Glimpses of Charleston

A local's eye view

Flowers/Gardens

The graveyard at the Unitarian Church in Charleston. Beautiful in its more wild state than other graveyards in Charleston.
It's Confederate, or Star, Jasmine time in Charleston. This house, which is the first house build on Murray Boulevard, has some pretty impressive displays of it.
The Confederate or Star Jasmine is in bloom all over Charleston (seemingly a bit early this year). Here it shares its sweet fragrance with some roses in front of a beautiful fountain and house. So Charleston.
These beautiful roses, climbing up the Palmetto trees on Rutledge Avenue along Colonial Lake, are a wonderful addition planted by the Charleston Parks Conservancy. It sure is a pretty time of year to be out there to enjoy them
This beautiful scene can be found on the north side of  Tradd Street in Charleston.
Located at the corner of Tradd and Greenhill Streets, the cannon showing under the blooming roses is an authentic piece of artillery. It was found a few years ago under the house when it was undergoing a renovation. A pretty cool find!
The graveyard of the Unitarian Church on Archdale Street helps anchor one end of the Gateway Walk -- a wonderful path that crosses a number of graveyards and other significant properties. (You can find a map of the Walk here.) It begins by St. John's Lutheran Church, next to the Unitarian Church, and winds over to Church Street ending by St. Philip's Church. What a walk!
These wonderful window boxes, featuring some gorgeous hydrangeas, are located on Church Street across from "goat. sheep. cow." -- a cool little wine and cheese shop (which now has a larger younger sister on upper Meeting Street -- but no hydrangeas).
The beautiful graveyard of the Unitarian Church is wonderful to wander through any time of the year, but when flowers are in bloom it is especially memorable. The construction of church itself (the second oldest in Charleston) began in 1772, when the Society of Dissenters decided they needed more space in which to worship. Due to the American Revolutionary War, the building wasn't completed and dedicated until 1787 -- and it wasn't rechartered as a Unitarian church until 1839.
These beautiful azaleas are on the north side of White Point Garden. Not White Point Gardens. Not Battery Park, White Point Garden -- no "s." 
With many Charleston houses fronting right up to the sidewalk, window boxes play a big role as really small front yards. These beautiful ones can be found on Legare Street, where the rest of the yards are pretty big!
The beautiful azaleas border the northeast corner of White Point Garden -- right by where the famed pirate,  Stede Bonnet, was hanged in 1718.  Known as the "Gentleman Pirate" because of he was a landowner and fairly wealthy before turning to piracy, Bonnet allegedly turned to piracy after some marital problems -- despite not having much sailing experience. Perhaps another career path would have been a better choice.
An inviting Charleston entry on Rutledge Avenue. And blooming azaleas make anything look more welcoming.
Dressed up in purple for the spring, the Edmonston-Alston House (circa 1825) is one of the beautiful residences along East Battery. Now operated as a museum by the Middleton Place Foundation, it is open to the public. Enjoy a visit!
This wonderful spring scene on Rutledge Avenue is set in front of a house that was built in 1850 by a transplanted New Englander, James Taylor. While sharing the name, he was not inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 -- that was this James Taylor, who had Carolina in his mind (NC, but close enough).
This beautiful Charleston driveway serves the spectacular  Simmons-Edwards House, also known as the Pineapple Gates House, on Legare Street. It's an amazing property, including a wonderfully restored garden.
Even with the sub-freezing weather that Charleston has experienced this year, camellias are blooming. The pink blossoms help brighten some of the grey days.
Magical Charleston. This fountain of light can be found in the Chapel Street Fountain Park, a little pocket park on Chapel Street.
Charleston is well known for its amazing gardens. This spectacular one, on Legare Street, tracks its earlier likeness following extraordinary amount archaeological research to ensure its accuracy.
This lush yard, in front of a beautiful downtown Charleston house on Vanderhorst Street, has a joggling board in it (the raised green plank on rockers). The joggling board is a Lowcountry innovation designed for fun, exercise and courting.
With so many Charleston houses built right up the the sidewalk edge, window boxes often act as a decorative front yard. There are many wonderful examples, including this very green pair on Legare Street.
This incredible garden is one of Glimpses' favorites. The house fronts Tradd Street, but from the side off of Legare Street, there is a wonderful view of this beautiful space.
Charleston's blooming plants are showing their colors very early this year. The Confederate Jasmine shown here is a good month ahead of when it normally shares its beauty and wonderful fragrance.
Azaleas and Spanish Moss frame a beautiful house flying an American flag... classic Charleston.
A beautiful flowering plant across from Colonial Lake, on a spectacular Charleston afternoon.
With winter -- such as it was -- receding from memory, colors abound all over Charleston. This grouping of azaleas is just a sample of the riot of color bursting out around the city.
Here is Charleston's version of the groundhog... who is clearly saying, "Winter? What winter?"
The trees in a beautiful Charleston garden on Montagu Street are still a little shaken from Hurricane Matthew.
On January 2nd, the temperature reached a record 81 degrees in Charleston. On January 8th, it was in the 20's and this beautiful fountain was icy. Crazy Charleston weather.
Middleton Place is one of the incredibly beautiful plantations just minutes away from downtown Charleston. If you are visiting, it's worth the time to stroll the incredible grounds.
This incredible scene can be found at Middleton Place, which traces its roots back to 1705. If you are visiting Charleston, it's "a do not miss."
Charleston's fall is a bit different than many other places :)
Charleston, SC is full of amazing gardens... and in the spring they are just glorious. This one can be found on Legare Street.
The weather was cold in Charleston, SC as this little guy can attest. Frozen water has a beauty all of it's own.
Fall in Charleston, SC brings another rounding of blooms. The Sasanqua, seen here brightening up the season, is known as the "Other Camellia."
If you peek beyond the gates and into the gardens of Charleston, SC, you can often spot an unexpected treat.
A Jack O'Lantern on a Charleston porch makes it clear which team is going to win the World Series.
A very Charleston garden lighting up as the sun sets.
Window boxes in Charleston, SC sometimes take the place of front yards. This is a heck of a front yard!
Charleston, SC is famed for its gardens, houses and iron gates. You can find this garden on Charlotte Street.