Gothic Ice House

Ice house at Botany Bay, Edisto, SC

I always detour for a visit to the sweet gothic style ice house when I visit Botany Bay. 

Seashells by the Seashore

Botany Bay Beach, Edisto, SC 

I picked the perfect day for a trip to Botany Bay beach. The sun was shining, dramatic skies, tide was low and there was a lovely breeze. I smile at the sign asking visitors not to take home sea shells because instead of taking them home they decorate with them and it has become a seashell wonderland! I love it.

The best of Gothic Ice Houses

Gothic Ice House, Botany Bay Plantation, Edisto, S.C.

There aren't many buildings left on the Botany Bay Plantation site but how adorable is this one left standing? This was the old ice house.

It is estimated that the Ice House was built in the 1840s. There was a garden that surrounded the ice and smoke houses which was designed by an Asian Botanist named Oqui who John Townsend brought from Washington, DC to create his garden. It is believed that the white poppies surrounding the building today are remnants of the once elaborate garden. The Smoke House is the only other extant building from the plantation and it is a tabby Greek Revival building.The Ice House is a small building with distinctive Gothic Revival trim, a steeply pitched dormer and Gothic arched shuttered windows.

The other little building is the tabby gardener's shed. I found a sweet water color of the shed found here by Gary Nemcosky.

There was a garden that surrounded the ice and smoke houses which was designed by an Asian Botanist named Oqui who John Townsend brought from Washington, DC to create his garden. It is believed that the white poppies surrounding the building today are remnants of the once elaborate garden. The Smoke House is the only other extant building from the plantation and it is a tabby Greek Revival building.

Seashell decorations

Seashell decorations at Botany Beach, Edisto, S.C.

Since you are asked not to take seashells from Botany Bay beach, people have been decorating with them for years. They are laid in designs in the sand, hanging from palmetto tree bark and hanging from the tips of smooth driftwood like holiday ornaments. Between the dangling shells, swooping flocks of pelicans and driftwood branches, there is something about it that delights me so much I don't know why I leave it so long between visits.

There are no t-shirt or ice cream vendors, no restaurants or bathroom facilities so this incredible beach is usually a peaceful treat. We took a snack and sat on giant driftwood logs for our picnic, counted off the loggerhead turtle nests and had a wonderful time before heading on to Edisto Beach for lunch. Day one of my three day weekend was a grand success. I hope yours was as well!

Camera Free Weekend

Botany Bay, S.C.

I was sorting through all of my camera cards looking for a particular photo for a newsletter on Friday and left them all at work so I've had an unusual camera free weekend. Odd. These shots are from Botany Bay, one of my favorite places in the world. More in this album.

It is almost a crime to spend such a beautiful afternoon at the movies but I went to see The Social Network at the Terrace and almost wish I hadn't. What a sad tale of greedy privileged mixed up kids insulting and stabbing each other in the back. I hope all the characters weren't as awful as they were portrayed. I'll keep enjoying Facebook as usual but it is going to leave a bad taste for a while. Blah.

I hope everyone has had a good weekend!

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Botany Bay

Botany Bay, S.C.

I haven't been keeping up a strict weekly Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance lately but I definitely felt I was walking in a spiritual place on Botany Bay beach yesterday and when I saw this shell cross I knew it had to be my Sunday photo.

It was such an amazing place, I'll be back with more pictures shortly. While my pictures uploaded I was flipping through a Food Network magazine on an empty stomach and I am ready to eat the whole frig. Time to hunt and gather.

Larger version here.

The Hand of an Old Friend

Botany Bay, S.C.

Ah, how good it feels! The hand of an old friend.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow