Rudy Mancke Collection

Rudy Mancke, who passed away on Nov. 7 at the age of 78, became a beloved figure in South Carolina and beyond through his groundbreaking work as the host of the nationally distributed television show NatureScene and SC Public Radio’s NatureNotes. NatureScene, co-created with Beryl Dakers premiered in 1978 and continued for an impressive 25 years, gaining national recognition for its simple and innovative approach to exploring the natural world.

Within this Collection

Animals

Collections

Forest

Collections

Plants

Collections

Title:
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 6 10
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 10

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Lake Jocassee – Here, standing on a rock outcropping, Rudy and Jim analyze Lake Jocassee’s geographic features, along with the variety of trees found around the lake: White Pine, Virginia Pine, and...
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 5 9
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 9

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Old Farm Road – While walking down this old farm road, Rudy and Jim come across a Sweetgum tree which has been chewed by a beaver. The beavers in the area have built a dam, thus creating a new habitat...
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2 5
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 5

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Poor Robin’s Plantain is another common flower found in the area. A Silver Spotted Skipper butterfly is seen gathering nectar from one of these flowers, and Rudy and Jim revisit the Black Rat Snake...
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 4 8
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 8

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Close to the waterfall, Bluet flowers, Saxifrage, Butterweed, Spicebush, Mountain Buckeye trees, Dutchman’s Pipe vines, Wild Yam, Partridgeberry, and Long Spurred violets dominate cool, moist...
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2 3
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 3

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Foothills Trail – In one of the oak trees in a drop off area, Rudy and Jim spot a coiled up Black Rat Snake.
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 7 11
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 7
Episode 11

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At this next stop, close to the water, we see an abundant variety of flowering plants: Mayapples, Foamflowers, Showy Orchis, Little Sweet Betsy, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and Allegheny Spurge.
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 3 6
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 6

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At this next stop, we see Shortia plants, Rhododendron, Eastern Hemlock, Fraser Magnolia, and Maroon Sweetshrub.
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 1 1
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Today, Rudy and Jim visit Jocassee Gorges, known all over the world for its mix of hardwood and conifer trees, along with its variety of wild flowers. At this first stop, Rudy and Jim come across...
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2 4
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 4

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Right beside Rudy and Jim, we see several vines: Virginia Creeper, Poison Ivy, and Blackberry. Some of the trees in the area are Black Birch and Tuliptree. Some Wild Strawberry can be seen as well...
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 3 7
Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 7

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Here, Rudy and Jim find several of nature’s recyclers: a Morel mushroom, and a millipede. In a nearby tree, we find an Eastern Phoebe bird, which is an insect eater.
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 3 4
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 4

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Before making their way to the next stop, Rudy and Jim come across an Eastern Mud turtle resting under a bush.
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4 5
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 5

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At the next stop, Rudy and Jim analyze more of the plants found in the area: Hackberry trees, and Switch Cane dominate the area. A healthy Poison Ivy can be seen completely encasing a dead oak tree.
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4 6
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 6

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rudy and Jim find a young Bald Cypress tree, and a Papaw tree, which flowers in the early springtime.
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 2 2
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 2

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Edge - Here, where the high ground meets the flood plain, we see more plant diversity. Large Cinnamon Ferns, Dog Hobble, Loblolly Pine trees, and American Beech trees frequent the area. With a...
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 3 3
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 3

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

As Rudy and Jim make their way closer to the Flood Plain, we see more tall canopy trees: Red Maple trees, and Sweet Gum trees. Several flowering plants grow in the area as well: Elderberry, Winged...
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 7 11
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 7
Episode 11

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At this last stop at Congaree Swamp, Rudy and Jim find another Sweetgum tree, which grows very well in this wet, muddy environment. A record size Willow Oak tree, toppled over by the wind, knocked...
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 5 7
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 7

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Oxbow Lake – A Laurel Oak tree has found a way to support itself in the muddy, wet soil. Water Tupelo trees, Bald Cypress trees, and Loblolly Pines dominate the areas closer to the swamp.
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 6 8
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 8

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Cedar Creek – As Rudy and Jim explore Cedar Creek, they spot a large Brown Water snake.
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 6 10
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 10

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Closer to the water, Rudy and Jim find more Cypress-Tupelo trees, and come across two Clubtail dragonflies in the process of mating.
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 6 9
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 9

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Congaree Swamp is abundant with insect life. Rudy and Jim come across a newly emerged dragonfly, and a Zebra Swallowtail butterfly is seen feeding on a White Clover flower. A Clubtail dragonfly is...
Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 2 5
Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 5

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

At the same stop, vines and flowering plants can also be seen growing in this area. We see Yellow Jessamine, and Toadflax.
Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 2 4
Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 4

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Sandy soils – At this stop, we see Southern Magnolia trees, which help keep the sandy ground stable. With this one magnolia tree, Rudy and Jim find holes left behind by beetles, and woodpeckers which...
Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 1 1
Bulls Island (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1

Video

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Bulls Island was one of the most heavily damaged areas in South Carolina by Hurricane Hugo. Rudy and Jim visit Bulls Island to observe how nature is healing itself after the deadly hurricane. Here at...