Rainy Visit to Magnolia Cemetery

 

It had been a while since I’d been to Charleston’s Magnolia Cemetery. I had the itch to go after seeing recent bird photos posted on the Facebook site, “Magnolia Cemetery Photographers Group.”

The forecast looked wet but we decided to go anyway. When it began to pour I took several pictures through the open car window. This is the iconic Smith Pyramid, an ancient Egyptian-influenced mausoleum erected for wealthy banker William Burrough Smith after his death in 1894. 

Another favorite site here is that of Annie Kerr Aiken (1853-1856). Her ornate box tomb is among more than two dozen graves in the large partially fenced Aiken-Martin plot near the back pond. 

“Little Annie” was a month shy of 3 when she passed in 1856 of the throat disease diphtheria. The child depicted in the sculpture isn’t necessarily a likeness of her, though it could be. 

Ever since I’ve been coming to Magnolia Cemetery (15 years now) there have been small items placed here by her fans, people like me who also admire this beautiful and poignant bit of artistry commissioned no doubt by her loving parents. 

Note the yellow ducks at her feet. Someone even put a tiara on Annie’s head. What a thoughtful gesture! 

In this rain, she could use a blanket, but Little Annie has slept through worse, including countless hurricanes and tropical storms. 

Her parents, Joseph and Ellen Aiken, are buried in this plot near their precious daughter. 

Back at the Beach for Labor Day!

 We got off easy from Hurricane Idalia which at its worst on Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 30-31 wasn't bad in our neighborhood. It was a tropical storm by the time it ripped through Florida and Georgia on into South Carolina. Some beautiful weather ensued in the following days so back to the beach we went. 

I ventured into the Atlantic with my GoPro Hero 8 and made a nice video and also took several photos. 

Ships and Shorebirds at Sullivan’s Island

I posted a few weeks ago about photographing Sandwich Terns for the first time. That was at Folly Beach. Well, Sunday at Sullivan’s Island I saw some more. 

This type of Tern certainly has two distinctive traits. The partially black head reminds me of a balding man. And the yellow tip on the bill is the mustard on the sandwich. That’s a memorable line I read in a guide somewhere. 

This smaller beach bird is a Sanderling,
a species of Sandpiper.