Magnolia Plantation

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens  is a historic house with 70 acres and gardens located on the Ashley River just outside North Charleston.

The plantation dates to 1676, when Thomas and Ann Drayton built a house and small formal garden on the site. (The plantation remains under the control of the Drayton family after 15 generations.) The historic Drayton Hall was built in 1738 by John Drayton on an adjoining property. Magnolia was originally a rice plantation, with extensive earthworks of dams and dikes built in fields along the river for irrigating land for rice cultivation. African Slaves from rice-growing regions created the works. As time went on, the slaves developed a creolized Gullah language and culture, retaining many elements from Africa.



Resident Snowy Egret

A part of the plantation property includes a 600+ acre swamp.   To improve access to the swamp the Drayton family had walkways cleared and boardwalks built throughout.  All manner of wildlife live in the park and swamp including many species of birds, snakes and a few alligators.   We were hoping to get a photo of a 7' alligator reported to be in the swamp, but we didn't see it.   We did see many exotic birds .....including the red shouldered hawk to the right.



The swamp is fascinating.....note the green algae that has grown....kind of like a pond scum....on the surface of the water.





Tupelo cypress trees abound in the swamp....



despite the heavy layer of algae

 

 

Penguin Alert.......

  



I find swamp areas fascinating.....(Pam does too as long as you don't run into any snakes or gators!)....and our travels should bring us to other areas where swamps, wetlands and / or bayous are prevalent....we do plan to explore them.  We will be able to post a photo of an alligator before our journey pushes us West.

Ali waiting for something to fall
from the table.....

 

Today we trekked over to Isle of Palms and Sullivan Island north of the city of Charleston.   We began at Isle of Palms northernmost point and worked our way south......talk about posh!!!   Lots of upscale housing everywhere.....selling in the multi millions....and condo communities that are fully gated and with security staff.   We did park on one of the beach access roads so we could take Ali for a walk on the beach.  It was fun..although as the waves came ashore she backed away from them, not being able to fully process them.   As we exited posh Isle of Palms and entered the (slightly) more downscale hamlet of Sullivan Island, we stopped at Poe's Tavern for lunch....seems Edgar Allen spent a year in the Army there at Fort Moultrie.....apparently well before becoming impoverished and losing his marbles.   

 The penguins showed up at a corner table at Poe's......until they decided to join us.......

 

This is our last blog entry from the Charleston area.   Tomorrow (Jan 10) we spend the day packing things up and stowing things away and getting some R&R before heading out Friday to Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort, SC; where we will be for about 3 weeks.   Hunting Island offered a "snowbird's camping special" for the months of January and February....campsites for less than $15 per night!!   We look forward to enjoying a spot on the beach.....enjoying beautiful Beaufort and driving the hour plus to Savannah, GA and Paula Dean's restaurant.   One last very exciting thing before we depart Charleston is a women's college basketball game in North Charleston we will be attending tomorrow night....why???   Julia Winn, a star player for Littleton HS last year and who helped them win the Divison IV State Championships, now plays for Liberty University, who is coming to town to play Charletson Southern University tomorrow night.....AND her grandad and dad, Gerald and Jeff Winn from Littleton, are coming down to attend the game as well.  It will be fun to see them all.    So...........signing off until the next time from Hunting Island......Ken, Pam and Ali.