Hampton-Preston Mansion

The Hampton-Preston Mansion is part of Historic Columbia in South Carolina. Built in 1818, it changed hands many times until is was taken over by the city.

This past Sunday was the unveiling of a new greenhouse on site.

This greenhouse will be used by the city for growing and storing plants as well as educating the public.

In 1823 the home was sold to Wade Hampton, one of the south's wealthiest planters. 

As beautiful as the home is, it can not be ignored that many were enslaved here.

Today one can tour the mansion to learn of its dark past under the Hampton and Preston families.

Within the 100 years following the Civil War it had various owners including a college.

In 1970 it was deemed a historic site by the City of Columbia.

None of the antiques here are original to the house but give one the idea of how it would have looked in the 1800s.

Considering what happened here makes it bitter sweet enjoying the walk through.

This southern front porch is much grander than that of our home!

Afterwards we checked out the new attraction where local PBS personality, Amanda McNulty of Making it Grow spoke of the state of our land in South Carolina. This included how we can better respect and protect our properties, particularly with regards to tilling, fertilizing and watering.

It will be wonderful to see the greenhouse filled with plants in the future!

We strolled the gardens to see what was in bloom.

Camellias were still going strong!

Daffodils start blooming in February here, then all through March.

A variety of orange that grows here has been planted in multiple locations.

The Mid Carolina Camellia Society was present. After a discussion of these beauties we are considering planting these beauties again in our yard. Most are shade loving, not compatible with our property. However there are a couple of varieties that can handle sun.

It was unseasonably cold last weekend. The temperatures even dropped into the 20sF overnight! Crazy! The azaleas did not appreciate this and were quite droopy.

A few lucky blooms handled it ok.

We have this flowering plant in our yard and apparently you can train it for arches and arbors!

Irises are popping up.

These are probably weeds but so pretty.

There is a new gatehouse entrance to the garden/

It was a cold, but enjoyable day!

If you go, the mansion is located at 

1615 Blanding Street

Columbia, SC

website

With reduced capacity, I would recommend referring to their website before venturing here to make sure they will be open.

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val

Autumn Gardens

Here are photos of an autum stroll through the historic district of Columbia, SC.

 There are some fall flowers around but the surroundings were mostly green.

One of my favorite trees is the mimosa (below) for its leaves. In the spring it is covered in pretty feather like flowers. This tree was introduced here from Asia in 1785 and planted in Charleston. These beauties are actually invasive so they now grow wild here as well in planned gardens.

The sky was so beautiful that day showcasing the marvelous variety of trees here.

This is the Hampton Prescott House.

A large greenhouse is being constructed on the grounds here that will be open to the public in the spring. It will be a hub for propagating and researching plants under the historic district's care. 

Holly trees are covered in beautiful berries.

Some bottle brushes are hanging on.

Across the street is the Robert Mills House.

The rose garden is still blooming.

I'm in love with the buds below. The flowers leave behind this waxy looking tulip shape that is gorgeous.

The romantic garden here features various sitting nooks.

I love what is done here with the stone and plantings in the crevices.

The hydrangeas are all dried up. I find them just as pretty now as when in bloom.

It had been years since we strolled here due to the pandemic so being back here was an extra sweet treat.

If you go, the visitor's center is located at 1601 Richland Street in Columbia, SC. The gardens are open Tuesday thru Sunday, free to the public. House tours are offered too for a small fee.

Website

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val