likelihood the
project will be approved and funded by all sources.
After I had a chance to catch my breath from
putting together all the pieces of the funding puzzle
and meeting application deadlines, I reached out to
Lisa Lord with The Longleaf Alliance (LLA), who
provides technical assistance to forest landowners on
behalf of the SRCWF as part of a healthy forests-
drinking water initiative, to let her know the Big
Snooks project was well in the works and would
hopefully come to fruition sooner than later.
Of course, Lisa’s ears perked up when I told her
there was nice longleaf, both natural and planted, on
the property, and it had a healthy population of gopher
tortoises. Protecting the bottomland forests that
adjoin contribute significantly to good water quality
and quantity, but by protecting the upland longleaf
pine ecosystem, the valuable functions of the
bottomland are supported as are the diverse and
healthy upland habitats and the species, like gopher
value being subject to tax deductions – we call this scenario a tortoises, that live there. During our conversation, she also let
bargain-sale. Here is a simple example of a bargain-sale me know the LLA, through a grant from the National Fish and
conservation easement scenario: Wildlife Foundation, had funding available for the Big Snooks
Sally owns 500 acres that have been determined by the local land easement to assist the landowners with their costs.
trust to contain significant conservation values, therefore, worthy of To make a long story short, the City of Savannah, through
permanent protection via a conservation easement. Sally voluntarily the Savannah River Clean Water Fund partnership, funded the
works with the local land trust to produce a draft document outlining Big Snooks conservation easement, recognizing its role in
the proposed terms of the easement. Sally hires a qualified appraiser to source water protection. Savannah’s leaders, along with the
determine the appraised conservation easement value based on the terms other SRCWF drinking water utility partners, realize that the
outlined in the draft easement. [The conservation easement value is most effective way to protect water supply is through a
simply the difference in appraised fair market value of the property watershed-wide approach. Several months later the SCCB also
unencumbered by the proposed conservation easement vs. the appraised approved funding for the project. On July 17, 2019, the
fair market value of the property as if it were encumbered by the proposed conservation easement closed, forever protecting Big Snooks.
conservation easement]. The appraiser determines the conservation The Big Snooks project has proven to be an extraordinary
easement value on Sally’s 500 acres to be $500,000. Typically, in example of how partnerships and collaboration can generate
South Carolina at least, land conservation organizations request from outcomes for people, wildlife, and the longleaf ecosystem,
applicable funding sources around 30% of the appraised conservation otherwise unattainable.
easement value. In Sally’s case, that would be $150,000 requested to
be funded in cash. If the funding is approved, the remaining $350,000 Josh Bell is the South Coast Project Manager for the Lowcountry
would be considered the charitable contribution amount, therefore, Land Trust (LLT). LLT was established in 1986 and has
subject to tax deductions. permanently protected over 144,000 acres across the coastal plain of
Based on the fact several of the landowners needed a little South Carolina. To learn more, visit their website at
additional persuasion to proceed, Big Snooks quickly fell into www.lowcountrylandtrust.org.
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Carol Denhof planting one of the RESEARCH NOTES
test species into the research plot at
the Jones Center. Photo by Jones
Center at Ichauway.
JONES CENTER AT ICHAUWAY
PUBLICATION BRIEF
SEED SOURCING FOR LONGLEAF PINE GROUND COVER RESTORATION
Map showing locations of research
plots and seed collection zones.
commercial supply of native ground cover seed collected from
the longleaf pine ecosystem is limited; however, information to
guide seed sourcing decisions, including whether non-local seed
sources are appropriate for restoration, is often unavailable. Our
goal was to test the performance of seeds sourced from multiple
regions within the historic range of longleaf pine as well as from
a commercial source to the north of this range. We assessed
performance measures including plant growth, timing of
flowering, water stress, and survival using six species commonly
planted in ground cover restoration (four grasses, a legume, and
an aster).
Our results varied by species but supported the idea that
plants from local seed sources (within approximately 200 miles)
often have higher rates of growth and survival than plants from
more distant sources. Additionally, plants from the northern
seed source flowered several weeks earlier than those from the
Land managers restoring native ground cover in the longleaf longleaf pine ecosystem, potentially disrupting important
pine ecosystem are faced with the challenge of selecting and plant-pollinator relationships. For most species, similarities in
obtaining appropriate seed sources for their site. Currently, the plant performance among seed sources helped identify
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geographic regions within which seeds can be moved
successfully. Our study highlights the need for increased
production of native seed originating from the longleaf pine
ecosystem.
MORE INFORMATION
Giencke, L.M., R.C. Denhof, L.K. Kirkman, O.S. Stuber,
and S.T. Brantley. 2018. Seed sourcing for longleaf pine ground
cover restoration: using plant performance to assess seed transfer
zones and home-site advantage. Restoration Ecology.
CONTACT
Lisa Giencke, lisa.giencke@jonesctr.org
KEY POINTS
Most commercial sources of native seed are
sourced from outside the historic range of
longleaf pine and may not be optimal for
restoration projects in the region.
Selecting appropriate seed sources for a
specific restoration site requires knowledge
about the variability of plant performance
across a species’ range.
Seed can likely be moved relatively long
west-to-east distances (several hundred
miles) from Mississippi through South Carolina,
including northern Florida, because of
similarities in climate and topography;
conversely, moving seeds from farther north
or west may be more likely to adversely
impact plant performance.
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NURSERY
SPOTLIGHT
By Carol Denhof, The Longleaf Alliance
Vice President/Partner Ed
Walker and CEO/Partner Bill
Brim in a field of melon plants
at Lewis Taylor Farms. Photo
courtesy of LTF.
LEWIS TAYLOR FARMS — FROM MELONS TO LONGLEAF, PROVIDING
QUALITY PRODUCTS SINCE THE 1930S
HISTORY OF THE COMPANY transplants for both internal farm use and to supply and meet
Lewis Taylor began farming operations in Tifton, Georgia in the needs of growers over the South and Southeastern U.S.
the 1930s as a transplant producer for the Southeastern United LTF Greenhouses, LLC produces top-quality vegetable,
States. Today Lewis Taylor Farms is one of the largest privately- cantaloupe, and watermelon transplants. They will grow
owned vegetable and greenhouse operations in the Southeast. transplants (minimum order 20,000 seeds, smaller orders check
Purchased from their families in 1985, Bill Brim and Ed for availability in overages, first come, first served) to
Walker set out to change the business as they knew it. In 1989 customers' specifications in a variety of root plug sizes, ranging
they built the first greenhouses, and two years later they began in diameters of 0.5 inches up to 1.5 inches. Depending on
growing produce. After four years they built their first of two transplant quantities ordered, transportation is available with
packing facilities. Now over 80 years later, Lewis Taylor Farms pull-type or semi-trailers equipped with tray rack systems.
(LTF) grows more than 6500 acres of produce each year. CEO LTF Greenhouses, LLC currently has over 900,000 square
Bill Brim shared, "We have continued to grow and add to our feet of greenhouse growing space and a competent, experienced
greenhouse operation with currently 81 greenhouses at just staff giving it the ability to produce over 350 million
under 900,000 square feet of growing space as well as six circle transplants annually as well as six pivot irrigation fields that
pivots holding 36 million pine seedlings we grow each year.” produce 75 million containerized pine seedlings to satisfy the
demand of producers and the wholesale market.
GREENHOUSE EXPANSION The pine seedling side of the business, while not the
Continuing in the tradition of the farm's founder, the mainstay of the company, has grown steadily over the years.
company proudly continues to produce top quality vegetable LTF grows seedlings for Advantage Forestry, Weyerhauser, and
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Custom seedling trays developed
Healthy seedling growing in by LTF. Photo by Carol Denhof.
center pivot field at LTF.
Photo by Carol Denhof.
Tractors working the melon
fields. Photo courtesy of LTF.
ArborGen to sell to retail customers and use in industrial Seed Sowing Process
plantings. The efficient seeding process used for propagating plants at
LTF is done with an automated seeding production line that
GROWING A LONGLEAF PINE SEEDLING allows for preparation of up to 1200 seedling trays per hour.
Lewis Taylor Farms is a driving force in the development of This system improves efficiencies and creates a better work
pine seedling production protocols for the southern yellow environment that is free from soil media dust. Pine seedlings
pines.Working in-house and with other pine nursery companies are sown into seedling trays in March or April each spring and
in the region, Director of Greenhouse Operations and Sales then placed either in greenhouses or outside under irrigation.
Neal Kicklighter has spent years honing the systems of LTF has designed seedling trays that optimize the root growth
propagation and growth so that their current protocols leave of the containerized longleaf seedlings.
little room for error. From the automated seeding machines to
the water conservation measures used, their system is a well- Seedling Growth
oiled machine. These are the major stages in the life of a The team at LTF has determined that the longleaf seedlings
seedling at the nursery. are more successful if grown outside under irrigation. The seed,
if viable, should germinate within just a couple of weeks. Since
Seed Acquisition the growing media used is so porous, care must be taken to
With longleaf, as with the other pine species, it’s important ensure that each seedling received adequate water and sufficient
to know where your seed comes from. LTF grows both coastal nutritional inputs. Careful watering and fertilizer schedules
plain and montane sourced seedlings. These seeds are acquired are followed to produce healthy, robust seedlings. The seedlings
from either seed companies in the region or from the partners are normally ready for transplant starting in November.
for which LTF is growing the seedlings. Prior to sowing, these
seeds must be tested for viability. These results influence the GROWING & LEARNING
number of seeds that need to be planted to grow the required Lewis Taylor Farms is substantially invested in pine seedling
number of seedlings. production and would like to continue expanding the seedling
side of the business, looking to increase to 75 million longleaf
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This company is continuously
working to improve
techniques for not only LTF but the
nursery industry at large.
Field of longleaf seedlings that
is being used to study control of
willow seedlings. Photo by
Carol Denhof.
seedlings from the current number of 45 million. “The demand trees growing on surrounding field edges. LTF provides the
for longleaf among landowners is steady, and we foresee that it perfect opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience
will grow going forward,” says Bill Brim. Plans are in place to by working in a large-scale production farm and nursery. This
convert fields formerly used for vegetable production to pine company is continuously working to improve techniques for
seedling fields with center pivot irrigation. not only LTF but the nursery industry at large.
Ideally located in Tifton, Georgia, LTF is close to both the Lewis Taylor Farms is also an active member of the
University of Georgia Experiment Station and Abraham community. In addition to the community service in which
Baldwin Agricultural College. They work in partnership with they are involved, they also host a wide range of tours through
scientists at the Station to study a variety of agricultural insect the facility from elementary school groups to visiting
pests and invasive plants. Bill is currently working with the dignitaries. Bill, Ed, and their whole team are proud of the
Station to determine best practices for treating willow seedlings work that they do and are always seeking ways to share their
that can be a problem in longleaf seedling trays. The willows knowledge.
are a result of airborne seed drifting into seedling trays from
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LANDOWNER CORNER
By Dr. Neal Shealy with Ad Platt,
The Longleaf Alliance
LANDOWNER
SPOTLIGHT Longleaf Lane. Photo by N. Shealy.
RESTORING HEALTH
TO PEOPLE AND FORESTS
Neal L. Shealy, MD, is the medical director of Beaufort Sharon is a family nurse practitioner at Harrison Peeples and
Memorial Harrison Peeples Health Care Center in Varnville, has a keen interest in gardening and the restoration of their
South Carolina, a position he has held since 1991. A full-time forest. Together they have traveled extensively on medical
physician for 37 years, he was recently honored as the 2019- mission trips to Guatemala, Colombia, Uganda, and Tanzania,
2020 ‘Family Physician of the Year’ by The South Carolina among other countries. Sometimes this combines a forestry
Academy of Family Physicians. aspect as the Lutheran World Federation, partner of many of
Neal’s call to medically serve a rural community was strong, these mission trips, also assists reforestation efforts as part of
and he regards himself as an ‘old-time physician.’ When their outreach in Africa, particularly in Uganda.
choosing his career, his two greatest interests were medicine Like so many people engaged in longleaf planting and
and forestry. Indeed, this Family Doctor found a way to restoration, the Shealys have maintained close ties to the land
combine both, providing balance to a busy life. and actively promote improved habitat for wildlife for all to
For more than 25 years, Neal and his wife Sharon have see and enjoy. Neal enjoys hunting deer as well as quail and
planted thousands of longleaf, slash, and loblolly pines by hand takes great pleasure in all the wildlife that he catches sight of
on their 81-acre rural Hampton County, South Carolina while on the stand. He loves to hop on his tractor and go about
property. Over time, they have shifted their focus more towards the business of freshening up fire lines or planting food plots.
longleaf restoration with help from their two sons, like-minded I met Neal during the Savannah Conference and was
friends, and even medical students. As the forest develops, Neal interested in knowing more about his longleaf and property.
thins select stands for pulpwood and sells pine straw from the Recently, over a series of conversations, I was able to do just
older longleaf; they are looking forward to the time when they that while he and Sharon shared their story and plans for the
begin harvesting sawtimber and replanting another longleaf future.
generation!
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LANDOWNERS CORNER
AP – Why Longleaf? Alliance. Of great value was the Forest Stewardship Program
NS – Much of my interest in longleaf pine and love of the assistance I received from Lewis Rogers for wildlife habitat
land came down through relatives. The history of my maternal advice (Director of The Webb Center) and cost-share through
Granddaddy Bartow Reiser’s tract and the turpentine still he the S.C. Forestry Commission to plant ten acres. William
operated until the 1940s (close to the railroad tracks in the Koger, an FSA employee, helped guide us to good pine straw
Berryville Community of Effingham County, Georgia) was contractors for eight acres, which we began raking at age 15.
particularly influential. One of the original stills is now on There have, of course, been periodic burns. We quickly
historical display at ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture understood the importance of having nearby assistance as we
in Tifton (formerly known as the Agrirama). Early on, I was once ended up igniting many old lighter stumps that burned
aware of longleaf being the native pine species and the fact that for weeks. Nothing got out, but we did a lot of patrolling.
it’s just a nicer looking tree! We Proper equipment and adequate
don’t own sizeable acreage, but help are very important; NRCS
we wanted a better quality of and other programs can play a
pine. Across the road is longleaf vital role when applying this
land of Mac Rhodes, another valuable practice.
champion of longleaf. I belong to AP – Are there are other
that hunting club and have family properties that you
always admired those trees. manage?
Longleaf provides superior pine NS – Yes, my brother Brent,
straw and is better for wildlife. I our 93-year old father Otho
was encouraged by the South Shealy, and I manage two tracts on
Carolina Forest Stewardship the Effingham County, Georgia
foresters I met with in Varnville. side of the Savannah River. My
Tootie Griffith and Willie Joe mother inherited a 145-acre tract
Seckinger were extremely helpful from her father, who was a large
as we wanted to do the best job landowner working with naval
possible. They shared advice on stores and turpentine. The
what to plant and general property was enrolled in the
management tips. Tootie called Conservation Reserve Program
longleaf ‘Cadillac’ trees, and (CRP) for many years. We have
recommended planting some; he since added another 83 acres of
encouraged me to practice ‘hands- adjacent, and recently cutover,
on management.’ They let me land from a developer, land long
borrow their drip torches and ago owned by my grandfather,
offered up sound tractor repair Photo by Paul Nurnberg, with remnants of the turpentine
courtesy of Beaufort Memorial.
advice. It took several years for me days. We sold fat lighter stumps
to understand that I needed to (245 tons from 150 acres) which
have my own dibble bar. were hauled to Brunswick. We do
AP – Concerning planting have a management plan in place
and managing for your forest, to replant to longleaf.
can you share with us some of the lessons you have learned AP – What are your ties to The Longleaf Alliance?
along the way? NS – Although I was only able to attend for one
NS — We planted bare root and containerized, but with information-filled day, the 11th Biennial Longleaf Conference
time for planting being scarce and sometimes interrupted by a in Savannah increased my interest in managing our forest;
call for a doctor, it worked better for us to use the containerized. planting more longleaf and restoring understory stay at the top
We’re gradually converting the 81-acre tract where we live, and of the list. Members since 2013, Sharon and I are eager to
where our oldest planted longleaf are now 25 years old. attend longleaf academies as we transition from the medical
I was fortunate to enlist the help of Alton Smith, a forester center to retirement. We both belong to the Native Plant
in the Hampton area, to develop my management plans. My Society in South Carolina, and they certainly promote longleaf
advice and encouragement to everyone are to seek and retain ecosystem restoration.
expert forestry advice and also guidance from The Longleaf
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1. 2. 3.
1. SC Family Physician of the Year; June 2019. (l-r) Brent Shealy, Judy S. Hays, Otho Shealy, Neal and Sharon Shealy. Photo
by Sarah Smith. 2. Box balers used for baling pine straw collected in longleaf pine plantation. Photo by N. Shealy. 3. Young
planted longleaf on Shealy property, Hampton County, SC. Photo by N. Shealy.
AP – Can you rank your objectives as a landowning is of particular entertainment. In the cooler times of the seasons,
family? we love to walk the firebreaks with our dogs to see what kinds
NS — We ponder on this a lot. First is wildlife – viewing, of wildlife appear. A couple of nearby landowners have also
hunting, fishing — We still count a few wild coveys, but the planted longleaf in their yards and acreage; it seems to be
quail hunting we do is of the raised birds. Second would be catching on!
pine straw from our older longleaf stand, which is hauled to We bought our land with help from a rural incentive grant
Charleston for landscaping purposes. Timber eventually, to recruit physicians to the many underserved communities. In
though most of what we have to harvest now is pulpwood — return, we work to expose medical students to the benefits and
just being the best trees farmers we can be. And, whenever we opportunities of rural service and rural life. There are many
can, relaxing on the porch, listening to the wind in the longleaf rewards even if it doesn’t pay as well. The practice of rural
while watching the vast array of birds, including pileated medicine includes becoming involved in the community. A
woodpeckers. The abundance of strikingly marked fox squirrels shared interest in forestry and the natural world has
that have taken up residence conveniently near the bird feeders undoubtedly provided many connections with our patients.
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LANDOWNER
SURVEY
FOREST RESTORATION SURVEY: AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR
INTEREST IN SUPPORTING NEW MARKETS FOR LONGLEAF PINE RESTORATION
SURVEY GOAL : forests in the South and assisting private forest landowners meet
A research team, partnering with The Longleaf Alliance and their management goals. We also believe that organizations,
other forestry organizations, wants your opinion on how new agencies, and landowners should work together to restore healthy
types of markets can advance the restoration of longleaf pine on and sustainable longleaf forests.
private lands. The goal of the survey is to understand and learn HOW TO HELP :
what motivates private landowners in the Southeast to go the If you are interested in participating in the survey, you can
extra mile for land stewardship and the barriers landowners face. access the web survey at:
WHO WE ARE : https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38VlBAXPfNoqD
Members of our research team have roots in the Southeast and ml, or scan the QR code above with your phone camera. You
are currently associated with the Universities of Florida, Georgia, may also request a print version by sending your name and
Arizona, and Penn State. We care about maintaining healthy address to Dr. Melissa Kreye at mxk1244@psu.edu.
[ 27 ]You can also read
