More Tidbits from Charleston

After showing you the beautiful homes in Charleston (YESTERDAY'S POST), I wanted to share more from Charleston, SC with you today. We were there in June of '08 and the Crepe Myrtles were in bloom and gorgeous. You can see some in the top photo. People tell me that Spring is the best time to go because of the Azaleas which are in bloom then. More photos are below.

See the fern growing on this Live Oak tree? It is called Resurrection Fern... Interesting, huh?

For all of you gardeners out there, how do you like this landscaping???? Note the ivy (or ground cover) even on the steps!!!!! Wooooooo!

Looks like this house is going through some renovation. BUT--that's not why I included it. I wanted to show you the DOOR. I didn't know this, but many Charleston homes have a 'false' door---which only leads onto the porch area , and not into the home itself.

What material is this house made from???? Stone???? Well---NO. People who build (or renovate) homes in Charleston 'try' to keep these homes in the Charleston historic style. This home is 'really' WOOD... But, it is made to look like stone. Interesting, huh????

When George and I visit places, we try to find out everything we can about the area. This little tidbit is interesting I think. After the huge earthquake in 1886, the older homes in Charleston got 'earthquake rods' --which helped straighten the walls of the houses. See the rod running across this home? Did you know this? I didn't before that trip.

This picture is a tad blurry ---but I wanted you to see the turnbuckle where the rods can be adjusted to reenforce homes that were damaged or cracked by the earthquake.

Finally, here is a picture taken from the Battery of Fort Sumpter. We didn't get out to Fort Sumpter while we were there --but George has been there. Neal and family visited there recently.

Charleston is really a gorgeous, old southern city. Visit it if you get a chance--and while you are there, ask questions and learn about the things you see. I personally spent WAY too many years ignoring so much around me...

Hugs,

P.S. I found a new gadget on Blogger yesterday which I hadn't noticed before. It's a "Search" gadget. I put it on my sidebar, and asked it to search my blog only. SO--if you are looking for all of my posts on something specific (such as Tallulah Gorge or Bluebirds), you can type that into the search box, and they will come up for you. I have been yearning for some kind of index (other than the labels), or a table of contents. This is at least a start!!!!!

Gorgeous Charleston Homes

When friend NEAL and his family visited the Charleston area recently, it reminded me that we were there in June of 2008 (for our anniversary) --and that I haven't posted very many pictures from that area yet. SO --today I will share with you some of the gorgeous homes we saw in the Battery area on our visit to Charleston, SC.

In the picture above, I was interested in seeing what I called the "Widow's Walk" at the top of this house. The term "Widow's Walk" began years ago --when women would stand there watching for their men to come home from sea. I found out that this room is now used for ventilation (free air conditioning since heat rises).

This beauty on the Battery is known now as "Two Meeting Street Inn". Wealthy merchant George Williams purchased this house for his daughter, Martha, and her new husband, Jeweler Waring Carrington, after their marriage in l890. The Spell family bought the house in 1946--and still runs this beautiful B&B.

After buying his daughter her home, Daddy (George Williams) bought this 'tiny' house down the street... ha.... It is known as the Calhoun Mansion, and has 35 rooms and 23 fireplaces.... Wooooooooo!!!

Here is one of my favorite homes in Charleston. I think the gorgeous porches attract me to it.

We took a tour on one of their mule-drawn carriages --and enjoyed it very much (since we learned so much from the tour guide). The guide told us that we could rent the entire 2nd floor of this house ---for only $4000 a month!!!! AND that was in 2008.... Wonder what it rents for now?????? Want it?

This beautiful home is located in a perfect location--near the 'point' of the Battery. If you have not been to Charleston, you may not know that the Battery is the area (park) at the end of Charleston peninsula that used to serve as defensive batteries to protect the city if Fort Sumpter fell.

I have many more pictures to share from Charleston and that trip we took in 2008, so watch for future posts. If you ever get to Charleston, be sure and visit the Battery!!!

Have a great Friday.

Hugs,