Inspiration: Charleston style

I just returned home from my first visit to Charleston, South Carolina- or as I like to now call it ” the best quaffed city in the United States”.

All I can say is- wow! The belles and beaus of this southern gem sure know how to make an exterior style statement! (after all how could I not fall in love with a city that has a street nicknamed “rainbow row”!)

Being a huge fan of all things garden, I took off on a dreary, gray New York morning with great expectations of landing in a warmer, more colorful land.

Charleston, in the midst of it’s spring blooming glory, did not disappoint. The city’s historic district, with it’s gas lights, grand porches, abundance of breathtaking landscapes, and gentle bay breeze… simply oozes charm! The perfect mix of low-country hospitality and big city sophistication.

As we strolled for hours throughout the city’s cobblestone streets- from private gardens to historical church grave yards, my husband and I uttered the phrase ” wow, look at this place”- more times then I could count!

I return to New York, with a new craving for sweet tea, cheese grits and all things Charleston…the garden gloves are off!!! I’m now determined to bring some of this southern charm to my northeastern plantation!

Get inspired too!… here are some photos (all taken during just one of our many aimless, adventure walks)….

First a pic of our room- not too shabby!!

Two typical side yards… not a huge amount of property- just wonderfully designed so that they feel so much grander in size

The window boxes were incredible!! The row houses that had only private backyards, really used their windows and front door to create an intimate, street front “garden oasis”.

I love the use of mostly just variegated greens on these two homes.

Obviously a garden owned by a real Francophile! Definitely one of the coolest garden entrances I’ve ever seen!

I love how they used flower pots that are similar to the color of the house… in person the red/orange of the geraniums really “popped”.

Even the grave yards are a place of beauty! Some of that famous Spanish moss I had been waiting to see- interestingly I learned ( on my horse and carriage tour) that due to the damage the historical district endured during Hurricane Hugo- much of the moss has disappeared!

A telephone pole dressed to a ‘T’ with pansies and climbing clematis.

I’m entranced with these steps – I must find a way to make this work on my house, maybe ivy, I’ll let you know…

A house For Sale that is the same color as my house back in New York – hum, could this be my new home?

I’ll keep you up-to-date as I begin my garden redo this spring….

Until then…Have you recently visited or written about a place that has inspired you? Let me know… we’d love to share your story or photos with our readers!

Rainbow row photo from Charleston low country.com

Garden photo from Historical Charleston.org