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My visit to Cypress Gardens in Berkeley County, South Carolina (pictures galore!)

Jeztor

Jeztor

I figured this was the most relevant forum to post this. A mod may feel free to move it to somewhere else if they choose.

My partner's mother is visiting from Pennsylvania, so we have been doing "things" all week. I've never been to Cypress Gardens (not to be confused with the Cypress Gardens Themepark), even though I've lived here all my life, so I figured it'd be a good trip.

I was impressed by the amount of things to do here, but rather than all the typing, I'm going to let the pictures do the talking.



We arrived at Cypress Gardens, and after paying our entry fee of $10 per person (which includes unlimited access to everything including boats) we headed right over to the Butterfly House


The Butterfly House was essentially a large greenhouse with butterflies flittering all over the place! There were hundreds everywhere. I snapped a few shots inside.


The first "butterfly": http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8114/cgwoodducknn2.jpg . He was quite friendly.

This beehive is only accessible by bees from outside. This way, you can watch them all day and never been in danger:
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7637/cgbeehivebr9.jpg

We found the queen!:
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/5835/cgbeequeen2hk7.jpg

I wish I had documented the names of these butterflies:
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/3536/cgbutterflyhouse2xw9.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/575/cgbutterflyhouse3rw4.jpg

Here's mom:
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/5764/cgmombutterflyhousead8.jpg

This container was used to house chrysalids while they were waiting. We watched this monarch emerge for over 20 minutes!:
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/3079/cgmonarchchrysylids4du1.jpg

We arrived just in time to see the new batch of chrysalids:
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4120/cgmonarchchrysylids2wy9.jpg

The green chrysalids with gold flecks were Monarch, so said the nice man inside:
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/2853/cgmonarchchrysylidsvc7.jpg

Moving along to the other animals we found a buffet outside:
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/4058/cgturtlemunchmf6.jpg



After visiting some more birds, gators, crocs, and the aquarium we moved along to what I was waiting for the most, the boatride in the swamp!

Here she is!:

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2741/cgcypresskneesfi8.jpg
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6477/cgswamptf9.jpg
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3552/cgcattailfl8.jpg
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/7396/cgswamplilyed8.jpg

To the boats!:

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/1226/cgswampboatau1.jpg
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6909/cgswampcypresssignsoc0.jpg (see the signs? We got lost more than once even with those, not to mention all the poor shrubs and trees we bumped)
http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/180/cgswampcypressreflectioco1.jpg
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/3104/cgswampcypressbridgemm3.jpg (even though I was warned I STILL bumped by head on this bridge)


After we docked the boats we can across something very strange. Ever seen one of those before?

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9226/cgwhitesquirr3el4yt0.jpg
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2633/cgwhitesquirr3el5fk7.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2981/cgwhitesquirr3el2aw5.jpg

Man was he fast. I got a really close look, about 5 feet away, it's not albino. It had black eyes, and some soft black stripes along its back, but in all my years in this state I've only ever seen gray squirrels. This was a treat.



After this, we decided to check out a few trails when something on the map caught my eye:
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8079/cgcarnmap2nm5.jpg

What's that next to the Bat House. Does that say PITCHER PLANTS!? I literally ran down the trail in the direction of the bat hotel, even slid in some mud and scraped my knee.

Finally, I come upon a sign and before me I see....

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/3342/cgcarnexhibit3wr7.jpg


Noooo! They burned everything back. :-( I figured it was a bit early to see anything regrow, but as I was walking away something caught my eye. What's this?

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8839/cgcarnexhibitzn0.jpg
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/256/cgcarnexhibit1mp8.jpg

Are those buds what I think they are? And that light brown vegetation that's dead, it looks familiar!



We had a wonderful time at Cypress Gardens. We will be revisiting in about 45 days or so, mid April, where everything should really be in full swing.

Finally, my favorite shot I took:
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/4300/cgcameliaeg4.jpg

Thanks for allowing me to share, sorry that I typed so much. Enjoy!
 
Cool dude!
 
What type of Sarracenia do you think that they are?

Nice pics!!!
 
yeah but isn't that like one of the typical pitcher plant pictures?
that and S. purpurea
 
The flower buds look like the ones on my S. flava but I suppose they can be anything. SC should be in the native range of S. flava.

Thanks for sharing this wonderful little outing.
 
Theres a butterfly kio it the first picture. It is gray so don't say it is just a goldfish.
 
I really enjoyed the photos.

Noooo! They burned everything back.
Click to expand...

Burning is GOOD for the pitcher plants (and other plants). In nature, fires used to be the natural way Mother Earth helped some plants grow (before man began surpressing wildfires). The burns take down brushy, weedy vegetation that overpower the pitcher plants and allow them the space, air and sun they need. Well maintained parks with CPs will do regular burns. Mama Nature takes care of herself and her creations. Wildfires serve a natural purpose, even though we, as human beings, might not like them if they get close to homes.

The fact that they burned the area means they know what they are doing. :)
 
Thanks for sharing! That duck scares me.
 
  • #10
PlantAKiss said:
Burning is GOOD for the pitcher plants (and other plants).
Click to expand...

Oh I know that, but it's terrible for taking pictures. :(


Don't worry, Joossa, that duck scares everybody.
 
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