Since it was Sunday we had to park a ways away from the old (but restored) Grove Plantation House, which dates to the 1820s. Today it serves as the refuge's office. Check the embedded link for a timeline of the historic structure.
The house and surrounding grounds are interesting photo material by themselves.
Several of my photos, processed his the Snapseed app, follow.
These two photos show the back of the house.
This is the front of the house.
Nice features abound around the house, giving a sense of long ago lives and living.
Out on the long Hollings NWR trail temperatures were in the low 80s and skies were partly cloudy, making for outstanding photo opportunities! Below is a favorite picture from the day. Rice cultivation used to go on here, on the backs of slaves.
It was about a four-mile hike along the preserve's outer perimeter. The views include (below) a stretch of the South Edisto River.
Much of the trail is open like this. Some portions have high grass to traverse. I have had an itchy ankle since, but nothing too bad. Goes with the territory I suppose. To me, it's too warm and uncomfortable to wear long pants and sleeves when in nature like this.
Wooden trunks like these have been used for centuries to control water flow in and out of the small streams and fields where the rice was grown and harvested.
We got our exercise on this day, spending three-plus hours at Hollings.
The route we took ended with a long stretch through woods, which lead us back to where we parked.
Since it was Sunday, the entry gate was locked so we had the longish walk to the Grove House area.
Birding wasn't great on this day, but in the wooded trail section, I photographed two pretty butterflies. This one is called Little Yellow, a fitting name.
This colorful one, I would later learn after posting to the Facebook site Carolina Leps (Butterflies and Moths) is called Ornate Bella Moth. And ornate it is!
This Northern Mockingbird was one of my few bird photos from the day.
I am intrigued by these signs within the long wooded stretch of the trail. Apparently a railroad used to run through here, though no track remains can be seen. I'd like to learn more and will share here if/when I do learn anything about the Seaboard Coast Line.
I like this sign too!
This is where we parked. Again, it was Sunday so the gate was locked so we parked by this signage, which is very informative about this unique place and the ACE Basin in general.
I left the Hollings National Wildlife Area with more fond memories of an interesting and rugged natural place. The weather was nice and company too- thank you Alesia!
Until next time!
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