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Aiken to please
Monday, August 23, 2010 at 11:44PM 
Over the weekend TG and I visited the mysteriously breathtaking Hopelands Gardens in Aiken, South Carolina.
I don't know as much as I should about the history of this place, except that it was once owned by the Iselin family.
All I know is, there's no fuss. You drive up to a free parking lot and get out of your car, and within a few feet it's as though you've stepped over a soft green portal into another world.
Nobody is selling anything; there are no gift shops and no concession stands. No tricked-out gimmicks to get your money.
Every time I have visited, there have only been a handful of other people besides me.
The concept is simple: fourteen acres given over to incredible nature, preternatural quiet, and otherworldly serenity.
>+<>+<>+<>+<
Speaking of nature, it was blistering hot as we traveled the fifty miles to Aiken.
The first thing you notice when you get to Hopelands is hundreds of live oaks and the relentless reaching of their long twisty branches.
In fact, the walls cannot contain them.
There are also huge Deodar Cedars. Look at TG as he inspects the trunk of this one! Aren't those bare arms cute?
There's a dollhouse where the Iselin children played, once upon a simpler time.
Here's another shot of the wavy brick wall. I do so love it.
And I think you already know how I feel about wrought iron gates. These did not disappoint; there were actually at least half a dozen identical pairs. Maybe more. Most were invitingly open.
All the pathways are brick. Can you imagine the time it took to build them? And isn't this scene enchanting? Put cotton in your ears and you'll know how quiet it was.
(I crave a picture of myself wearing vintage Chanel couture, sipping from a cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee, meandering on this path. I know; right? That's how my mind works. There's still time for you to get away.)
There is a beautiful plaque honoring Hope Goddard Iselin, who bequeathed Hopelands to Aiken. Don't you just love the word chatelaine? I do.
So then we took a stroll down Aiken's Main Street and here are a few of the sights we saw. Years ago there were, like, forty-leven of these horses, all decorated differently, punctuating Aiken. They're life sized. At least I think they are. Aiken is a very horsey community.
Not for nothing but I remember a time in the late 20th century when this same type of artistic statement was made in Chicago, only the animal was animals were pigs. There were painted pigs everywhere you looked on the streets of the windy city, is what I'm trying to say.
By the way there was one of those still hanging around Hopelands too. Name of Stonerside, for obvious reasons.
I heart this balcony in the branches. It's one of two adorning the top floor of a store called 3 Monkeys.
The wrought iron was charmingly ubiquitous and always seemed to be having a dialog with leaves.
How 'bout this clock? I would like one of those in my yard. Truly. Except it would say City of Jenny the Chatelaine.
This mural was interesting. Here the wrought iron formed a pediment that spanned the space between two buildings.
I took hundreds more pictures but I won't make you look at them now.
~HAPPY TUESDAY!~
Reader Comments (11)
I love the muted tones of your shots. I wish wish wish I could get out of the habit of saturating all of my pictures! We have the art animals in Portland, only they're cows. Horses are much more elegant. Did I tell you I started taking riding lessons with Kenzie?
Beautiful Photos. Many thanks for posting.
What a gorgeous place! I would love to visit. The wall and the gate are so pretty.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful ... but "given over to nature"? Hardly. I bet it takes a large crew and lots of money to keep that beautiful place in the shape it is in now. Would love to go visit.
What a beautiful place not only to visit...but to Live! Can you imagine it? How wonderful it must have been...Chatelaine...
Gorgeous shots!!!
hughugs
What a gorgeous stroll with you! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful pictures. Those HUGE live oaks are just spectacular!
I love those horses! They are just horsing around and I would like to horse around with them sometime.
Such Superior Snaps...Bravo!
Hobbit ... thanks for the compliment but that's just applying one level of "Antique" to the picture in iPhoto! It's just a click. I love that effect. The original pictures are very saturated with color. Portland had the cows? Well what do you know? And no, you didn't tell me you're riding with Kenzie! I think that's awesome and I'll bet she does too!
Keiki ... thanks and you are most welcome, and I hope you'll drop by again!
Mari ... you'd love Hopelands. It's like a little gem.
Debbie ... oh, I didn't mean to imply they just let it go. Quite the contrary; it's meticulously manicured by the landscaping fairies. All I meant was, if you're looking for a five dollar cup of coffee or a droll t-shirt or a sno-cone, you won't find it there. The nature is all there is! There are a few buildings and everything's kept pristine but the whole place is all about the gardens. That's what I meant when I said it was given over to nature ... that's the sole purpose. I hope you get to see it someday ... I think you and Mr. Grouch would enjoy it very much indeed.
Donna ... I can't imagine how lovely it would be to be the actual chatelaine of such a place! Idyllic! *giggle*
Donna M. ... You are quite welcome. No picture of mine could ever do those trees justice! It must be seen to be believed.
Audrey ... I'm achin' to take you to Aiken. Soon, dahling.
Mellissa B. ... LOLO thanks luvvy!
The only thing I know about Aiken is that I have a college friend who is a pastor's wife in that town. It is a Grace Brethren church and her name is Patricia. Can't remember who she married. Just reminiscing a bit here.
This is truly a beautiful place. There are many such places in the South. It always "wonders me" as they say here in Amish country, who I would have become if I had grown up in the South in one of those Southern Baptist Churches.
Ha! Ha! I will never know.
This is truly a beautiful place to behold. I love those huge oak trees all in a line. When I come to visit you, please take me to see this place!
Cheryl ... the South really is a wondrous place of beautiful scenery. Of course, all corners of our gorgeous country are beautiful in their own way! Aiken, however, is an exceptionally charming place. I would love for you to come and visit me. The guest room is ready! Just say when. We'll do Aiken and environs to your heart's content!