Charleston Magnolia Plantation

In Charleston, we visited the Magnolia Plantation, because it was there, and it sounded neat. I'm going to quote their website for the history below for you, because they'll do a better job describing it than me! Otherwise, enjoy the pictures! (The one above is my favorite.)


"Thomas Drayton and his wife Ann arrived from Barbados to the new English colony of Charles Towne and established Magnolia Plantation along the Ashley River in 1679. Thomas and Ann were the first in a direct line of Magnolia family ownership that has lasted more than 300 years and continues to this day.

Magnolia Plantation saw immense wealth and growth through the cultivation of rice during the Colonial era. Later, British and American troops would occupy its grounds during the American Revolution, while the Drayton sons would become both statesmen and soldiers fighting against British rule.

The outbreak of the American Civil War would threaten the welfare of the family, the house, and the gardens themselves. But the plantation would recover from the war to see additional growth of the gardens as they became the focus of the plantation over agriculture when the gardens opened to the public for the first time in 1870 and saved the plantation from ruin. Since that time, the plantation and gardens have evolved and grown into one of the greatest public gardens in America with a rich history."

The original plantation house was burned when Sherman marched to the sea, but the lower level was reconstructed, and the upper level was built above it.


I love all the formal gardens, they're all wild and overgrown, and Spanish moss covers everything. They had 8 inches of rain THIS MONTH, so everything is very wet and soggy.

Lots of cypress trees, and standing water. And mosquitoes!!!!

There are lots of turtles and alligators in the river and the large lakes. Even some gators in the small ponds, like this one above. Actually, we were walking around the pond on the path, and there was this guy, a couple feet away.

Cypress, Spanish moss, palm trees, and roses. In one picture. :)

I love this tree...

Great egret

Gator sunning herself...

And just for Mom, here's your mockingbird!!!!