Stories from the Lowcountry

Greetings from Beaufort, SC (and the Sea Islands).

This antebellum home was the mother's home in the movie based on Pat Conroy's The Prince of Tides. Notice the fancy detail on the uppermost columns, then look at the rest. It is said that on "The Point" (a posh neighborhood in the historical district of Beaufort, SC) residents built to impress. Most people arrived by boat back then, so the top of the home was seen first. Thus, basic squares on all but the highest columns.

This white house was rented by both Sally Fields and Nick Nolte during movies. The oak in front of it is called an Angel Oak - so named after the first family to own (or have) the tree.

Another antebellum home that is too perfect not too include. Notice the blue ceilings. Many of these homes have blue ceilings. It reflects Gullah culture superstitions. Like yesterday in Savannah, the topic of ghosts (and children's ghost playmates) is common. Anyway, the fear of hags and haints (think haunts as in ghosts, but worse!) was real and it was (is) believed that the color blue represented happy/good/sky - therefore, heaven - and would keep the haints away. The blue bottle trees (in the flower pic below) serve the same purpose and I've seen them on streets and in yards in various sizes. The spooks are believed to be too curious not to enter the bottles at night. But once they climb in, they're trapped! By morning, they are destroyed.

This life philosophy hangs on the office door of the local chocolate shop. Dontcha just love it?!

This is a bizarre shrub that I don't think I've ever seen before. It's called a Chenille. The blooms look and feel like a caterpillar or cat's tail.

Ruins of the Old Sheldon Church. It's about 25mi north of downtown Beaufort and worth the drive. Bring bug spray! It was first constructed 1745-55, but burned in 1779 by the British. Rebuilt 1826, but destroyed by the Federal Army in 1865. It was never rebuilt. An annual service is still held here on the second Sunday after Easter.

The South Carolina Lowcountry - a stretch of state that is near or below sea level. All of these were taken during a low tide.

I know this is going to sound a bit crazy, but two months just isn't enough time for the southern states much less the entire Atlantic Coast!