June 2009

Back in Cambridge, Maryland on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay we hurried to complete out summer refit. A whole new head proved to be nearly the same cost as replacement parts we needed no so that was a ‘no-brainer’ and a lot easier to complete. Our big hurry was to visit Skip and Harriet near Baltimore and then drive a rental vehicle to Charleston for the wedding of Elaine and Jason and to meet up with Mark, Bridget, Aspen and Christopher as well as Mark and Elaine’s family.
We took advantage of the visit and our car to get to the grand plantation houses close to Charleston. The first one was Middleton Place House which had been built in the early 17th century. In 1855 two detached flanking buildings were added as a library and quarters for gentlemen guests. Sadly all but the library was destroyed in the Civil War and this was later restored as the family home, now a fascinating museum.

These were the old steps and main passageway through the destroyed family house at Middleton Place - the steps face the Ashley River

As documents in the museum show the family had pledged much of their wealth to the Confederate cause and were therefore much less wealthy after the war. The frontage of the estate was towards the Ashley River as in earlier time all the visitors and supplies would have arrived by boat.
The landscaping of the gardens is very beautiful and wildlife abounds. The old slave housing was destroyed by the Union army when the house was burned out. The freed slaves found that there was no easy way to live away from the shelter of the plantation and soon returned to work in exchange for accommodation and token wages. They were so important that new ‘slave’ housing was built for them before the family had sorted out there own housing plans!
Many of the old farm buildings have been preserved and there were demonstrations of old trades such as weaving and cooperage. Indigo was one of the crops grown here for dyeing in addition to rice.planting.

This is the current Middleton Place but was originally the library and one of the two 'flankers'
A dragonfly sunning on a step
Eliza's House housed the former slaves after the Civil War until 1986 when Eliza Lewis died aged 94
The Spring House had water channels flowing through the basement to keep jars of food cool and the upper floor was converted to a chapel for family and slaves
A great egret hunting in the mill pond...
...and with great success!
This comorant-like bird is actually an anhinga or snake bird - note the beak is not hooked like the cormorants
There are many water lily filled ponds in the gardens
This one of the largest crepe myrtle trees known
This cheeky dragon fly landed on the beak of a hunting great egret!

For both of us this was a magnificent day out and we especially liked wandering through the old formal gardens between the house and the Ashley River. They are beautifully maintained and every time you turn a new corner there is another bird, animal or plant that demands your attention.
The herons and egrets remain my favourites. They are vicious and successful predators but look for all the world like ballet dancers in slow motion as they stalk their prey. At the last moment there is a lunge of such speed and precision that they rarely seem to miss their target and go hungry!

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