In spring, Charleston is filled with flowers. Azaleas, rhododendron, camelias, daffodils and irises pop up in every color. There’s no better place to enjoy the coming of spring than at the many plantation gardens on Ashley River road, with Magnolia Gardens being one of the favorites.
On this early April day, the gardens were busy, but they are so vast that there was plenty of room to spread out. We started with a visit to the petting zoo. I couldn’t resist petting the bunny and deer! This is great for kids, but please keep the under control and don’t let them chase the ducks!
Next, we watched the historical video provided in a small building near the main entrance. The Drayton family established Magnolia Plantation and kept it alive for 300 years- continuing to this day- through wars, near bankruptcy and hurricanes. In fact, Magnolia Gardens it the United States’ first man-made tourist attraction: Rev Drayton opened the gardens to the public in an effort to save them after the Civil War.
Of course the most wonderful thing about Magnolia Plantation is the sprawling gardens. With bridges, countless blooming trees and plants, wildlife and the beautiful Ashley River as a background, one could wander for hours exploring every pathway. Adorable ponds are decorated with lilies and statues of angels or lions. But bring your bug spray! The mosquitoes are relentless, especially near the water. Swarms followed us around, trying to find an un-DEET-ed spot to bite!
If you have the inclination, you can climb a 4-story observation tower and scour the wetlands for wildlife. Perhaps you will spot an alligator or two! Just don’t forget your binoculars.
A boat tour can take you (for an additional fee) around the grasses in the river for a more up-close view of the plants an animals the find their home on the Ashley River. These guided tours are great for bird watching, botany enthusiasts or anyone curious about the ecosystem of the lowcountry.
Tours of the Drayton’s plantation home are also available. The home was burned during the Civil War, but a portion dates to before the Revolutionary War- it was transported from nearby Summerville and placed on the site of the old plantation home. Later expansions have left the house the way it is today.
Practical Travel 