Since we will be moving soon, we finally decided to do some of things that we've been meaning to do since we moved here three years ago. Yesterday, me took short drive south and visited two plantation homes. Our first stop was Oak Alley Plantation. The home is about 1/4 mile from the Mississippi River levee. The land was settled in the early 1700's, and had been a booming sugar cane plantation. There is still an active sugar cane plantation on the premises. The oak trees you see are about 300+ years old. They have a life expectancy of about 600 years. It amazes me that they have stood up to who knows how many hurricanes - these trees predate the weather records. The photo below is the view from the house facing the river.
This tree had been struck by lightening years ago, and had been repaired with tar and bricks to stabilize it.
This tree had resurrection fern growing on it. The fern is usually dried up and brown, but after a rain it looks lush and green.
This is the view from the side of the house opposite the oak trees. This entryway was installed in the last century by the previous owner. It is in the shape of a teardrop. It was done that way because the owner felt that slavery was a terrible time in our nation's history, and she wanted a kind of memorial for the slaves that had once lived on that land.
More to come later of our other stop.
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