Alligator

This big boy was swimming in the swamp with us.  Fortunately we were in a boat.  The alligators at Cypress Gardens don't pay any attention to the boats or the people and if you try to get close for a better look, they will swim away.  I used a telephoto lens for this so we really weren't this close!  I do respect them!

You really need to click on this photo to enlarge it so you can see him better!

Hilton Head

A favorite vacation destination is Hilton Head Island which is about 2 hours drive south of Charleston.

Under the Pier

I took this standing under the Folly Beach Pier watching the rising tide come in.  You really need to enlarge this one to see the spray of water.  Just click on the picture and then use your browser back button to return.

Lily Pads 2

Here is another Lily Pad flower.  I just love them!

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Lily Pads

This picture says it all!  Just look how that Lily has pushed its way up to the sun, through the deep dark forest of leaves.

You need to click on it and enlarge it to really appreciate it.

Springtime Nesting

I hope you don't expect all the pictures to be in a chronological order! This one was taken in early summer.

Magnolia Gardens Swamp Walk is one of my favorite places because of all the wildlife there. In early summer it is just loaded with Egrets.

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Magnolia Cemetery

I have always had a fascination for cemeteries and there are plenty of them in the Charleston area to please even me!  I would like to know the story behind each headstone.

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Palmetto Isles Park

 We have the most wonderful public parks here in the lowcountry.  Here is a view of the tidal creek at Palmetto Isles Park in Mount Pleasant.  Peaceful.

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Green Alligator

Here is a picture of an alligator covered in the Green Goo!  Do you think he cares!  Click on the picture to enlarge it and you will see that just the top of his head and his eyes stay above water (and green goo!).

Swamps

The swamps absolutely amaze me!  There is this green goo (algae) all over the water that makes it a glorious color of green.  Alligators live in it and when they come out they are covered with the green mess.  There are many alligators here at Magnolia Gardens Swamp Walk but the odds of running across one near you are pretty slim.  I love all the wild life as I walk through on the boardwalk.  But I always wonder - who built the boardwalk?

Bridges

I took this picture from the top of the Holiday Inn - looking over the Ashley River bridges to the peninsula and on to the Arthur Ravenel Bridge which goes to  Mount Pleasant.  Those buildings you see are just about as tall as they get in Charleston.  No high-rises for us!

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The Cooper

Whenever we visit Middleton Plantation we always make a point of going to see the cooper who works there.  He is so entertaining and knowledgeable about the history of Charleston and the way of life on the plantations.  Don't miss him when you visit!

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Alleys and Walkways

Walking the streets of Charleston you will see so many little allies and walkways.  Always green and full of flowers no matter what time of the year. 

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Cypress Gardens View

We were riding in the little row boat at Cypress Gardens when I noticed how wonderfully tall and majestic the trees were!  The sun was peaking out too!

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Angel Oak Tree

The Angel Oak is on John's Island and is estimated to be in excess of 1400 years old. It stands 65 ft tall, measures 28 ft in circumference, and shades with its crown an area of 17,000 square feet. It's widest crown spread point-to-point is 180 ft, which is longer than any other live oak in the country. Its longest limb is 105 feetin length.

It is awesome to stand and look at it!

Egret

A Great White Egret spotted on one of our walks.

King Street

Shopping on King Street

A Gazebo View

This view of Magnolia Gardens is from last April.  The azaleas were just majestic!

Lowcountry Tidal Creek

This is so typical of any home that is on a tidal creek in the lowcountry.  You have to have a long dock to get out to your shallow draft boat to go fishing on the creeks.    

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Colorful Charleston Home

Some Charleston homes are very colorful!