Lowcounty Wildlife

 I was taking a picture of the bird with his wings spread and when I got home and looked at it, lo and behold there is at least one alligator, maybe two.  You need to click and enlarge this one to see all the wildlife.

 There was a nice lady sitting on a bench with her two little dogs watching all the "ducks".  She corrected me and I am so grateful - this is a "Coot".

And there was no one around to tell me about these guys who were swimming and, I assume, eating dinner in the green algae.

Camellias

Not only did we see alligators yesterday but the camellias were just beginning.  I think the extra cold winter we are having has slowed them down a bit.  This picture had an extra bonus.  Can you see the little insect that is hiding inside?

Ah, The Warm Sunshine

I guess I was not the only one enjoying the sun today!  I was fortunate to be able to visit Magnolia Plantation and Gardens today and saw more alligators than usual.  I think it must have been that the winter has been so cold and today was warm so they came out to enjoy the sun, just like the turtles did!

Cypress Gardens Canoe Ride

 

This is the view from our canoe at Cypress Gardens.  You can even see the little white arrow directing us on our way. 

Ms. Peacock

Mr. Peacock

Mr. Peacock lives at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens - one of my favorite places on earth!

Windows and Doors

Charming - that is what Charleston is!

Butterfly

A summer picture to remind us of the warm days to come.

Old Oak Tree

Here is another picture from Palmetto Isles Park in Mount Pleasant.  The old oak tree hangs gracefully over the tidal creek in the marsh.  Actually this is a little island in the park - completely surrounded by the marshlands.

Palmetto Isles Park

I never tire of the marshes.  Today I went to the park just with my dog, Jake.  We found a bench where we could just sit and enjoy the view.  It was sunny but the temperature was only about 45 degrees F.  The park was quite busy for a cold winter day so I guess the cold didn't bother others any more than it did me.

Paper Factory

The KapStone Paper Factory in North Charleston employes almost 1500 local people.  It is one of Charleston's largest employers and everyday it's plums of steam tell me the direction of the wind. It sits on the banks of the Cooper River and I drive over that bridge every day on my way to work and always want to stop on the bridge and take pictures.  I think the factory is beautiful.  It is painted a lovely sky blue and has towers and lights and great reflection in the sunlight.  I will keep trying to find ways to get better pictures of it but the only real way is probably a boat or an airplane!  So, to see this properly, you need to click on the picture and enlarge it.

Saint John's Yacht Harbor

I love the marina's in Charleston and since I have lived on a sailboat and traveled the east and west coasts on a boat, I can say that the marina's here are VERY nice.  The best part is that they are floating docks.  Until you have struggled to get off or on your boat at very high or very low tide, you just can't fully appreciate how wonderful it is to have the dock float to the same height as the boat!

A Day at the Park

Palmetto Isles Park in Mount Pleasant has a tall look-out tower with fantastic views of the surrounding marshes.  Please click on the picture to enjoy it.

Azalea Time

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This is the way Magnolia Plantation looks in April.  We were about 2 weeks after the peak so they were not at their best but just look at that profusion of color.  It wrapped itself around us as we walked down the trails.  This is a MUST SEE if you are in Charleston in the spring!!

Rice

Rice was a major industry in South Carolina at one time.  All of the plantations had rice paddies and slaves to work them.  After the Civil War, when there was no longer free labor, the rice fields dried up.  At Middleton Place Plantation they have a great display of a rice paddy today.

Flower

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I found the wonderful flower at Middleton Plantation and Gardens.  I don't know what it is but I love it!

A Spring Garden

This was taken last spring.  I certainly will welcome the spring flowers to the wonderful Charleston gardens - the sooner the better so that I can get back out there and take pretty pictures!

Marshes in the Winter

Winter in Charleston - we lose so much of our green and we don't get snow (as a rule) so our winters don't have much wonderful color.  Last weekend I took a short walk out to a marsh and got some beautiful views.  The marshes are all brown for the winter and the leaves are gone for the season. But I think the marshes are great year round.  They are my favorite part of the lowcountry.

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Carriage Rides

No visit to Charleston is complete without a Carriage Ride.  You will learn so much about the history of Charleston and that will make your visit much more meaningful.  Take your tour first thing as it will help you decide what areas you want to visit more.  Churches, cemeteries, parks, museums, colonial homes - they are all a part of the tours along with some amazing ghost stories!

Swamp Walk

I never tire of walks in the swamp gardens.  This was at Magnolia Swamp Gardens.

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