Mepkin Abbey Garden Volunteer Newsletter December 2013
November is the month we receive thousands of Visitors to see Mepkin’s unique Creche Collection. Our job was preparing for the event to have everything ready to welcome the guests. One highlight every year is the huge wreath that Jamie Nelson and her helpers fashion for the tower of the Luce Library. The 2013 Wreath is made completely with pine cones; please note that all the materials are natural, and even the bow is woven from palms.
Close up of the Wreath
Also, throughout the Creche Show, there were wonderful natural arrangements that Jamie had done. She and her volunteers add so much to the quality of the Festival. Thank you, Jamie and helpers!
A quick run through of the show:
Garden Updates
The Store and Arbor:
Creche Store Entry
There were continuous lines at the Store!
As I told you last month, Roy—ever loyal—completed the work on St. Ann in the Arbor in time for the Festival. He power washed all, re-graveled the Arbor, and even painted the peeling doors. To top it all, the week before, he came every day and was even grooming the surrounding area. Roy, you are amazing!
Roy raking leaves behind the Arbor
The same week Tom took on grooming the Oak Allee. It was astounding what he cleared out.
St. Clare Walk:
St. Clare Walk kept us busy, with an unexpected frost that took the Elephant Ears, French Hydrangeas and Banana Tree to the ground. Volunteers rallied and got things cut down and out before the Visitors arrived the next day.
The Cloister and Walk to the Church:
As you can see, everything was manicured to perfection. The new Camellias on the Walk to the Church bloomed as did the pansies planted to fill in after the mums were spent.
Raised herb beds.
Entry to the Church in Fall colors
The Retreat Center:
The new Retreat Center continues to delight its’ guests. One Sunday, the Volunteers got a standing ovation for the gardens. The gardens have brought so much to the experience of the retreatants—or so they say repeatedly.
Luce Garden:
Things have been happening in Luce Garden. Another section has been cleared, and here is the expanded view at the Overlook. We hope to have Green Carolina finish this clearing this winter, so by Spring, a Visitor can view the Cooper River from the top of Luce Garden.
Expanded view at Luce Overlook
Fog on Luce Pond (Craig Clark)
Brother Stephen led a field trip for the Luce Crew last month, pointing out where the old steps were buried (yes, a new project!). He also took them to the brick path that runs across the bluff towards the Church.
Russ, Brother Stephen, Nelson and Craig
Craig and Russ clearing the spent lantana among the white camellias in Luce.
In relevance to the Luce Overlook view, Peter Wallace has succeeded in opening up not only the Columbarium area to the River, but also the view from the Lauren Cemetery. Well done, Peter!
The Vegetable/Orchard Garden:
The vegetable garden has been on sabbatical. Howard and Norm have been working to remove invasive plants near the retreat housing and George has been pruning the persimmons and cleaning the area around them.
We have had some weeds grow back in the garden area and so they were sprayed again. Mainly hen bit and florida betony (tough critters). We waffled a bit on the garden plan. George planted 30 mustard plants at home and since Carl wasn’t cleared to plant them in the raised beds behind the senior wing, Norm and I prepared a 4 X 12 bed in the garden for Carl to plant them there. Hope to return to our fruit garden plan.
Howard
Tom helping the Orchard Garden Group by clearing the Persimmon trees to be moved
Columbarium:
The Columbarium challenge continues. The rain this summer has washed out the steps down to the Platform of the Ravine. We have called this to the attention of those responsible for the Columbarium itself, as well as several other matters. We have had Coastal remove the dead shrubs and cut back those that have finished blooming. Now, with both the beds mulched, and the grasses cut back at the Wooden Sculptures at the entrance, two pots with vertical yews have been placed to indicate the entry.
Yews at the entrance to the Columbarium
Odds and Ends:
We are very fortunate to have one of a few plantations gardens that Loutrel Winslow Briggs designed and executed that is still intact. On October 23th, Nelson and Margaret, Craig and I went to a lecture on Loutrel Winslow Briggs. The first speaker, Karen Prewitt, considers herself the foremost authority on Briggs. She was asked by the Charleston Historical Society to index his papers originally and then she became interested in Briggs work. Karen reviewed the Briggs gardens in DT Charleston that we were to see that day and pointed out in each garden a typical design feature he used. Loutrel Briggs was interested in landscape architecture, not plants. His gardens show strong architectural features, such as having rooms, being adjacent to the house, and the use of reflective pools. Briggs studied the gardens in England, France and Italy and his gardens show those influences. He was from New York, but followed his wife, Emily, to Charleston when she had a project here. He loved Charleston and luckily there are still many of his gardens in existence, with their plans in his archives.
The second speaker, Marty Whaley Cornwell inherited her Briggs garden (on Church Street) from her Mother, Emily Whaley. Mrs. Whaley has a book about the planning and execution of this garden with Briggs. Marty went through the various changes in the house and garden since she has lived there, ending with the redoing of the drainage system (next door neighbor built a pool and her garden flooded). The former Gardener for Prince Charles also advised her.
Photos of Briggs various town gardens are readily available in books on Loutrel Briggs and Charleston Gardens. Again, we are very fortunate to have one of a few plantations gardens that he designed and executed that is still intact.
In early November, we held our Annual Garden Volunteer Lunch to discuss Goals completed in 2013 and set some Goals for 2014. As usual, our Volunteers outdid themselves in surpassing the 2013 Goals and are set for another record year!
On November 17th, the Annual Patron’s Concert and Reception was held. Howard said the music was the best he had heard and the voices extraordinary. Celia catered the reception, which I understand was also wonderful.
On Thanksgiving, the Brothers celebrated with the Sisters at James Island. As you can see, a good time was had by all.
Brother John and Father Joe
Brother Joseph
Father Jonas with his parents, who were here for his “Simple Vows” in early December
Mystery Photo of the Month:
This was taken in back of the Church in the private area where the Brothers can come to enjoy the view. As you can see from the various views in this Newsletter, this place is special.
Santa came early to the Mepkin Garden Volunteers and brought us another 6×4 (Larger) John Deere Gator for our use. We have been in need for some time not only with all the debris that is generated by pruning, grooming, and clearing the spent plants, but reclaiming areas on the grounds.
My thanks to Howard for the Vegetable/Orchard Garden Report and to Craig and Nelson for sharing photographs. My thanks also to Langhorne for editing. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. Dottie