Sea Oat Sunrise

Sunrise, Folly Beach, South Carolina  © Doug Hickok


As a summer sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean, sea oats wave in the breeze, providing a frame for the fiery orb. All along the coast, where there are barrier islands, these grasses grow in colonies, and flourish when undisturbed by humans. They are crucial to the stabilization of sand dunes, especially in the face of powerfully eroding tropical storms and hurricanes. By July and August, sea oats are in full display,
showing their heads of gold.