Touring South Carolina’s Lowcountry
“Home isn’t where you’re from, it’s where you find light when all grows dark.”
Pierce Brown
MAGNIFICENT MARSH
This week Krista has asked us to give a virtual tour of our world. It’s been a very busy few weeks here but I couldn’t miss a chance to highlight some of the incredible beauty with which I’m fortunate to be surrounded every single day.
GRAND OAKS
“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.”
Gary Snyder
As noted in my opening quote, South Carolina is not where I’m “from” – that would be the northeastern US where the winters are cold and the roads are busy. Don’t get me wrong, there are some magnificent vistas in the north, but here in the lowcountry it’s hard to drive a mile without seeing something breathtaking. We are surrounded by the peaceful views of our beautiful marshes which are further enhanced by the majesty of live oak trees clothed in lovely Spanish mosses.
BEACH SCENE
“If light is in you, you will find your way home.”
Rumi
Of course we are best known for our beautiful 10-mile-long beach, which is NEVER crowded and always wonderfully photogenic. The waters are warm and the sands often present treasures like starfish, sand dollars and ghost crabs for those on the hunt. Birds love our beaches and along with gulls and terns they also provide welcome respite for endangered species like red knots and piping plovers.
GAP-TOOTHED GATOR
“The best part of going away for a vacation is coming home again.”
Madeleine l’Engle
Beyond the beautiful scenery, our area is filled with incredible wildlife who seem to enjoy our scenery as much as we do. I’ve posted this alligator capture before as it’s one of my favorites. We see these prehistoric creatures everywhere and know they won’t bother us if we don’t bother them. For the most part we find them drowsily basking in the southern sun or lurking in our ponds and lagoons. It’s not often we catch them with mouths wide open seemingly enjoying playtime with the local plant life!
HAPPY DOLPHIN
“Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Speaking of our beaches, our area is well-known for its dolphins – recently featured on National Geographic’s Predator series. It seems the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia are the only places in the world where dolphins work as a team to corral bait fish and push them onto the beach. They then follow them onto the beach to feast before sliding back into the water. I’ve been fortunate to have seen this behavior several time and it truly is an amazing sight.
CHARLESTON BATTERY
“If there is such a thing as complete happiness, it is knowing that you are in the right place.”
Fanny Flag
Finally, if one tires of being surrounded by peaceful beauty and nature, we are a mere 30-minute drive from the delightful city of Charleston – home to wonderful restaurants, music, theatre and a great deal of interesting history.
Our little island may not be right for everyone, but it’s certainly the right place for me 😊
WPC: Tour Guide
God! What a blessed place !!
It is that Anjana, well said!