Magnolia Plantation

Eric let me pick all the places I wanted to go for my birthday weekend. The Magnolia Plantation was high on my list because of the gardens. It was among the highest ranked tourists sights in Charleston. Here's a little information about Magnolia Gardens:

 Magnolia has been selected as one of "America's Most Beautiful Gardens" (Travel + Leisure Magazine), and is the only garden honored with this distinction in the State of South Carolina! Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has survived the centuries and witnessed the history of our nation unfold before it from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. It is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, and the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1870 to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens. 

We got there a little later in the day so we didn't have a lot of time. We bought tickets for the nature train and the house tour. Once we finished the two tours, we didn't have time to walk through the gardens, but it was still an enjoyable time, and I know we will be back to see those gardens!! 

They also have a petting zoo and these peacocks were just wandering around the property.

 On the nature train, we saw tons of alligators up on these ramps below. Each ramp I have pictured is a different alligator. Some were huge!! These gators can live very long lives up to 100 years old sometimes.

Very interesting how these gators sunbathe with the turtles on the ramps like they are best friends. Little do the turtles know that they may be the gators next meal. They only eat once every 3-4 days, so they may sunbathe happily together for a few days before one comes up missing.

This one was huge

Here's a stork and her two babies in their huge nest. The gators wait right under her nest in case a baby drops to become his next meal.

See the gator

 Gators and turtles sunbathing again together.

Huge live oak tree close to 300 years old. These trees live hundreds of years and their limbs were incredibly long. Very little can take these down. They rarely fall to even hurricanes. Ironically, the one thing that can take them out is the little black ant. They eat the core and then when the strong winds blow, there is no strength left in the tree. I couldn't help but think this is a great analogy about life. Sometimes it is the small things that wear us down over time and reduce our strength..

A cypress knee is a distinctive structure forming above the roots of a cypress tree. Their function is unknown, but they are generally seen on trees growing in swamps. Some scientists have thought they may help in oxygenation to the tree's roots or assist in anchoring the tree in the soft, muddy soil.

I believe this is a common gallinule or common moorhen

More turtles sunbathing

Big and Little gators

Look closely to see the gator in the moss

We went on a tour of this house. It is called the Drayton mansion. It is on the property of the Magnolia Plantation. This whole property is owned by the Drayton family. There was quite an interesting history about this house. I love the beautiful wrap around porch that goes around the entire house. It's very beautiful. They were preparing for a wedding while we were there.

Mossy trees in South Carolina with a little of the wedding party at the bottom

The back of the house backs up to the river not far away. This was instrumental in the British Attack of 1780.

Back side of house

Heading back into town