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Ripe for the Picking: Watermelon Rules

South Carolina produces over one hundred and thirty-three million pounds of watermelon each year. You aren’t alone if this mouthwatering fruit ranks highest among your favorite summertime snacks, and our state proves itself to be ripe for the picking.

There’s nothing better than taking a big bite from a bright pink watermelon, with its juicy remnants dripping down your chin being a hallmark of a perfect morsel. But from all the watermelons to choose from at the roadside stand, which one looks best? How do you know if your watermelon is ready to slice open? We break down our “Watermelon Rules” for you below:

– Pick the heaviest watermelon. Oftentimes, this means that it will taste sweeter and has more water content.

– The more yellow the field spot, the riper. The dark color of the field spot means it has had more time to sit on the vine, which leads to better flavor.

– Look for a robust and dark stripe pattern. This means the watermelon has had plenty of time to grow and mature before you dig in.

Regarding how you prepare your watermelon or whether or not you should add that sprinkle of salt, the jury is still out. When it comes to how you enjoy summertime’s most beloved treat, what are your watermelon rules?

YOUR SUMMER READING LIST

There’s nothing like sitting out on the porch in the summer with a glass of iced tea and a brand new book to dive into. Check out the list below for some of our favorite reads!

Reunion Beach: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank

This anthology includes interviews, stories, poems, and more in honor of Benton Frank, a beloved icon of South Carolina literature, and her love of her native lowcountry.

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese 

Featured in Oprah’s Book Club, this sweeping, epic tale follows a family through three generations in India as they seek the answers to a strange family secret.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Lyrically written and full of wonder, this collection of essays by Kimmerer, esteemed botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, will have you looking at our Southern landscape with new eyes.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson 

A brother and sister get an unexpected inheritance from their mother: a family recipe, and a long lost tale that challenges everything the siblings thought they knew.

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

Set on a fictional island off the coast of South Carolina with a wholly unique premise, this epistolary novel is a linguistic tour-de-force, sure to expand your vocabulary.

Eat a Peach by David Chang 

Chang discusses the challenges of opening his famed restaurant, Momofuku, and how his upbringing and personal struggles shaped him into one of the most influential people of the 21st century.

 

Sommelier Matt’s Summer Wine Corner

Matt Sayer, our resident sommelier, has a gifted palette and playful imagination when it comes to discovering seasonal favorites within the world of wine. Matt joins us for another installment of our “Wine Corner” series, where he invites us on his journey to find summer’s finest glasses, one sip at a time.

Skull Wines’ Pink Wine is Matt’s wine of choice this summer. Organically farmed from Contra Costa and Lodi AVA, this wine is a delicate blend of Zinfandel (90%) and a hint of Petite Sirah to finish (10%). A fun everyday drinker, this summer selection matured after four months in neutral oak. Pink Wine is light, crisp, and a refreshing blend with hints of ripe strawberries. Enjoy it on a hot summer’s day and pair it with a seasonal salad, garden-fresh vegetables, and a plate of seafood. A fun and funky fact about this selection by Skull Wines? You’ll know when it’s cold enough to drink as the skull on the label turns pink!

Five-time National Gold Medal Pickleball Champion

A local of Aiken, South Carolina and legend of both the tennis and equestrian worlds, Chris Powers is reaching for more. Within the sport of pickleball, Powers now holds the top spot among women in her age category in mixed doubles. As if that distinction weren’t enough, she is a five-time National gold medal champion and holds three silver medals. Competing across the country, Powers has won over 200 awards in the few years she has been competing, but it’s more than the accolades that keep Powers on the court. “It really grabs at my heartstrings,” Chris begins.

“It’s the number one growing sport in the country. The wonderful thing about pickleball is that anyone can play it,” says Powers. “You could be five years old playing with your grandmother, and you’re all going to have a great time,” she continues.

 

When she’s not competing on the court, Chris stays busy on Two Sisters Farm, where she conducts lessons and camps. Named in honor of her sister, Jeanie, who passed away from brain and breast cancer, their dream was to own a horse farm together one day. With her sister’s memory tethered to her, Powers runs free pickleball retreats for women diagnosed with cancer through her organization, Women Beyond Cancer. “The amazing thing is that there aren’t many tears. Because we don’t have an agenda, the sky’s the limit,” remarks Chris.

An inclusive sport by nature, Chris prides herself on the friendly camaraderie you can find on any pickleball court across America. “You can pick it up and be having a blast and laughing within twenty minutes,” she says with an infectious grin. To keep in touch with Chris, follow her tournaments, and learn more about her lessons and retreats, follow along with her on Facebook on her page, ‘Aiken Pickleball Pro Chris Powers.’ With world-renowned talent and a personality as kind as it is driven, we’re lucky to have Chris Powers so close to home.

Discover Aiken this summer through Horse Around Aiken Treasure Hunt. Created by Aiken Center for the Arts, this interactive journey takes you and your entire family through the heart of downtown Aiken. Locate nine life-sized horse statues created by local artists and learn more about each equine-inspired art installation as you scan their QR codes. Once you’ve found all of these unique horses, return to Aiken Center for the Arts for a photo opportunity and prize!

LEARN MORE ABOUT HORSE AROUND AIKEN

The roots of farming in South Carolina run deep. Agriculture drives our state, with nearly 25,000 farms – or five million acres – helping feed South Carolinians daily. Although agribusiness, or agriculture and forestry, is the most significant economic sector in the state, it can often feel like an endless pursuit to find fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables in an age of supermarkets that ship food across the country.

With more and more South Carolinians getting curious about where their food comes from, Big Smile Peaches offers the unique opportunity for consumers to support their local food economy in a hands-on way. Located just a short drive from The Willcox, hungry guests can connect with the farms that feed us, pick their own peaches, and immerse themselves in the traditions farming that runs so deep in our state. Agritourism is as inspiring as it is impactful, allowing consumers to become active participants in our food system.

Whether you’re in pursuit of talking with a farmer face-to-face this summer or want to collect your own bounty of fresh food that was picked the same day, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite local farm stands and markets for you in this issue to help inspire the senses and invite curiosity.

Farmer’s Markets:
Aiken County Farmers Market
Woods Farm Market and Garden

Certified Roadside Stands:
Berry Farm Produce
Boondock Farms
Fresh Farm Market at Cold Creek Nurseries
Samaria Farm & Dairy

U-Pick Farms:
Big Smile Peaches
Carolina Country Farm

For an entire list of local farmers markets in Aiken and across our state, how to enroll in a local CSA program, discover roadside farm stands, and more, view the entire list here.

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HEIRLOOM TOMATO PIE

One of the greatest joys of a Southern summer is tomato pie. When they’re ripe on the vine, it’s time to create this classic dish. With pie crust made from scratch and juicy heirloom tomatoes, enjoy this recipe by Southern Living around the dinner table with family and friends.

Ingredients:
Heirloom tomatoes
Kosher salt
Thick-cut bacon
Shallots
Cloves
White cheddar
Mayonnaise
Dijon mustard
Fresh basil & chives
Egg

Recipe and photo: Southern Living. Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

CLICK TO SEE THE FULL RECIPE >

Aiken in Bloom: In Conversation with Margaret Brown

For 27 years, she created the floral ​arrangements that decorated Augusta ​National during the Masters Tournament. ​The flowers she arranged each year in The ​Butler Cabin, where the post-tournament ​Green Jacket Interview is famously held, ​have been seen by hundreds of millions of ​people around the world. Her experiences ​over the course of nearly 3 decades, from ​1982 until 2008, inspired her to write a book entitled A Florist’s Walk Down ​Magnolia Lane: An Augusta Story so that ​she could share a behind the scenes look ​at the tradition of one of the most storied ​golf tournaments in history.

Long before she was the floral designer for Augusta National, Margaret was busy ​falling in love with nature and flowers in ​her parents’ yard growing up. She was ​zealous about spending time outdoors, ​and as she got older, she became equally ​enthusiastic about the happiness, peace, ​and joy that spread wherever flowers go.

Tune in as we have the opportunity to sit down with her to discuss her passion of flowers and how she originally started working with Augusta National.

Interested in learning more about Margaret and her work at Augusta National? Purchase her book here.

Joye in Aiken: Off the Stage and into the Classroom

Joye in Aiken makes a grand entrance onto the social ​scene each March with it’s array of dazzling performing ​artists and productions. The sweet melodies and soulful ​jazz fills the local businesses and performance venues ​throughout the week. What is often over looked is what ​is softly happening in the background of Joye in Aiken: ​the philanthropic work that they do in the local public ​schools as part of their outreach program.

46,000 students have felt the impact of their outreach ​program since Joye in Aiken’s inception in 2008. Joye in Aiken works closely with the Aiken County Public ​School District to bring Kidz Bop and Young People’s ​concerts, master classes, in-school performances, artist residencies, and a summer jazz camp to town for ​the students to participate in. They offer performing art experiences and learning opportunities that would ​otherwise not be available in Aiken.

This past winter, Joye in Aiken received a 2023 Community Grant of $15,000 from the CSRA Community Foundation to continue the impactful work that they do in our public schools. This grant will go towards a newer mission of Joye in Aiken that came about due to the pandemic. They are working closely with schools to reengage students after multiple years of disrupted education that led to, in some cases, substantial learning losses.

Their philanthropic work over the past fifteen years has been inspiring to students throughout our community and we’re grateful for all that they do!

Interested in learning more about Joye in Aiken 2024? Click below to visit their site:
https://www.joyeinaiken.com/

 

Our resident sommelier, Matthew Sayer, is back this spring with his recommendation for what to drink this season. His choice? Tears of Vulcan. This wine is special because it is an “orange” wine… no, not wine made from oranges, but instead it’s a wine made where the skins and seeds of the grapes are left in contact with the juice creating an orange tint to the wine. It hails from the Chehalem Mountains of Oregon. You’ll enjoy the beautiful copper color, light tannins, and hint of umami that comes with every pour. It elicits endless depth and character. The best way to enjoy it is on a warm spring day, sitting on the shaded patio enjoying some cheese. It also pairs well with a spicy low country boil.

 

Meet Tammy Fender, a world-renowned ​holistic skin guru who is passionate ​about sharing her love of the holistic ​lifestyle, embracing natural beauty, and ​utilizing pure plant remedies. Our team ​at The Willcox is beyond thrilled to be ​partnering with her this season as we ​bring her practices and products to ​Aiken for our guests and visitors to enjoy.

While she was here with us earlier this ​month, Tammy created a meditation ​specific for The Willcox and she ​completed hands-on training with our ​staff that we’re excited to show you ​when you visit with us.