Last
weekend we celebrated Mothers Day by going to see Swan
Lake in Sumter SC.
It is one of the prettiest city parks I have ever visited. The lake is a flower
and bird lover's paradise. The beautiful black waters of Swan
Lake form the setting for the
spectacular Iris Gardens. The lake is dotted with
colorful islands, and wildlife is abundant. It is the only public park in the United States
to feature all eight swan species, Swan Lake-Iris Gardens is also home to some
of the nation's most intensive plantings of Japanese iris, which bloom yearly
in mid to late May and last until the beginning of June. The garden also boasts
many other flowers including colorful camellias, azaleas, day lilies, and
Japanese magnolias.
Swan Lake-Iris Gardens began in 1927 when Hamilton Carr
Bland, a local businessman was developing the 30 acres of swamp into a private
fishing camp. At the same time he was landscaping the grounds of his home with
Japanese iris. The iris failed miserably in the home garden, and Bland ordered
his gardener to dig up the bulbs and dump them at the swamp. The following
spring, they burst into bloom. The accidental garden, referred to by Southern
Living magazine a "lovely mistake," has since been developed into one
of the finest botanical gardens in the United States
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| Australian Black Swan |
The magnificent swans were brought in from all over the world;
representing Australia,
North America, South America, Europe and Asia
were originally imported by Mr. Bland in the late 1920's. You might find it interesting that the
Australian Black swans have been in residence the longest, and some of the
birds living in the garden at present are their descendents. They were definitely my favorites. Visitors
are permitted to feed the swans. The swans are quite tame and friendly and will
come right up to you looking for a hand out; so do the Canada geese,
mallards, egrets, herons and anhinga which also call the gardens home.
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| Canada Goose |
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| Tri color Heron |
|
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| family of Pied |
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| Hogsbill turtle |
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