June 9, 2013 Woods Bay Ste. Park Did It come from Outer Space?

Probably not, but there was a theory at one time that this Carolina Bay, an elliptical depression composing over a thousand acres, was caused by a comet. Bays are plentiful on the East coast and are oriented in a north west to southeast direction. This one is composed of four major plant communities: Evergreen shrub bog, cypress- tupelo swamp, grass-sedge marsh and sand rim composites. The name, Bay, comes from the Bay Tree which is plentiful here.  The swamp is magically alluring, full of alligators, snakes, lizards, birds and insects. Take your insect repellent.

My son, Michael met me there, as it is just a mile or two from his wife's family home in Olanta.  He told me to bring a big stick to fight off the alligators, but I forgot it and had only my pepper spray.

I drove down through Columbia and Sumter, past the Sedgewood Country Club in Horrill Hill where people were playing golf. Gray clouds from Hurricane Andrea had driven up the coast into Virginia by  now and the day was fine and clear.  Towards, Turbeville (most famous as being on the way to the beach)  the land becomes flat with cornfields extending for miles the corn already with tassels and fat ears,. Comfortable farm houses appear far and near and along the road are rows of orange day lilies.

I see a red winged blackbird, the spirit animal related to the feminine forces of nature.  Here it is early summer and deep emerald green all around.

Here is the deserted park where the nature center is open Monday and Friday from 2:00 to 4:00. Around the parking lot are water oaks dripping Spanish Moss (an epiphyte or air plant) where chiggers, spiders and the parula warbler often make their homes.

Blue and Green Dragon Flies dart through the warm air, they are in fact, the spirit animal of water and air as their life begins in water and then they are transformed into creatures that inhabit the air.  They have the power of air and light. If you encounter these spirits, you are challenged to change and evolve as they do, even changing their colors.

Michael and I take the lizard thronged board walk over the Tupelo-Cypress swamp.  The alligators escape us today. The boardwalk extends over clear dark black tea colored tanin laced water.  There are blue canoes and orange kayaks here and you are encouraged to take the canoe trail through the swamp.

We did not stay long. Barbequed chicken marsala was waiting for us in Olanta.