One of the cool things about home school is that we can take fieldtrips to go along with whatever Jalen is learning. He was reading a book called Gabriel and the Hour Book, which takes place in a monastery. We have a monastery here in South Carolina that I always wanted to visit so we decided to take advantage of the opportunity.
The monastery - Mepkin Abbey - is in a town called Monck's Corner. I thought the name came from the monastery, but that's not the case. The monastery is on the grounds of a former plantation and has the beautiful layout that would be expected from such a site.
The oak lined driveway entrance.
Expansive grounds
Gardens
What we didn't expect, were alligators! We saw two adults and one baby.
These little curly things on the branches are called resurrection ferns. They look dead and dried out, but when it rains, they open up into lovely fern fronds.
Peonies or camellias??
Azaleas
Meditation Garden
After wandering the grounds, we went back for the monastery tour. Each they have an event where they display nativities from all over the world. I've always wanted to go. The only one that stays up year round is this outdoor one because it's too heavy to move. It's made up of recycled materials.
Bench in the woods.
The original plantation home no longer stands. The chapel is a new structure built on those foundations.
The crosses in the background are the graves of the original monks. The final one recently passed away.
The bell tower
Inside the church
Painting by Jonathan Green, a popular Charleston artist. There are hidden details in the painting.
Normally people don't get to tour the library, but there was an exhibition of crosses and so we were allowed to go inside.
The cross.
Inside the library.
Some of the crosses on exhibit. The artist made them during COVID. Many are made of driftwood.
African cross
COVID cross
Jewish cross
Oyster cross
Mariner's cross
Other artwork
Shelves
Books on celibacy
We enjoyed our time at the abbey.
Near the abbey was this fascinating cemetery with ruins of a church. Of course I had to stop! I love old cemeteries! And ruins.
A good guy that liked cats?
Twins - one died shortly after birth and the other 11 years later by drowning. Headstones can tell such sad stories. I love to read them and imagine the people behind the dates and words.
There's a story that this couple was claustrophobic and did not want to be buried under ground.
Beautiful colors
After the monastery, we went to Cypress Gardens. It turned out even better than I had expected. It's a beautiful swamp where you can ride in canoes. Ironically we didn't see alligators here like we did at the monastery.
I wanted to join a tour guide, but Jalen insisted he could do all the rowing. I thought he would get tired and quit, but he didn't. It was a lot more fun having a boat to ourselves.
It was so beautiful and peaceful.
The gardens have been the site of many tv movies and major motion pictures, including The Notebook, The Patriot, Outer Banks, Cold Mountain, North and South, Rear View Mirror, Swamp Thing, The Tempest, and The Yearling.
This section of the swamp is in The Notebook movie.
This is called Duck Bridge because you have to duck to go under it.
This bridge is in the opening scene of The Notebook.
Jalen was disappointed and yet relieved that we didn't see alligators up close.
We did see this humongous one on the other side of a fence!
Catfish
Butterfly habitat
We had such a good time at the gardes that we want to go back and take David and Baylie so they can experience it too.
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