In the last post The Gardens of Charleston we got a glimpse into a few private gardens in the city.
On the third day of the Digging In Gathering we visited two beautiful plantations outside of Charleston.
Middleton Place was our first stop. Our guide, Sydney Frazier, Vice President of Horticulture at Middleton Place, took us through the beautiful gardens. Middleton Place is the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States. So much history and beauty to take in here.
Fun Fact: A week after our visit Sydney, aka “the king of the camellias” was featured on the Today Show.
It was February when we visited, the camellias were gorgeous!
We finished our visit with a delicious traditional lowcountry lunch.
Our second stop was Magnolia Plantation which Travel + Leisure ranks as one of America’s most beautiful gardens to visit. While Middleton Place is a very formal and manicured garden, Magnolia Plantation is a natural, romantic, tranquil garden.
Our tour guide, Tom Johnson, Director of Gardens at Magnolia Plantation, led us around the gardens. One of the Digging In attendees, Diana from Bloom Container Gardens said it perfectly, “Both of our tour guides “fit,” their garden, Sydney was formal and manicured while Tom was natural and relaxed during his tour.” So true, each guide was a great representation of their garden!
There were so many paths to meander down and enjoy.
This peacock put on a show for us!
Thank you to Jennifer from Carolina Photosmith, she captured the beautiful photos in this post.
Two very different gardens but both equally great to visit if you go to Charleston!
