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Clarence, NY
$0.65
Title
River Runs Through
Artist
Kathleen Struckle
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Thomas Drayton and his wife Ann arrived from Barbados to the new English colony of Charles Towne and established Magnolia Plantation along the Ashley River in 1679. Thomas and Ann were the first in a direct line of Magnolia family ownership that has lasted more than 300 years and continues to this day.
Magnolia Plantation saw immense wealth and growth through the cultivation of rice during the Colonial era. Later, British and American troops would occupy its grounds during the American Revolution, while the Drayton sons would become both statesmen and soldiers fighting against British rule.
The establishment of the early gardens at Magnolia Plantation in the late 17th century would see an explosion of beauty and expansion throughout the 18th century, but it was not until the early 19th century did the gardens at Magnolia truly begin to expand on a grand scale.
Upon his death in 1825, Thomas Drayton, the great grandson of Magnolia�s first Drayton, willed the estate successively to his daughter�s sons, Thomas and John Grimk�. As he had no male heirs to leave it to, he made the condition in the will that they assume their mother�s maiden name of Drayton. Some time later, while in England preparing for the ministry, young John Grimk� Drayton received word that his older brother Thomas had died on the steps of the plantation house of a gunshot wound received while riding down the oak avenue during a deer hunt. Thus, having expected to inherit little or nothing as a second son, young John found himself a wealthy plantation owner at the age of 22.
Despite the prestige and wealth inherent in ownership of Magnolia and other plantations, he resolved still to pursue his ministerial career; and in 1838 he entered the Episcopal seminary in New York. While there, he fell in love with, and married, Julia Ewing, daughter of a prominent Philadelphia attorney. Returning to Charleston with his bride, he strove to complete his clerical studies while bearing the burden of managing his large estate. The pressure took its toll, and his fatigue resulted in tuberculosis. His own cure for the illness was working outside in the gardens he loved. He also wanted to create a series of romantic gardens for his wife to make her feel more at home in the South Carolina Lowcountry. A few years later, as though by a miracle, his health returned, allowing him to enter the ministry as rector of nearby Saint Andrews Church, which had served plantation owners since 1706 and still stands just two miles down the highway towards Charleston. But until his death a half-century later, along with his ministry, Rev. Drayton continued to devote himself to the enhancement of the plantation garden, expressing his desire to a fellow minister in Philadelphia, "...to create an earthly paradise in which my dear Julia may forever forget Philadelphia and her desire to return there."
In tune with the changes he had seen taking place in English gardening away from the very formal design earlier borrowed from the French, John Grimk� Drayton moved towards greater emphasis on embellishing the soft natural beauty of the site. More than anyone else he can be credited with the internationally acclaimed informal beauty of the garden today. He introduced the first azaleas to America, and he was among the first to utilize Camellia Japonica in an outdoor setting. A great deal of Magnolia�s horticultural fame today is based on the large and varied collection of varieties of these two species�not the abundant and lovely Southern Magnolia for which the plantation just happened to have been named.
The outbreak of the American Civil War would threaten the welfare of the family, the house, and the gardens themselves. But the plantation would recover from the war to see additional growth of the gardens as they became the focus of the plantation over agriculture when the gardens opened to the public for the first time in 1870 and saved the plantation from ruin. Since that time, the plantation and gardens have evolved and grown into one of the greatest public gardens in America with a rich history. To explore that history in-depth and hear the stories of those who lived and worked there over the centuries, visit Magnolia Plantation & Gardens today.
1840 and Aunt Phoebe
Magnolia Gate in the 1920s
Nature's Mirror
Magnolia Plantation saw immense wealth and growth through the cultivation of rice during the Colonial era. Later, British and American troops would occupy its grounds during the American Revolution, while the Drayton sons would become both statesmen and soldiers fighting against British rule.
The establishment of the early gardens at Magnolia Plantation in the late 17th century would see an explosion of beauty and expansion throughout the 18th century, but it was not until the early 19th century did the gardens at Magnolia truly begin to expand on a grand scale.
Upon his death in 1825, Thomas Drayton, the great grandson of Magnolia�s first Drayton, willed the estate successively to his daughter�s sons, Thomas and John Grimk�. As he had no male heirs to leave it to, he made the condition in the will that they assume their mother�s maiden name of Drayton. Some time later, while in England preparing for the ministry, young John Grimk� Drayton received word that his older brother Thomas had died on the steps of the plantation house of a gunshot wound received while riding down the oak avenue during a deer hunt. Thus, having expected to inherit little or nothing as a second son, young John found himself a wealthy plantation owner at the age of 22.
Despite the prestige and wealth inherent in ownership of Magnolia and other plantations, he resolved still to pursue his ministerial career; and in 1838 he entered the Episcopal seminary in New York. While there, he fell in love with, and married, Julia Ewing, daughter of a prominent Philadelphia attorney. Returning to Charleston with his bride, he strove to complete his clerical studies while bearing the burden of managing his large estate. The pressure took its toll, and his fatigue resulted in tuberculosis. His own cure for the illness was working outside in the gardens he loved. He also wanted to create a series of romantic gardens for his wife to make her feel more at home in the South Carolina Lowcountry. A few years later, as though by a miracle, his health returned, allowing him to enter the ministry as rector of nearby Saint Andrews Church, which had served plantation owners since 1706 and still stands just two miles down the highway towards Charleston. But until his death a half-century later, along with his ministry, Rev. Drayton continued to devote himself to the enhancement of the plantation garden, expressing his desire to a fellow minister in Philadelphia, "...to create an earthly paradise in which my dear Julia may forever forget Philadelphia and her desire to return there."
In tune with the changes he had seen taking place in English gardening away from the very formal design earlier borrowed from the French, John Grimk� Drayton moved towards greater emphasis on embellishing the soft natural beauty of the site. More than anyone else he can be credited with the internationally acclaimed informal beauty of the garden today. He introduced the first azaleas to America, and he was among the first to utilize Camellia Japonica in an outdoor setting. A great deal of Magnolia�s horticultural fame today is based on the large and varied collection of varieties of these two species�not the abundant and lovely Southern Magnolia for which the plantation just happened to have been named.
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December 6th, 2014
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Viewed 1,598 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 03/14/2024 at 1:40 PM
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Clarence, NY - United States
Thank you B. for the feature in Daily Promotional Group. I am honored and I appreciate this very much.
Western, IL - United States
Congratulations! Your marvelous art has been featured on the Home Page of the ABC Group. This art has been selected from the ABC Group's R IS FOR RIVER themed week. You are invited to add this to the features archive discussions and in another discussion in ABC Group!
Kathleen Struckle replied:
Thank you Pamela for the feature in the ABC Group. I am honored and I appreciate this very much
Bensalem, PA - United States
Congratulations your beautiful work is being featured in The World We See Group:-)
Kathleen Struckle replied:
Thank you Robyn for the feature in The World We See Group. I am honored and I appreciate this very much
Clarence, NY - United States
Thank you Mahesh for the feature in Art and Mediation Group. I appreciate this very much
Clarence, NY - United States
Thank you Jennie for the feature in No Place Like Home Group. I appreciate this very much
Clarence, NY - United States
Thank you John for the feature in Images That Excite You Group. I appreciate this very much
Port Orange, FL - United States
One of your peers nominated this image in the 1000 views Groups nominated images by your fellow artist in the Special Features #2 promotion discussion. Please visit and pass on the love to another artist. https://fineartamerica.com/groups/1000-views-on-1-image.html?showmessage=true&messageid=2783458
Livonia, Mi - United States
Very beautiful, Kathleen. Love the sense of serenity which you have captured. f/l
Clarence, NY - United States
Top finisher in Landscape That Has Been Featured Contest 4/2015 Thank you for the votes
Nederland, TX - United States
Wonderful image! Congratulations on your feature in the “Landscape and Landmark Photography” group!
Kathleen Struckle replied:
Thank you Judy for the feature in Landscapes Photography Group. Very much appreciated.
Clarence, NY - United States
Thank you Michele for the feature in Uplifting Art Group.I appreciate this very much
Clarence, NY - United States
Top finisher in For The Office contest.3/5/2015 Thank you for the votes.
Clarence, NY - United States
Top finisher in Best Travel Photos contest 1. 2/4/2015 Thank you for the votes
Clarence, NY - United States
Top finisher in ABC Contest N Is For Nature. 1/2015 Thank you for the votes
Clarence, NY - United States
Thank you Michael for the feature in Uplifting Work Group. Very much appreciated
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