Nov. 6, 2014
Lake Aire RV Park
Charleston, SC
There were 3 plantations to see so we picked Magnolia Plantation because with a can of food you could buy one admission and get the second one free. (This offer is good in Nov. & Dec.) Like Brookgreen the admission is good for 7 days. There were many things to do besides seeing the gardens, each costing $8. We chose to do the nature train to see the whole plantation in a 45 minute tour and the House Tour leaving the Slave Cabins Tour and Boat Tour on the river for another time.
Being the lowland there is lots of water full of wildlife, birds, and alligators. They have built platforms to allow the alligators to sun themselves away from the trails around the lakes.
The turtles like the platforms too.
Plenty of alligators on the nature tour.
Magnolia Plantation and gardens is 70 acres located on the Ashley River. It is one of the oldest plantations in the south dating back to 1676. Thomas and Ann Drayton built the first house and small formal garden on the site. The plantation remains under the control of the Drayton family after 15 generations.
Magnolia was originally a rice plantation, with extensive earthworks of dams and dikes built in fields along the river. African slaves from rice-growing regions created the works.
Another tour to take at Magnolia is the Slave cabins. As time went on, the slaves developed a creolized Gullah language and culture, retaining many elements from Africa.
There are also swamps with green water that are home to many animals and birds.
The gardens were not as manicured as Brookgreen but beautiful just the same.
A lot of ancient oak trees with spanish moss hanging everywhere.
There are several bridges that cross the water on your tour of the gardens.
This is part of the formal gardens established in 1676.
Some of the statues look like they have been here a long time.
The paths are inviting. We could only imagine how beautiful they are in the spring with flowers blooming everywhere.
We were welcomed for the house tour by the plantation cat.
View from the front of the house that faces the river.
More Gardens around the house.
When Rev. John Drayton took control of the plantation he did something most unusual. He taught all his slave how to read and write, which was highly illegal at that time. Also in that time it was expected that you handed down your property to the next male in the family but he left it to his oldest daughter who managed it well.
The conservatory really got Lonnie's attention. All your favorite house plants were flourishing in the moist greenhouse.
Many orchids were blooming.
Some plants we have never seen.
Beautiful surroundings.
This Oak was estimated to be 600 years old. There were many old oaks everywhere.
We will be staying here until Sunday when we will be heading to Hunting Island State Park for more time on the Atlantic Ocean. We're hoping for some good weather.
Becky and Lonnie
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