Magnolia Plantation

Yesterday, after spending the morning on the beach, we drove over to the Magnolia Plantation in Charleston.  The Magnolia Plantation is rich in history and boasts the largest public garden in America.  The property (now around 500 acres; it once was several thousand) has been owned by the Drayton family since Thomas Drayton and his wife Ann arrived from Barbados to the new English colony of Charles Towne and established it along the Ashley River in 1679.  I find it fascinating that the property has remained in the same family all this time...through the Revolutionary War and the Civil War...truly remarkable. 

The plantation home

We took a four mile ride through the property and heard many stories about the local flora, fauna and wildlife.  We even saw a few alligators peeking up through the "duck weed" that covered all the swamps (I thought it was pond scum - who knew it was a nutritious form of food for the birds!). 

A ride through the property

There was a street of slave cabins...two families would share this small structure!



John found all this fascinating...I remember going to Mt. Vernon at his age and feeling the same way!

After the tour of the property we went on a tour of the house and learned so many interesting things about the Drayton family.  They were extremely wealthy (obviously!), and this was their "country" home where they would come to go "camping."  Just like our place at Nolin Lake!

Awww, don't we look just like Mr. and Mrs. Drayton?? 

This morning it's a little windy (actually it's a lot windy) and drizzly, and Lawrence and his Dad have headed over to Kiawah to play what is described as the world's most challenging golf course, so the kids and I are going to putter around and see what kind of trouble we can get into.  Even a drizzly day on the beach is a good one!