from the editor

Let's face it: here in the Lowcountry we do not experience the idyllic fall colors of our more northern neighbors. We're more likely to see the bright red, orange and yellow of falling leaves when winter arrives, if then. But we have our own hues and tints to enjoy all year long.

When my husband and I decided to move back to Charleston after several years in Washington, D.C., one of my immediate thoughts was, "I can wear pink again!" As you may be able to imagine, Washington is a black, white, grey and sometimes-navy-blue town. The aghast reaction Elle Woods received in Legally Blonde 2 when she arrived at the Capitol building in a stunning pink suit was not that far removed from reality. (OK, not a great movie, but it makes my point.) Pastels are not a part of the fashion culture in our nation's capital; but, thankfully, they are in the Southeast.

We embrace the subdued blues of our gorgeous skies right along with the deep blue of the ocean. Our warm, yellow sun brings us almost 250 rain-free days annually. Of course, July and August are red-hot with average high temperatures skirting 90 degrees. Those primary colors combine to create countless more that beautify our city like no other I've ever seen.

This issue of Lowcountry Living is full of our favorite shades of Charleston visual, spiritual and edible. Explore the mystical art of Gullah Hoodoo and plan a perfect picnic complete with red and white checkered tablecloths and tasty portable dishes. John Duckworth really shows our true colors in a photo essay that examines our fine details.

So please join me as I get in the pink again. Look at your Lowcountry in a new light and feel its visual allure. And if you see a blonde woman in a pink dress on King Street, it's probably me.