On a Splendid Saturday CofC Students See Magnolia Cemetery

I was so excited and proud to take my 20 College of Charleston "Beyond the Grave: What Old Cemeteries Tell and Teach the Living" students to Magnolia Cemetery on a special Saturday tour. On Feb. 20 we all met in front of the Stern Student Center for the short bus ride to the Cunnington Ave. Thanks to the First Year Experience program at the College for funding the transportation via Lancaster Tours.

Backyard Bird Visits on the Rise!

As February slowly turns into March I've been noticing more activity at my backyard bird feeders. It has been fun to see the surge in traffic, and I've been scrambling to keep my buffet well stocked.

This American Goldfinch seemed to harken the spring harbinger. Still in winter plummage this bird offers a preview of the glorious golden yellow to come in a few months.

Glad the sunflower seeds are to your liking pretty boy-- or girl.

Hooded Mergansers Encounter

You just never know where you might encounter birds!

That's why when I'm outdoors for any length of time I try to remember to bring my camera, even if it's just putting it in the car.

I was glad that I did this in December when I went on a Sunday morning run in North Charleston's Palmetto Commerce Parkway, a light industrial area near my home.

I chose to run in an area of the industrial park I had not been in before. While running by a holding pond, I spotted a pair of Hooded Mergansers, waterfowl that migrate south in the fall and winter from as far north as Canada.

Upon finishing my run, I prepared my camera and monopod, then drove a short distance, in hopes the birds would still be on that pond. Lucky for me they were!

Thanksgiving Message: Don't Take Life for Granted

On the eve of Thanksgiving 2015 I am uploading to my computer photographs I took yesterday at Charleston's beautiful and historic Magnolia Cemetery, about which I have written two books.

I am always touched by the gravesite of little Annie Kerr Aiken who was not quite 3 years old when the throat disease diphtheria took your young life in 1856. Passersby often place small toys and stuffed animals at this site, or as I saw yesterday, coins. Thirteen cents someone placed here- bad luck?

Kizoa Slideshow: Magnolia Cemetery in All Its Splendor

Kizoa is a fun, easy to use, slideshow and collage program for creating colorful presentations put to music and an array of special effects and animation.

I created this Kizoa slideshow about Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston. I have written two books about this grand 19th Victorian necropolis. You can read about them on another blog I have called BirdsEyeViews.

Magnolia Birds - Kizoa Online Movie Maker

Another great thing about Kizoa is that it is free! Free up to a point. There is a nice assortment of music option with the program. But if you want to add other music, you may have to pay for that before your slideshow can be shared. 

Goodread Review of "In the Arms of Angels"

I was excited and pleased to recently come across online this very favorable review of the "In the Arms of Angels" book about Magnolia Cemetery that I published last year. The review is on Goodreads, a website that helps readers "meet your next book."

Thank you Courtney! I'm glad you like my book and appreciate the great time and effort I put into it!

My "Best of Magnolia Cemetery" Video

I just cannot seem to get enough of Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery! 

Books, videos, photographs, blogs posts, articles, taking friends and visitors there, even a special CofC class that ties in with "MagCem." In preparing to take my "Beyond the Grave: What Old Cemeteries Tell and Teach the Living" students on a tour there recently, I used the opportunity to record video of my favorite Magnolia Cemetery landmarks and memorials. 

So without further ado  (drum roll please!)...I present to you "Patrick Harwood's Best of Magnolia Cemetery" video:   

The music was found on my go-to free music website, Incompetech.com.

Santee Coastal Reserve Part II

Last Monday I had a very nice "staycation" outing back to the Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area north of McClellanville, S.C.

It was warm day and very buggy on some pathways along the 24,000 acre nature site. But my friend Beverly Donald and I came away with some excellent photographs. The clouds were gorgeous, enhancing wide shots like the ones below.

Love this photo!

Santee Coastal Reserve WMA

I came across a "kettle" of Barn Swallows last month while exploring the Santee River region north of McClellanville, S.C. I was driving toward the Intracoastal Waterway to see if the ferry was running to the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center (it wasn't- it only operates certain times of the year)

A nice spot this ferry landing!

If only I had my own boat! 

The ferry to the Yawkey Center- I tried to get the guy to take me across but no luck there

College of Charleston Faculty Book Display

I was excited yesterday to finally see the display of recent faculty publications in the College of Charleston's Addlestone Library. My 2014 Magnolia Cemetery book is in the bottom right hand corner.

The display is on the third floor near the Special Collections/South Carolina Historical Society section. 

The CofC faculty books will be displayed throughout the summer. I'm quite honored to be part of this presentation!  "In the Arms of Angels: Magnolia Cemetery- Charleston's Treasure of History, Mystery and Artistry" remains available for purchase. See the column to the left for stores and other sales information. My two books are also on the shelves of the Addlestone Library and all of the public libraries in the greater Charleston area.