One of the things I was really looking forward to doing in southern USA was visiting a plantation. Maybe it’s because of my favourite novel “The Book of Negros” by Lawrence Hill. If you’re looking for a good novel I highly recommend it. It’s about a girl who is kidnapped in Africa, made to walk across the continent in a coffle (a chain of slaves), barely survives the belly of the slave ship, and then works on an indigo plantation in South Carolina. It was fascinating to learn that The Book of Negroes is a real historical document which recorded the names and descriptions of 3,000 African-American slaves who escaped to the British lines during the American Revolution and were evacuated by the British by ship to points in Nova Scotia. Great novel. But I digress.
I visited Boone Hall Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina. It is still a working plantation but they no longer grow cotton or indigo. Instead the strawberries, tomatoes, pumpkins and other vegetables thrive here. It was kind of odd walking around imagining it was the place where the heroine from my novel was a slave.
I made this image of the Live Oak Trees, which are native to southern USA and are the largest tree east of the Rockies. They are not particularly tall trees. What is interesting about them is how their branches grow in arches and how they have best friends. Yes, they do! Their best friend is the spanish moss. It looks like part of the tree, but all the stuff hanging down from the tree is spanish moss. It doesn’t hurt the tree at all. Spanish moss just really likes Live Oak.
I’ll have more about Boone Hall Plantation later this week. As always, you can click on the image to view a larger version.
Those oak trees remind me of how I pictured the ‘wild wood’ in The Wind in the Willows. Nice capture.
Hi Sam, that’s cool! It would be so neat to have images in a book like that. Ah, maybe one day … Thanks for the comments.
I LOVE this. So pretty yet somehow eerie. Feels enchanted. I would love to see this with my own eyes. And I loved Book of Negroes. If you haven’t read Roots by Alex Hailey, I highly recommend it as well.
Hi Deanna! You know I never did read Roots so I’m glad you mentioned it. I remember seeing it on TV a very long time ago. I love to read novels and recently decided that since I spend so much time reading I should read some of the classics. So I just started Huckleberry Finn! I thought I would get by on book exchanges at the campsites but you wouldn’t believe the crap that people read. Every single book exchange has had nothing but thrillers, crime dramas and harlequin romance. Gag. Where’s the literature? Anyway … thank you so much for the compliment on the photo 🙂
This is a fantastic image. Great framing and soft colors Anne. Well done.
Thank you so much Len!
Beautiful, timeless image with a lovely back-story.
Thank you Mim, it was really a great place to visit.
Love the way the trees frame this image. It’s a beautiful capture.
Thank you very much for the visit and comments Steven!
Extraordinary story and a very unusual image. Almost abstract, like a rolling ocean wave. Great contrasting colour in the base, and a wonderful view through an incredible canopy.
Hi Andy! “Like a rolling ocean wave” … I never even thought of that, great observation! Thank you very much.
Beautiful scene. I love the trees in that area. Terrific.
Thanks Kris, I really like the trees here too. Being from BC it’s pretty hard to impress me with trees, but I like how these arch and form tunnels.
Gorgeous trees and moss!
Out of curiosity, what’s on the ground under the trees? It almost looks a bit over saturated / washed out on my monitor (but it is a great contrast to the trees).
Hi Marc, it’s grass, and yeah I know what you mean. I actually already desaturated it. Thanks for mentioning it, I think if you noticed it I need to try again to fix that. Thanks very much for your comments.
Wow that is so cool. Spectacular shot Anne.
Thanks Edith, it is turning into one of my most popular images on G+!
Both this photograph and Avenue of Oaks just vibrate with a South Carolina Low Country vibe. Through your perspective I can almost feel like I’m cantering forward in a horse drawn carriage, at a snappy clip, to get back to the ole’ plantation. I imagine wearing acres of chiffon tied up with ribbons and a big bonnet and sitting beside a gentleman in a top hat, etc. I look forward to visiting all of your travel photographs now. I feel privileged to have found your work.
P.S. I wholeheartedly agree with why aren’t people reading good literature today? I love history and will search out your book mention, The Book of Negroes. It sounds like a wonderfully informing slice of human history. Thank you for sharing that. Betty
Hi Betty, wow, I wish I could write like you! You described that place and era perfectly. Are you a writer? Thank you very much for your kind comments. I hope you enjoy The Book of Negroes, it is one of my all time favourites.