Photos from our trip to the swamp

Last year my husband and I went to Cypress Gardens in South Carolina one afternoon. Below are some of the photographs we took that day. Cypress Gardens is a cypress swamp, small fish and reptile area, and a wonderful butterfly house.

Below are a couple of photos of the lilies in the swamp. The swamp has these lilies everywhere.



Below is a turtle we seen when we were walking along the paths.


Below is what the swamp looks like. Isn't it beautiful?


We encountered this little critter with his pecan on the dock. You can take a guided boat ride or rent a canoe.


This big turtle, very friendly lizard, and some crocs were in the reptile area.




Below is all that is left of a church or mission and a foot bridge in the swamp. If you watched the movie the patriot then you might remember these ruins and bridge.



We saw this gator sunning himself in the swamp. Isn't her cute. My niece has taken a haunted swamp boat ride for Halloween. She said that there's scuba divers in the swamp that come out of the water. It amazes me that they are in the water with these gators. I think they are cute but I do not want to go for a swim with them.


Below is another photo of the swamp.


Wouldn't love to have this in your backyard. I can only dream.


Below are some butterfly photos my husband and I took.



Here's a bottle tree. I think the bottles are suppose to capture evil spirits. I forgot to take a photo of the huge bat house around the corner from the bottle tree. I'll get one next time.


I think the tree below is a bottle brush. It's was the size of a dogwood tree. The bees love it. I ordered seeds a couple of weeks ago.

The swamp was lined with flowers like below. It's really beautiful.


One more photo of the black water in the swamp.


Hope you enjoy the photos. I enjoyed the walk through the swamp but my husband did not. He was a bug and horsefly magnet. Poor guy

 

Those are some great pictures...I think I would want to stay back with your husband...maybe some people are just too sweet? :-D Thank you so much for the tour and that butterfly is so beautiful.

That purple flower looks like some type of iris to me..

 

Thank you very much for including me in your trip, DaphDaph. I thoroughly enjoyed it. We haven't got anything remotely like those swamps here. Nothing like the 'gators either, luckily.

 

Looks like you have a good camera...those are great shots. Thanks for sharing.

 

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. I especially like the ones with the trees reflected in the swamp.

 

Thanks Daph...
Very nice swamp fotos. Wildlife and flowers... what a grand combination.
I have visited this place myself a few years ago. I spent some time along coastal S.C. and stayed in Beaufort. I found that area such a lovely piece of amerika. The live oaks, the spanish moss and the antebellum architecture...just as romantic as could be. In fact I find coastal u.s. very nice all the way down both the east and west coasts.
Thanks for showing these piccies.

 

It just shows you how big of a country America is. It looks too exotic to belong just a couple of states north of me. That bottle tree is very interesting. It makes you wonder how on Earth it made it there without anything around. Must be some strong winds and lots of pollinators up there.

 

A real swamp! How awesome. Did the gator move while you were that close? Did the water smell? Great pics.

 

I so glad you all enjoyed it as much as I did. I can't wait to go back during the spring. I want to take a boat ride and finish touring the swamp.
Eileen, I told my husband I wanted a bottle tree too. I think it would take a very strong wind to blow the bottles off. Most bottle trees are real trees so I could imagine high winds would cause breakage. But a breeze would make the tree sing!
My nephew (the greenhouse manager) was fascinated with the lilies. I heard he tried to take one but my niece stopped him.
Sjoerd, did you get a chance to tour Charleston? I'm from Charleston and I still love to play the part of tourist. My husband is a yankee so I get to play tour guide as well.
I think the gators are use to people walking around. Plus I have zoom on my camera. I don't remember what the water smelled like, so it must not have been a bad smell. I do remember the smell of cypress.
I feel the same way Frank. There are truly amazing places on this earth.
I have a regular kodak camera. My theory is if you take enough photos, one or two are bound to come out look presentable. :-D

 

Oh yes Daph, I know Charleston. I have been there several times. In fact I once met the mother of an apparently famous author from that area at a coctail party. The author´s name escapes me now but he wrote a book called `The Water is Wide` (or something like that), I believe it was called. I had never heard of the man but I got the book and eventually went to Daufuskie sp) Island to have a look for myself. Very interesting stuff.
Charleston is a lovely place...alot of history there. Beautiful buildings as well. I would be willing to bet that the folks here would enjoy seeing a coupla pics of your charming city.

 

I really enjoyed those photos Daphdaph!
Thanks for posting them.

 

Thanks Netty. I'm happy you liked them.

Sjoerd...I have to agree....lots of history. I have lots of photos of Fort Sumter, Charleston, and I think I have some plantation photos. I never thought about posting them because I didn't think anyone would be interested.
I'll have to look for the book. You never know who you will meet at a party