Behind the Blooms
A Break From The Flowers
Tuesday, January 27, 2009


January is time for a break for the Tiger Lily staff. The holidays are over, it's not yet wedding season, and Valentine's Day is still a couple weeks away. Valentines Day is on the same weekend as the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, one of Charleston's biggest tourism draws of the year. That weekend has always marked the kick-off of our busy season, and we'll stay rocking until Thanksgiving, with just a couple slow weeks (4th of July) mixed in.


I decided to take the down time and go fishing in the NC mountains last weekend. Clara was home with the kids, planning to make her famous lasagna and a new hardcore chocolate cake recipe. So I dropped the kids off at school Friday morning, grabbed a quick workout, and busted tail at 80mph towards Pisgah National Forest. Just Me, Myself, and I.


It was a perfect "timeout" weekend to think about things, and there was a LOT to think about. President Obama, layoffs, the wars, bailouts and trying to run a small business in that environment. Heck, trying to raise a family in that environment! And what about the environment? Global warming, alternate energy sources, and much more. Well, the bad news is I didn't solve any of the problems during the four hour ride. But I did arrive in Brevard with a resolve that we will overcome all of these challenges, eventually. As a business owner, I hope that following solid business principles and pursuing quality will see us through. I'm confident it will.


But to more important matters, the Davidson River and the East Fork of the French Broad looked prime. So I spent the next day and a half flyfishing and wading these two rivers. It was chilly, with remnants of ice and snow still hanging on in the shady patches. Even with two pairs of socks, long johns and insulated waders, feeling in my feet left after about an hour of wading. The fish were willing though, and that kept me going for 6 hours straight on Saturday. At the end of the session, I caught 18, including the big brown trout pictured. Not bad for a guy who is not a very good fly fisherman. That brown was a day maker, along with the crystal clear water, cascading waterfalls, riffles and pools


As I headed back on Sunday, everything seemed a little more in order. Yes, we have our problems but things eventually will be OK. The wars will end, the economy will come around, and we will even figure out the whole energy thing. We all just have to work hard, be smart and have faith. Bring on Valentine's Day!

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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Mingo Point "Marsh Madness"
Friday, November 21, 2008

Mingo Point, the rustic outdoor venue on Kiawah Island is one of my favorite places in the world. Just 5 minutes from the 5-Star Sanctuary Resort, it's a slice of our pristine lowcountry natural treasure.
The saltwater Kiawah River wraps around Mingo Point almost 360 degrees. Everywhere you look it's water, spartina grass, live oaks, cypress, egrets, heron, osprey, palmettos and more.
Most of our events there are in the evening, and the setting sun over the marsh and river is a living work of art. When the full moon is shining through the live oaks, well you just have to experience it yourself.
I love to fish, and let me tell you the Kiawah River is an amazing fishery. It is absolutely loaded with speckled trout, spottail bass (redfish) and flounder. It's rare when you DON'T see folks fishing at the nearby bridge. With it's remote location, the vast majority of the gamefish there have never seen a hook! Add in the short distance to the ocean, and the result is an angler's dream. Bring stout gear, those Kiawah River spottails can reach thirty pounds. During the summer and fall, you can net a shrimp dinner for an entire family in about 15 minutes. TIP: Go at low tide.
About the flowers, simple, rustic, lowcountry is the rule at Mingo. We shouldn't and don't try to compete with the natural beauty on Mingo, just accent it a little. The earthy colors of the rented linens, seagrass container and local sunflowers are all we need to make the point "POP".
Kiawah Resort is smart about using Mingo Point the "right" way. While it has all the amenities you expect, it has kept its natural appeal. Kayak, fishing and dolphin trips are all offered through the resort, and all are great for the family day trippers or the serious nature enthusiasts.

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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