I have heard it said that an inoculation to the sights and smells of the Carolina Lowcountry is an almost irreversible antidote to the charms of other landscapes.
-Pat Conroy
I’m extremely proud to be a native Charleston landscape designer. After all, we native Charlestonians are a rare breed these days: According to the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, the population of the South Carolina Lowcountry is growing at 3x the national average…relocation from other parts of the U.S. is the primary driver of the regions’ tremendous growth.
The Charleston area’s rapid growth has made “Lowcountry native” a unique classification; with that classification comes unique knowledge about life in the Holy City and the South Carolina coast as a whole:
Why is the palmetto the state tree? What did the traditional Charleston accent sound like? What’s the Big Chill House? Where’s Catfish Row?
The unique knowledge we Lowcountry natives possess isn’t limited to local trivia…in terms of landscape design, being a Charleston native means knowing the intricacies of the Lowcountry natural environment, a unique habitat of unique flora and fauna that requires decades of experience to fully understand and appreciate.
This Lowcountry salt marsh scene, with branches of a huge live oak tree hovering over a tranquil tidal creek, is the quintessential Lowcountry “look” that inspired my native, low-maintenance landscape design and installation philosophy.
Good landscape design in the South Carolina Lowcountry requires a deep understanding of what makes the native Lowcountry natural environment unique and beautiful. It also requires a deep understanding of the unique horticultural challenges that the native Lowcountry environment presents: sandy soil, vs. rich soil vs. clay, salt air vs. fresh air, temperature and wind differentials throughout the area, and the long-term effects of weather anomalies such as tropical storms, freezes, floods, droughts, invasive plants, and invasive insects.
In other words, good native Lowcountry landscape design requires artistry and tilling the Lowcountry soil for decades like I have.
Condé Nast recently ranked Charleston the world’s friendliest city. We Charleston natives welcome our new neighbors with open arms and friendly smiles. And we natives also have unique knowledge and experience to share with our newcomer brethren.
In terms landscape design and installation in the Lowcountry, being a Charleston native who has been tilling the Lowcountry soil since he was 9 is a immensely valuable attribute.
Click the button below to schedule a free consultation to find out how that immensely valuable attribute can be put to use to harmonize your residential or commercial property with the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry.
-Seth Mason, Charleston SC
