Finally Friday - Stroll the Grounds

 Prior  to the house tour, we strolled  the grounds.  I could  picture  men and women in their finery, enjoying the scenery. 

The money crop here was rice.  Dangerous  work for  the enslaved peoples who  worked the  land. 

Meanwhile, flowers

Tall  oaks

and the danger of alligators.   We took the nature tour tram, and this fellow was happy to pose. 

I did not take any pictures in  the  house, but it was quite spacious. It was on its third or fourth iteration due to fires. A lightning storm burned  the first homestead.  Civil War battle remnants and cannon  fire caused another house  fire. Each time it was rebuilt and  expanded due to growing families and wealth. The Draytons, of course, had a home in Charleston for the high season.  But it was nice to move the  party to  the  "country" too.  

Whatever Wednesday - Magnolia Plantation

 In  between beach times, we did venture out for some  history.  Magnolia Plantation and Gardens proved to be lovely and interesting. 

Greeted by a peacock

Maypole and flowers in one of the lush garden areas

I believe a cherub statue is a requirement

bird, bridge, and a bit of a boggy marsh area

Two tourists