Long Leaf Pine South Carolina

I painted this long leaf pine standing near a salt marsh when I was in South Carolina. Some of these trees are very tall, but this one is stout.  The pine cones have sharp spines. 

Harbor Island The lLow Country

Harbor Island South Carolina                          

On a low country barrier island

where sea tides sweep

         in each day on the sandy beach

through salt marshes

             where long billed willets

and snowy stilt legged egrets fly

where alligators and turtles bask in the mud

grow long and fat

no pity there.

The beach alive with mud snails

And worms that hide

Pelicans ride the wind

sandpipers skitter, sea biscuits wash in

yellow corals torn from sea bed

wave in the wind.

I wonder where they have been

these empty scallop shells, oyster shells

cockle shells, mussel shells—

bits of mystery to me.

The live oaks and long leaf pines

grow tall on what the sea blows in

Spanish moss trails from their limbs

thrive on salty sea winds.

                              --Barbara Spring

Trees of South Carolina

Live oak

I love trees.  In South Carolina, many tall pines and live oaks  Above two long leaf pines and an palm tree.  Below Norm sits near a live oak that spreads its branches near a salt marsh where many alligators lurk.

When walking about, beware of wood ticks.  They are numerous this year.

Long leaf pine. Associated with these pines is the endangered red cockaded woodpecker, the indigo snake and the gopher tortoise. These creatures share the same habitat.