Day 3 - Cypress Gardens

I know, it is taking me forever to get all these wonderful memories uploaded to my blog but I am sure that the anticipation has made you more eager!  Really, what could be better than a butterfly and a caterpillar?  Here are good examples of a Miss Mollie Butterfly and a Tanzie Caterpillar.  Very unique varieties indeed!  Aren't  they lovely?

We found these lovelies in the Butterfly house at Cypress Gardens.  And if you have never been to Cypress Gardens just outside of Charleston then you are missing the bargain of the century.  Just wait until you see what we got for just $10 each!

This is inside the wonderful Butterfly House which is full of beautiful flowers and plants, butterflies of course, birds, ducks and more!

Girlfriends - Tanya and Mollie (and me, taking the picture!)

Smile for the camera!

They all really were patient with my picture taking!  But just look at the beauty that surrounded us all day long!  And it gets better in the summer!  We were early.

Classic Kidlark!  I love it!  Love them too!

The girls on the swing.

Just having fun as we rested inside one of the large party gazebos.

Ah, eaten by the alligator!

Included in the $10 is the use of a paddle boat.  Kirby and Rick did the honors as us "girls"  just sort of sat back and enjoyed the ride.  We only saw one alligator but he was a very, very big one!  Exciting!

I love getting pictures of my favorite man!

Rick and Tanya as we headed under the low bridge.  They are used to low bridges.  Look at the next picture - taken in January 2007 in Lake Sylvia, Florida.  Some things just never change!  You gotta love it!

Also included in our $10 admission charge were the large older alligators living in captivity.  I think when they get too large for the lagoon they put them in here so they won't eat the people in row boats!

There is also a small aquarium that I didn't get any pictures of and some exotic birds and some exotic bird watchers like these -

Oh, and then we stayed and had a lovely picnic in one of the large pavilions.  I really do think Cypress Gardens is the best bargain in the whole Charleston area!
The pictures are better if you click on them to enlarge and then browser back.

Day 2 - Middleton Place

On Day Two we went to Middleton Place.  It isn't very far from Magnolia but it is very different.  The gardens are much more formal and it is very, very big.  Lots and lots of walking.  Here we are just out of the car and ready to go. I think they were already getting tired of me taking pictures of them but they behaved pretty good.  (Mollie, Tanya, Rick and Kirby)

Rick and I had fun taking each others picture taking each others picture!

There was an airshow at the Air Force Base that day and these guys flew over for quite some time.

Say "Cheese" everyone!

It really isn't THAT much beer - the bottles are empty!

I was a good girl here - I didn't touch anything!  Pretty cool stuff!

After we saw this sign, we didn't let Rick eat anything.

The boys were being silly - AGAIN!  See the picture below taken in 2006 in St. Augustine, FL!

You can click HERE to see some pictures of the gardens.

Magnolia Swamp Gardens

When we finished our picnic at the Plantation Gardens we made our way to the Swamp Gardens.  It only takes about an hour to walk through the swamp.  Part of the walk is on raised boardwalk and part of it is on the levies from the rice fields that used to be there.  Wildlife is very plentiful with alligator warnings.  We were very respectful of them but they mostly were hiding from us. 

This old tree that Tanya is hugging is located in the little cemetery that is near the swamp.  You can see a headstone behind the tree.

The trails are a wonder no matter what time of year you visit.

All of the green behind them is called Duck Weed.  When I first visited I thought it must be an algae sitting on the water but later learned that it is a tiny plant that provides food for the waterfowl that live there.
Click HERE to see more of my swamp pictures.

Magnolia Gardens

Kirby, Tanya, Mollie and Rick

Rick and Tanya came from Kentville, Nova Scotia to stay the week with us and tour around the Lowcountry.  When Mollie heard they were coming, she had to be here too.  We had such a good week playing as hard as these old folks could play!  They really kind of got tired of me say, "Ok, everyone say cheese!", but they did it anyway!

I think we need to hear the music from "Tiptoe through the Tulips" except there were no tulips!

Hiding in the Azales - Rick, Tanya, Mollie and Kirby

We finished off our tour of the gardens with a nice picnic. The weather was perfect~the company the best!

 But this little one didn't think everything was so wonderful.  Needless to say, she found some pluff mud!  Mom kept her cool, found some water and brought a naked child back to their picnic!

And here is a pretty picture. You can see more at my Photo Blog.

Wine Time

Last night the ladies from the neighborhood came over for Wine Time. It is becoming quite The Thing! Everyone brings an appetizer and their favorite beverage. We then spend the evening catching up, making new friends and having fun.

In this picture - Diane, Arlene, Lisa, Pam and Linda.

Christie (my daughter) and Kimberly

Barb and Laura

Christie and Susan were acting out for us!

They had us all rolling on the floor!

Christie and Laura both fit in the oversized chair.

Susan and I danced!

This was early - more food arrived and then disappeared!

Lots of different beverages arrived to but these two were the most popular. Everyone had to try them.