©Meandering Passage - Earl Moore Photography - Standing among the Oaks

Another stop during out short visit to the South Carolina (SC) coast was  Brookgreen Gardens, located across SC Highway 17 from Huntington Beach State Park — see my previous two posts for photos.

©Meandering Passage - Earl Moore Photography - They endure, majestic oaks, Brookgreen Gardens, SC©Meandering Passage - Earl Moore Photography - Maze of limbs, majestic oaks, Brookgreen Gardens, SC

Brookgreen Gardens is one of the larger and best maintained gardens of this sort I’ve had the pleasure to visit.

We’d made a previous visit in fall season but this spring visit displayed the gardens strengths and beauty much better.

©Meandering Passage - Earl Moore Photography - Massive limbs, majestic oaks, Brookgreen Gardens, SC ©Meandering Passage - Earl Moore Photography - Touching the ground, majestic oaks, Brookgreen Gardens, SC

For me, one of the more impressive parts of the garden are the “bearded giants” — majestic oaks, covered by ivy and spanish moss.  There’s also certainly abundant flowers, water elements, world-renowned sculpture and appropriate poetic quotes in tablet form  for those seeking to recharge both soul and spirit.

©Meandering Passage - Earl Moore Photography - Path among the trees, Brookgreen Gardens, SC ©Meandering Passage - Earl Moore Photography - Branches overhead, Brookgreen Gardens, SC

There’s a historical side to the gardens. It’s borders include several old rice plantations – the overgrown rice fields are still visible.  Of couse, with almost any historic plantation in the American south, there are sad stories of slavery.  Worth a visit, if this is your “cup of tea.”

During our visit, it was a bright thinly clouded day…making for a wide dynamic range — from the bright featureless whites of the sky to the dark shadows found under the trees.  According to Lightroom’s histogram none of the whites on these images are “blown out” even if my eye keeps telling me different. :-(

 

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Markus
11 years ago

Amazing trees, Earl, and perfectly framed. The most impressive for me is #3, indicating that the branches might reach so much further, and #4 with the branches resting on the earth again due to their sheer size and weight.

Tom Dills
11 years ago

Those are just about perfect conditions fur that kind of place, Earl. And to get a histogram with no blinking highlights wound be nearly impossible in any conditions. I agree with Markus that #3 is a good one.

ken bello
11 years ago

The oaks are fantastic, Earl. Beautiful photos. I think I would love to spend a day there.

Chris Klug
11 years ago

I’m a sucker for trees wherever I go; the challenge for me is to capture the ‘feeling’ of the tree in a single frame. You’ve done a great job here!

Mark
11 years ago

As others have mentioned – Those are some great trees! Very well seen and photographed Earl.

Monte Stevens
11 years ago

Wow, I’m impressed with the size of the grounds. It looks like miles of walking. And, these trees were so captivating to me when visiting the southeast. And, I can feel the humidity. I’m partial to 5 and 6 because of the size they present. Those long paths stir me to start walking.