Apr 12

Go Back to Your Roots this Spring: Plant Native!

Posted by Kiawah Island Recreation on April 12, 2013. No Comments

The use of native plants in a garden enhances its natural beauty while also providing food, protective cover, and nesting sites for wildlife. Over centuries, native plants have adapted to the climate, soils, and environmental conditions of an area, making them easier to grow and maintain. On Kiawah Island, native plant species have developed the ability to thrive in humid summers and are well adapted to life at the coast, all while enticing local insects, birds and other native animals to pollinate their flowers and disperse their fruits.  Native plants are responsible for clean air, pure water, soil stability, flood abatements, and wild animal habitat, thus being essential to healthy, functioning ecosystems. Having evolved with the area’s insects and diseases, native plants will reduce your need for costly fertilizers and save you time on garden care.

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Apr 11

She Said Yes!

Posted by Kiawah Island Recreation on April 11, 2013. One Comment

Every Easter Sunday, Night Heron Park is bursting with pastel colors, whether it’s from the thousands of Easter Eggs scattered on every inch of grass, or the colorful outfits that families don for the spring holiday. This Easter was no different; the Easter Bunny arrived with the normal gifts and eggs, except he had one very special gift.

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Apr 8

It’s (Bobcat) Kitten Season!

Posted by Kiawah Island Recreation on April 8, 2013. No Comments

In February of this year, we shared a story of a special encounter that our recreation staff had with a female bobcat at Night Heron Park.  Now, we have learned that our Bobcat (Bobcat 700), has given birth.  Her den, located near the dunes in front of Windswept Villas,  on one of Kiawah’s busiest weeks of the year (Easter Week), is a wonderful testament to the cohabitation possible when suitable habitat is maintained.

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Apr 4

Celebrating the beginning of Spring!

Posted by Nicole Leaf on April 4, 2013. No Comments
 By: The Ocean Room Chef de Cuisine, Andrew Venable
Sous Chef, Jason Rheinwald
Pastry Chef, Ashley Kennedy

 

Spring is here and there is a sense of new beginnings in The Ocean Room kitchen. Baby radish, young asparagus, spring onions are some of the highlights of the new tasting menu.

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Apr 3

We’re Picklin!

Posted by Nicole Leaf on April 3, 2013. No Comments

Basic Quick pickling recipe – by Chef Matthew Fitzgerald, The Sanctuary Chef Tournant

It is important that the vinegar be stronger than a 1/1 ratio with water and that the salt content is 5% of the total weight of what you are pickling. I simmer the ingredients for 10 min and then strain.

2 qt water

2.5 qt white vinegar

3 oz kosher salt

10 black pepper corns

2 onions

For pickling purposes I like to pickle a whole bunch of ingredients in the same day so we make a master batch of pickling liquid and the flavor the individual jars before adding the items to be pickled.

In the okra container I added

1 teaspoon of sugar

2 Mexican bird chilies

3 pinches of caraway seeds

After all jars are packed I place them in simmering water, pour simmering pickling liquid on top and put place the cap on, allowing the jars to cool at room temperature then check the seals to make sure they are tight.

Mar 28

Kiawah Island Easter Activities

Posted by Kiawah Island Recreation on March 28, 2013. No Comments

Easter is a time of reunion, rejoicing, revitalization and recreation. It is a time when family and friends come together to welcome the changing of season, the rebirth of the land and the fertility that naturally ensues. Just as the budding spring season delivers prosperous life to the land, Kiawah Island Golf Resort is rich and plentiful this time of year with exciting events and engaging activities. More than a daily affair, with over two weeks of programming, Kiawah is DEFINITLY the place to be for the Easter holiday.

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Mar 28

Dolphins caught in tidal pool – Happy Ending…

Posted by Kiawah Island Recreation on March 28, 2013. No Comments

At approximately 1 pm on Tuesday, March 26th, the Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Nature Center received a call from a concerned guest about an adult and juvenile Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin that appeared to be stranded in a tide pool approximately 500 yards east of The Ocean Course beach access. Nature Program Manager, Nick Boehm, and Naturalist, Brogin Van Skoik, along with the Town’s beach patrol, John Gottshalk, and Wildlife Biologist, Jim Jordan, responded and discovered that mom and calf were about 60 yards away from the ocean and stuck side by side facing the dunes in about 10 inches of water. They could not swim, but were luckily able to breathe and had water flowing over them which are both very important in keeping them alive and less stressed while in this type of situation.

Although it is difficult to not want to intervene and try to move them to a safer place, doing so may potentially cause more damage to the dolphins or to those that are trying to move them. So the best thing to do was to wait until the tide came in and keep an eye on them to make sure they didn’t get too worn out or totally beached.

Dolphins are used to being suspended in the water so being totally beached can put a lot of pressure on their bodies that they are not accustomed to.  At about 3:45pm, three hours after the initial call, we got word from Jim Jordan that the water level had risen and they were both safely swimming in the ocean again.  Although this is not a regular occurrence, if you ever come across dolphins in this type of situation the best thing to do is to keep your distance to avoid excess stress on the dolphins, and contact the proper authorities in your area.

 

Mar 27

More spa answers

Posted by Mike Vegis on March 27, 2013. No Comments

As part of The Spa at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort being awarded Five Stars in the Forbes Travel Guide, we’re featured on their www.startle.com web site.  Below are some of the Q&As that our resident spa expert, Jerilyn Kuthe (Spa Director) has answered for Forbes:

What are the best amenities at The Spa at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island?

The Spa at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island offers wonderful amenities to you that truly make the experience even more enjoyable and noteworthy. Here are the best amenities at the spa.

1. The microfiber robes and sheets used in the treatment rooms. This material is soft, soothing and a nice change from the typical all-terrycloth robes and regular cotton sheets. The fabric will transport you to a world of relaxation far superior to anything you’ve experienced, even at other high-end spas.

2. The solarium area. This welcoming room manages to be both relaxing and energizing at the same time, with a waterfall feature and large plantation shutter windows overlooking the gorgeous hotel grounds. You can even replenish your fully relaxed body after your treatment with homemade granola, fruit and nuts, along with a variety of hot teas and citrus-infused water.

3. The sauna, steam room and whirlpool with waterfall area, which the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star spa calls its “aqua retreat.” Housed in one large room, these features sit under a cove ceiling that looks as if rulers of the Roman Empire could have designed and enjoyed back in ancient times. You’ll feel like you’re in an underground cave far away from the rest of the world.

4. The shower and bathroom areas provide everything you would need to pamper and primp after your services. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash containers hang in the showers, while shaving gel, shavers, hair products, blow dryers, deodorant and other products are all available for your you after you freshen up in the shower, post-treatment.

5. The furniture. The luxury Kiawah Island spa selected comfortable lounge chairs that you’ll find in both the solarium and whirlpool area. These lounge chairs are soft and inviting, making it easy to sit back and enjoy a book, magazine or newspaper; you can even just close your eyes and listen to the waterfall trickling in either room.

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Mar 27

The Grand Easter Buffet

Posted by Nicole Leaf on March 27, 2013. No Comments

 

Chef Tournant, Matthew Fitzgerald and Executive Pastry Chef, Lawrence Brubaker are gearing up for the holiday celebration in which is hoping up this Sunday, March 31st. Bringing the ‘down home elegance’ approach, our Banquet Department plans to implement the rustic Lowcountry feel at this year’s Easter celebration with private seating in the Grand Oaks Ballroom at The Sanctuary.

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Mar 15

Late Winter Birding on Kiawah

Posted by Kiawah Island Recreation on March 15, 2013. No Comments

As any birder can tell you, early morning birding can be tough. Getting up to spot birds seems ridiculous at that hour, until you see your first bird and then it all comes into perspective. That February morning was no exception for me and to complicate matters, conditions were less than ideal. Our first bird was no surprise as we pulled out of the Heron Park Nature Center; we spotted a Great Blue Heron, stalking the edge of a pond. While Great Blues are quite common on Kiawah, they are the one of the most striking birds found on the island and frankly, a great way to start a trip.

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