Gardens of the South

"The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies, but never grows to the enduring happiness that the love of gardening gives." – Gertrude Jekyll (2016) ‘Wood and Garden – Notes and Thoughts, Practical and Critical, of a Working Amateur’ Read Books Ltd

On the last day of tourist adventures in the south my "live-in gardener" and I visited Magnolia Plantation which was not far from Charleston. When I planned the trip it seemed like Magnolia Plantation was the place to visit to see a Southern garden. After the Civil War in order to survive these gardens were made into a tourist sight to be able to stay in existence. They had been growing rice, but just couldn't financially survive.

 

Our travels most often include gardens and tea; so this definitely fulfilled the garden requirement.

"God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures." – Francis Bacon (1625) Essays ‘Of Gardens’

There was plenty of ground to cover by foot or trolley. We enjoyed both.

"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." – Greek proverb

Can you find the alligator? There was plenty of nature surrounding the gardens.

We listened to a talk on slavery on this plantation.

This was where many of them lived.

One of the last emancipated slaves managed the gardens and was instrumental in developing several varieties of camellias. He also raised 10 children in one of these two room cabins.

There were two foot bridges in the garden, the red one above and this white one. They were both beautiful.

"The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway." – Michael Pollan (2007) ‘Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education’ p.64, Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

The plantation home.

One of the many camellias on the grounds. I think it was my favorite.

 

And then we left Magnolia Plantation and drove 3 more miles down the same road to Millerton Plantation. It didn't have as many tourist and was actually quite peaceful to walk the grounds. The plantation home had burned down many years ago, but the little chapel and several small buildings still stood.

 

Because there were fewer people we saw more wildlife. In this little lake fish were jumping.

The main reason I wanted to go to Millerton Plantation is because of this restaurant. When I was doing my research I read that the woman that originally prepared the food made old family recipes. We weren't very hungry; so we had a light lunch of she-crab soup and macaroni and cheese balls. I had never had either of these before; so I was intrigued. They were good.

But for my "live-in gardener" the nature and peacefulness was his favorite here.

 

Being surrounded by the beauty of nature wherever we travel is pure delight!

Have a delightful weekend, dear friends!

Go out and enjoy some nature wherever you are.