The last time I was in Charleston missed the turn into my cousin’s development, but that meant I drove right past this gem of a place. I knew I’d want to visit when I came back this time. It was founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, and consequently endured and survived our county’s history as the country was born, and as it struggled with the American Revolution as well as the Civil War. It’s said to be the oldest public garden in the county, opening in 1870, and continuing today.
The beautiful wisteria caught my eye when I arrived.And this bench was a pretty sight also.But the peacocks were calling me. You could hear them throughout the garden, so I went to the little zoo before I went exploring.Nature does provide us with beautiful creatures.Three of them were strutting their stuff, but this gal didn’t seem to be impressed.Come walk with me.Such a pretty view.I loved this pond with it’s beautiful reflections.And this red bridge with cascades of flowers dripping from it.I took so many pictures of this bridge.Come around a bed in the path and you come upon another pretty scene.I thought of ‘Tiptoe through the tulips’,except they are azaleas. They really were a little past their prime, but still so amazingly beautiful.You might need a rest by now.There was a $20 charge for the gardens, in which I walked 2 1/2 miles. But for an extra charge you might want to tour the house, or take this boat tour, or walk the Audubon swamp tour, and/or more. I can return once more using my ticket, so I want to go back, but I don’t know which tour I want to choose.There were lots of these fat bumble bees around, and I was happy to see them since they’ve seemed scarce anywhere I’ve been lately. And they gave me a reason to concentrate on the flowers themselves.This was a very long distance shot from the wildlife observation tower. The horses were the only wildlife I saw.The family tomb.Another pretty path to lure you in. I’m sure I missed more paths than I actually walked.And after walking paths with lots of helpful signage, I eventually was off by myself, on paths with no signage, and hopefully not lost, but I found a butterfly…
I’ve hardly put a dent in the pictures I took today. It was a good day.
A Snowbird's Life Through the Lens 