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

Shadows

It has been a while since I posted shadows. Here are some of my favorites since my last post.

This is the back of a bench on one of the riverwalks we enjoy.

On the beach.

Random objects can create cool shadows.

Gorgeous places like Savannah have amazing wrought iron shadows.

Banana leaves with shadows from plants behind them are always a favorite for me.

I love how this rock looks painted or perhaps covered in lace.

This tree appears abstractly painted.

Another shadow selfie.

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

Cute Fun

During a visit to the zoo last week, there was lot of activity. I don't normally film but could not help it this time! The videos are a cut off somewhat (not sure why).

Here the little guy was annoying his big daddy. Dad was just not having it anymore, hence the swipe. The little one kept going back for more which made it amusing and less like abuse as it would appear in humans.

We don't normally get to be so close to Bill. We were able to observe his chow time.

The siamings are hysterical when they are hootin' and hollerin' (what they are known for). This one requires sound!

Sloth movement is a rare sight to see since these guys usually just sleep. This one just finished breakfast. He moved ever so slowly!

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

A Hotel Lobby

I am still catching up on blogging photos before spring arrives and we start living again. This collection of photos is from a JW Marriott in the new/old section of the Savannah, Georgia waterfront. 

This amazing space is like a museum of natural history.

It is filled with dinosaur and under the sea fossils, gigantic gems and more.

I know you are amused by the shape of this massive one below.

We stumbled upon this lobby when walking through a connected art gallery.

It took us a while to realize it was a hotel lobby. 

Kids would love wandering and wondering in this space. Those windows are hotel rooms in the lobby. I would imagine the noise can be crazy here with all the activity going on.

Kiosks are here too, marketing beautiful goods. That is the butt of a T-Rex suspended from the ceiling below.

I would recommend checking out Plant Riverside (as this newer section of river front is named) for anyone visiting Savannah. It is an amazing feast for the eyes! Below is part of the hotel lobby check in. Gorgeous.

Since this is a historic building, once a power plant, aspects have been preserved and highlighted.

These guys are in a cafe just off the lobby.

I am really looking forward to going back since the renovation of old buildings along the waterfront was still a work in progress when we were there. This hotel spans 3 buildings, the third due to open this year.

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