Lowcountry Local First's Chef's Potluck

Middleton Place, Charleston, SC   

I shouldn't need to eat for a week. My friend Jo and I went to Middleton Place for the Lowcountry Local First's Chef's Potluck benefit this evening and tasted so many delicious dishes. More than a dozen participating local chefs were paired with local farmers, fishermen and ranchers to create the tasty treats we enjoyed. 

Proceeds from the event benefit Lowcountry Local First’s “Growing New Farmers” Program.  Thank you to all the teams who worked their weekend to make this event so successful. Everything was perfect!

Wood Nymph in the window

Wood Nymph miniature statue, Charleston, SC   

Until I spotted the familiar statue of the wood nymph from Middleton Gardens in the window of the Historic Charleston Foundation shop on Meeting St. I had forgotten that there were miniatures made. How sweet she is! I always visit her if I am at the gardens and have an enlargement in my living room.

This shot of the original is from a couple of years ago but it must look the same now with the gardens in bloom.

Plant Legends

Camellia, Middleton Place, Charleston, SC   

Plant Legends: Many centuries ago, the camellia hailed from Japan and China. In China, it was called the "Tea Flower." In Japan, it was called the "Tsubaki" and often was included in religious rituals, representing the divine. The Japanese also believed it was the flower that announced spring.
The Chinese, too, looked at the blossoms as sacred and planted camellias in the secret gardens of the Chinese emperors.
As much as the camellia was admired for its beauty, however, its early popularity was largely a matter of economics and culture.
One of the very early emperors of China had passed a decree ordering all water to be boiled as a sanitation measure. Supposedly, dried leaves from a tea camellia fell into his cup; the emperor, like millions of others who came after him, greatly enjoyed this drink, and the pleasure of "a cup of tea" was born.
Camellia sinensis (the tea camellia) was highly sought after by the Chinese, the Japanese and, soon after, by the British.
By 2737 BC, the Chinese were growing C. Sinensis. By the 17th century, tea had spread in popularity to Europe.
Although the tea camellia was highly desired for its prized leaves, its flowers are not the showstoppers of the Camellia japonica or the Camellia reticulata.

I don't know how much of that is true but someone had to drink the first cuppa tea. The Middleton Place web site has more details on how the plant came to Charleston and why they have so many.  

Winter at Middleton Place

Middleton Place, Charleston, SC   

While I was exploring Cuba last week, my sister artist Grayce and hubby musician Bob came down from Canada and settled into my little Charleston home. I couldn't wait to hear what they had done in my home city as they explored it on their own and I was pleased! They wandered the peninsula, ate delicious food, went to Boone Hall and drove down to Savannah. It is fun to see visitors charmed by the lowcountry.

We crossed paths for one day with both of my children and watched the sunset from Vickery's at Shem Creek and on Monday had a great walk through blooming camellias at Middleton Place last Monday. Middleton Restaurant is always a treat and my Canadian guests got a bowl of she-crab soup before they left.

Dinner at Middleton Place

Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

Middleton Place has a lovely restaurant. It is easy to forget it is there since it is tucked away inside the garden. I had an unexpected call from a cousin I hadn't seen in many years hoping I could join her for dinner and since she had spent the afternoon wandering the garden I couldn't think of a better place to eat.

The trick is, if you go after 5 pm you don't have to pay garden admission and can still enjoy the beautiful spot before and after dinner.

Middleton Place

Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

Clearly my rowing machine work-outs have toned up my butt but worn my arms off. Heheh.

Lucky me! A friend offered to leave passes for me at the gates to Middleton Place and I was able to treat a couple of hard working co-workers as a reward.  We enjoyed a late lunch at the restaurant and enjoyed everything on the southern buffet. The blossoms were past their prime but the garden was lush and green.

The Wood Nymph

The Wood Nymph, Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

Artist Tish Murphy remembered that I had taken pictures of the Wood Nymph at Middleton Place and shared her recent painting. I love it when artists do that! Find her work here: Tish Murphy Fine Art.

Among the Azaleas" 12x 12 acrylic on canvas: This is "The Wood Nymph" statue from Middleton Place, Charleston, SC. This statue by Schadow (1810), was buried for safekeeping during the Civil War in 1865, and now overlooks the Azalea Pool in the Gardens. It was a striking moment when I came upon her with the azaleas in bloom and felt compelled to paint and share her image. — at Middleton Place 

 

Bird Heaven

Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

How much more beautiful could heaven be? The lowcountry is one glorious place to live. This scene is at Middleton Gardens at the river below the more formal lawn. Not everyone bothers to go that far but I was happy I did.

Bit by bit my little house is coming together. My handyman works full time but spends an amazing amount of time here. The house is painted on the outside now and the improvement makes me smile every time I pull into my drive. Everything he fixes delights me. I've been hearing a lot of "Was that you I saw walking down Savannah Highway?" lately. Apparently I have a recognizable stride :).

Revolutionary Medicine

Revolutionary War re-enactment, Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

I soon discovered that re-enactment army surgeon Larry Tillman, at the encampment at Middleton Place this weekend is himself a medical school professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Medicine has a little more to offer these days. 

At that time they were big on bleeding and purging. They seemed to want their patients leaking from everywhere....bleeding, purging, cupping and carefully placed leeches. If that didn't cure a soldier, they had hacksaws to cut something off. The round dishes in the front show the size of the vaccination wound from smallpox vaccinations at the time. Yikes. These are the good old days of medicine right now. 

I have the good doctor's email (oooops) address because I promised to send him a picture of an antique medical kit someone brought to me. I have a sneaky feeling what I have is more Civil War period. I don't see much evidence of kits in the 1780's.

It's a beautiful day for a battle

Revolutionary War reenactment, Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

Who can resist re-enacting a battle on a beautiful day like this? Aaaahh....I love the smell of fresh gun powder in the air. I went out to Middleton Plantation to see the costumed historians commemorate General Nathanael Greene's encampment of the southern army at Middleton Place during the Revolutionary War in 1782.

Living History Day:  Contrary to popular belief, the majority of battles of the American Revolution were not fought in the Northeast, but in South Carolina.  All told, there were over 500 engagements, large and small, fought in the state. New Jersey, with 300 engagements, is a distant second. The American Revolution in South Carolina was a true civil war with neighbor against neighbor and brother against brother. The largest number of patriot troops captured in a single engagement during the war came when Charleston fell to the British. Soon thereafter, Arthur Middleton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who served in the defense of Charleston, was sent as a prisoner of war to St. Augustine, Florida.  Many scholars say that the War for American Independence was won in South Carolina.

Leaving the light on

Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

I've been at Middleton Place at dusk when these lamps are lit. It is a beautiful place at any time of year. 

Continuing my West Ashley neighborhood dining adventures, I walked out the Bikeway to Wapoo Rd. the other evening coming back on Savannah Hwy and stopping to eat at the Early Bird diner. What a happy surprise! I had the blackened green tomato, fresh mozzarella and pesto sandwich and I think I've found my "thing". I tend to find one goodie that I keep going back for and this was delicious.Oh yum.

I made it to my Friday matinee at the Terrace and saw the Sound of My Voice. So, I've gone to a movie, a walk and dinner out. No wonder I love Fridays.

Have a good weekend kids!

Baking up a storm

Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

I've been baking a carrot cake and the house smells yummy. I've squeezed one last cake out of the oven before it gets too hot to bake.

When I had a growing family at home I baked constantly and took it all in stride. Now it is such an occasion that I can never be sure I have staple ingredients on hand. Vanilla, huh? When did I last use vanilla? So I buy another bottle just in case and now I have three. Three bottles of vanilla but only half a cup of sugar. Luckily the Piggly Wiggly is on my regular walking route.

Today's photos are from my recent Middleton Place walk. 

My good news this week is learning that two of my hospital volunteers have won the Governor's Award for Volunteering. Yipee! They are sisters and won in the Family Volunteer category. I am very pleased. I love it when I can earn recognition for people who give so much. Later in the month I'll escort them to the State House to be honored for their years of service. Color me proud.

Joggling Board sighting

Joggling Board, Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

A joggling board sighting for Waldo who has fond memories of them.

I lead so many people to the Old Charleston Joggling Board site that I should get a cut!  Check out this link with more joggling board history and this grand old photo:

 

Peacock Courting Season

Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

Peacock courting season at Middleton Place. I just don't think she is that "into him". Heheh.

Middleton Place in full glory

Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

Time has been slipping by and I knew this might be the last weekend to get the blossoms in full glory. My annual pass to Magnolia Plantations had expired so I decided to go to Middleton Place this time. It is a little further out and has a more formal garden to wander in as well as a restaurant and Inn. The weatherman threatened storms today and I stayed just a few steps ahead of the dramatic skies.

My camera packing friends have been haunting the gardens making me jealous lately with their beautiful pictures on Facebook. I almost expected someone I knew to pop out from behind an azalea bush. A couple  did call out to me and I was able to meet a couple of online friends - artist Kathy Bates and her husband Bill (below). She is a very talented water color artist and I was tickled that they recognized me.

Middleton Place is beautiful at any time of the year but especially now. Go!