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Perhaps the oldest unrestored garden in America is Flowerdale, the
formal Snapdragon Garden, dating back to 1680. Its triangular beds, filled
with annuals and enclosed by boxwoods, have two Camellia plants that were
added in 1840—when the garden was 150 years old. Growing from its original
10 acres to its present 50 acres, the garden is a popular spot for millions
far and wide.
The Zoo and Nature Center is a favorite for children of all ages, where
visitors may pet and feed the animals, which include the always-popular
whitetail deer and pygmy goats.
The Maze replicates the famous maze at Hampton Court in England. But, in
this copy, over 500 Camellia sasanqua are interspersed with Burford holly,
to form an extensive 1/4-mile puzzle in which visitors try to find the
easiest way in and out. Amazingly, no one has ever been permanently lost.
The core of the Plantation House was built prior to the Revolutionary War
near Summerville, SC. It was floated down the Ashley River after the Civil
War and located at its present position. The ½-hour tour gives visitors a
glimpse of the 10 open rooms that are furnished with early-American
antiques, porcelain, quilts and other Drayton family heirlooms. As you
stroll the grounds, look for the Drayton Oak Tree, Drayton Tomb, Cypress
Lake, the Barbados Tropical Gardens the Camellia Collection, and the
Biblical Garden.
The Audubon Swamp Garden, formed from 60 acres of black water in a cypress
swamp, is unique with trees growing out of the water and animals coexisting
in the darkest of waters and old trees. Its eerie beauty is home to scores
of water-loving creatures: birds, mammals and reptiles, including
alligators, and maybe a river otter. Hundreds of egrets, heron and other
waterfowl nest only a few feet from where visitors walk. Nature lovers and
students will find its diversity unequaled. This wild and otherwise
inaccessible area is traversed by boardwalks, dikes and bridges that put the
visitors closer and in eye contact with the inhabitants. More than 224
species of birds have been documented here in a single year.
The Nature Train tour lets visitors experience history and wildlife in the
plantation’s wetlands, forests, and marshes. Naturalist guides point out the
alligators sunning, or sliding off the banks into the water, and numbers of
turtles, egrets and herons as the boat passes their native habitats.
If you’re going:
It’s around 200 miles from Charlotte, about a 3 1/2-hour drive, one-way.
Take I-77 from Charlotte through Columbia, SC and take I-26 towards
Charleston to exit 199A, US 17 Alt to SR 165 then turn left onto SR 61
(Ashley River Rd.) to the Plantation at 3550 Ashley River Road.
The basic admission ticket gives visitors access to the Gardens and
Grounds—which include the main gardens, the Swamp Garden, Barbados Tropical
Greenhouse, the Petting Zoo, the Antebellum Cabin, the Orientation Theater,
the horticultural Maze, the Biblical Garden and the Wildlife Observation
Tower.
Peacock Café has a variety of sandwiches and drinks. A gift shop, offering a
selection of some of the most extensive and unique gifts in Charleston, is
located on the ground floor of the main building.
Basic admission: adults (13+)$15; Seniors $14; ages 6-12 $9; open 365 days a
year; hours vary according to season. There’s an additional charge for the
Plantation House Tours, Nature Train, Nature Boat and Audubon Swamp. Call
(800) 367-3517 for details and prices of other attractions.
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