HISTORIC CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA AT ITS SPRINGTIME BEST

Charleston, South Carolina is one of my favorite places.  I enthusiastically accepted our friends, Phil and Laura Huffman’s, invitation to visit this beautiful city during

Historic Charleston Foundation’s month-long annual Spring Festival of Houses & Gardens.

Dave and I once again stayed with Phil and Laura in the home Phil’s grandparents bought in 1940.  This home is the Thomas Rose house on Church Street.  The Thomas Rose house, built in 1735, is one of the oldest examples of Early Georgian architecture and has the original Georgian paneling inside.

Please watch the video for a glimpse into this lovely home.

When stepping through what appears to be the front door, one actually enters a side piazza facing the garden.

The view looking back to the front entrance.  The actual front door is to the far left.

The long bench is a joggling board found on many Charleston porches.  It is a pliable board balanced on stands at each end.

Phil and Laura enjoy the joggling board.  I can just imagine the children over the years bouncing up and down as they “joggled”.

The azaleas were in full bloom during our visit.

Sculptures of the Four Seasons anchor the terrace.

The urn in the rear garden viewed through wrought iron gates.

Phil’s sister, Catherine Forrester has lived in the house and preserved many of the traditions and furnishings created by their grandmother, Juliette Wiles Staats.  Cathy is the author of  At Home -Charleston, a delightful book based on her Grandmother’s entertaining style.  The book includes family recipes, seating arrangements, and photographs of elaborate table settings, all from Juliette Wiles Staats’ entertaining archives.

Such a treat to stay in this historic home.  Speaking of treats…the garden tours, the home tours, the city tours were as spectacular as expected.  What was unexpected…the large number of homes utilizing the adage, “smaller is better”.  Many of the homes took advantage of small spaces with beautiful gardens and window boxes.

Oh the Window Boxes.

I loved the lime green from watering below these window boxes.  Just complemented the overall color theme.

I love bicycles and always include “transportation” images when I can.

How about the pop of yellow and the Yellow Fire Hydrant!  Perfect!

Must be a yellow theme going on.  I will put these yellow pots on my wish list.

My favorite window boxes had the cutest pig watching over them.

Watch for upcoming stories from my Charleston travels.

More gardens, more iron gates and grates, more alleyways.

 I welcome your comments and pictures on your favorite Charleston home or garden.

Come celebrate with me.  I’ll save you a seat at the table.