We can’t believe we have been in the Charleston area for so long. There is so much to see and do and again the weather has made it all possible for us this trip. This morning we took a leisurely, scenic drive to Wadmalaw Island, in the heart of SC Lowcountry to America’s only Tea Garden. All other teas are grown and produced outside of the US and this one small tea plantation was made possible because all the factors needed to grow tea exist right here.
Because the tea bushes are in their winter dormant phase we were unable to see the factory in full production. We did get to hear about its working via video along the walkway around the factory. It is very interesting to see how they pick and process the tea leaves to make tea varieties. They do not bag the tea at this plant but ship it to Connecticut for that process and then have it shipped back to this factory.
However, they do box the loose leaves after infusing them with flavor by misting them and then covering the vats for 24 hours. The tea is delicious and we enjoyed tasting the variety that was available to visitors. Tea is the second most consumed drink in the world second to water and the Irish and English drink the most tea.
The withering bed is used to dry out the tea leaves before they move on to the next process of staging the tea leaves to make a variety of teas. From Oolong to Black. The longer the tea is left to stand the darker the tea. All the tea plants on this farm are hand grown and planted, and only the very tops of the shoots from the plants are processed for the freshest tea. It was interesting to hear that it takes approximately five years to grow a mature plant but once grown tea plants can live 100 years. Our guide also told us that the deer population does not bother the tea plants because they do not like the taste. Because of this the tea plants have not been ravaged like the crops on other plantations.
Never really thought too much about where the tea in the grocery store came from but was amazed to see how far the majority of tea has traveled to get to our tea cups.
Our Trolley was built to carry the jockeys to the stables and their race horses in Kentucky. Now used for touring the tea plantation.
There was a very nice gift shop with a variety of loose teas to purchase. I did buy a can of Governor Gray tea and a box of Oolong tea. Very expensive, but couldn’t resist.
Then it was on to the Angel Oak Park to view the Oldest Oak tree on the Eastern coast.
The Angel Oak is a Southern live oak tree located in Angel Oak Park, on Johns Island, South Carolina. It may be the oldest tree east of the Mississippi River and is certainly one of the most beautiful.
The Angel Oak is the property of and maintained by the City of Charleston, South Carolina. The tree could be as old as 1500 years but attempts to age the tree have failed. It stands 65 feet tall and the crown covers an area of 17,000 square feet. Its longest limb is 89 feet long.
The tree is totally amazing with tendrils reaching out everywhere. Standing in the the cascade of limbs was like standing in a movie scene just waiting for the limbs to come alive and encircle you. Scary!!!!!!
Next on the agenda for the day was Drayton Hall the oldest unrestored plantation house in America. Drayton Hall stands alone as the only authentic survivor of the Ashley River’s colonial past- intact and in near original condition.
Drayton Hall
One of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in America, Drayton Hall, built in 1738, is the oldest preserved plantation house that is open to the public. Following seven generations of Drayton family ownership, the house remains in nearly original condition and has never been modernized, providing an unmatched look at colonial living and its builders' creative craftsmanship.
From serene river views and informative landscape walks to the rich stories of its people of European and African descent, Drayton Hall offers visitors a unique way to experience history. Rather than restoring the house to reflect a single period of grandeur, the National Trust chose to preserve the site as it was received from the Draytons in 1974 in order to provide a timeline showing change and continuity through three centuries of American history. Drayton Hall is owned and operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Work is being done on the exterior to repair water damage.
The home was beautifully maintained and the Drayton descendants still come to the home annually on Thanksgiving for their Thanksgiving picnic.
We listened to a very well presented lecture on - Connections: From Africa to America which traces the story of Africans from Africa to the new world through slavery and emancipation and into the 20th century. It was extremely informative and mind boggling at times when listening to the atrocities that innocent people had to endure. Not only in this country but in Europe and South America who also had a huge African slave population.
Once again we ran out of time and were unable to complete the ground tour at Drayton Hall. The good news is that we can return tomorrow and walk the grounds as long as we present our receipt from today.
Back home Jewel was once again ecstatic to see us. She does not like to be left alone. We took her for her walk and she and the Russian ducks at the CG now totally ignore each other. LOL
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