Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Last year when Devani was visiting from Northern California we visited Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Since that time I have wanted to get Kirby there to enjoy it. I really wanted to go when it was all green but we never made it. We went yesterday and it was wonderful. Probably not as wonderful as it would have been with all the vegetation green and vibrant but winter is fun too. There were some flowers blooming and the Spanish Moss is always there - draping so beautifully over the branches of the oak trees.

We toured the gardens first and then the swamp. The house was closed for maintenance but we don't have a lot of interest in that anyway. The big heartbreaker was that we could have brought Jake with us - Dogs Allowed on Leash. I didn't do my research properly and he would have loved it so much. I will always check from now on!

The Camellias were still in bloom but almost gone. We caught a few of them. And there was other color here and there. I loved the Ashley River views. I imagined the boats coming up the river to pick up a load of rice - the most important crop for most South Carolina plantations until the civil war.

After the gardens (which we didn't finish - need to go back to do the maze at least!) we went to the swamp - my favorite. Last year when I was there the waters were all solid green algae - so gorgeous! This year there was algae here and there. I think the fact that we are having a warmer winter must have something to do with it. Whatever the reason - I liked it better last year but thoroughly enjoyed this trip also. We saw an alligator sunning himself on an alligator sunramp while surrounded by large turtles. We saw Osprey in their nests with their young and plenty of heron.

Our trip to the plantation was courtesy of the Shumbies who gifted us at Christmas with a pass to most major attractions in the Charleston area. It is a "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town" pass. We will visit all that we can during the month of January. As soon as I can I will get my pictures uploaded to our Picasa website.