On the Plantation

Ben's parents spent the weekend with us just before his birthday and we decided to go on a little adventure together to a state park called Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation. It's a 200 year old piece of property that began as a rice plantation, survived through the Civil War, and became a dairy farm (see the milking area pictured at left) in the early 20th century, the whole time being owned by the same family. The last living relative died in the 1970's, and left it to the State of Georgia.

Here is a ginormous oak tree, estimated to be 700 years old! The trunk was unbelievably large, and the canopy was several hundred feet in diameter. We tried so hard to get good pictures, but how do you do a tree that big justice?

Cat and I had fun climbing on this oak tree, which was half-way uprooted, but still very much alive.






The grounds were my favorite part of the trip. This is the view of the marsh (where the rice patties were) from the plantation house, with Mema, Cat, Jack, and Me sitting on the bench.