Cannonball Jellyfish

Before moving to the coast, I knew getting stung by a jellyfish was painful. I researched what to do for a jellyfish sting. Take Benadryl and wash the area with ocean water. If you can rinse the area with vinegar, it's even better but who takes vinegar to the beach?

If you've heard urinating on a jellyfish sting is a cure, it's not. This so-called treatment can actually worsen the injury. The urine can trigger the stingers to release more venom. 

There are a variety of jelly fish. The can be small or huge, and they come in different shapes. Most have nematocysts in their tentacles which are tiny stinging cells. A sting can be painful and even life-threatening. Proceed with caution if you're stung. 

The most common jellyfish I come across in South Carolina are the cannonball jellyfish. Most of the time I see them washed up on the beach, but if I come across one in the ocean, you better believe I'm getting out of the way.

If you visit a Carolina beach, keep your eyes open. I'm sure you'll see a jellyfish.

Take care my friends and stay safe!

Seabeach Amaranth

The other night as we walked along a South Carolina beach, we spotted cages. I hurried over expecting to see signs indicating sea turtle nests were being protected.

Instead, the sign indicated seabeach amaranth was being protected. I've seen it on beaches before, but I didn't realize how important it is to beach eco-systems.

Seabeach amaranth is found in Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas. It is an annual plant that germinates from April to June and blooms in July.

Beach erosion and human traffic are two big threats to this plant. The worst blow to this herb was Hurricane Hugo in 1989. It's estimated the hurricane wiped out ninety percent of South Carolina's seabeach amaranth. In 1993 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed it as a threatened species.


If you vacation and spot seabeach amaranth, enjoy the view, but please don't pick it. Thanks!