When walking through the main house grounds of Magnolia Plantation people from out of town will always ask ‘have you seen any Alligators’. They see the cameras. Everyone wants to see an Alligator.

This time some visitors were in the back pond area wandering a trail. When I was asked this time I could turn and point around the water. It’s easy to miss the gators, especially early when the light is any open waters.

These three were there and gave the visitors a story to take home.

First seen was the big guy below, in his almost daily spot. The little log and grass makes a shot I have taken more than once. This morning light was near perfect.

The next people had passed right by. Again not a small one but this time he was close the the waters edge where the rail turned and nobody looked. Alligators are good at that.

Last is a gator that looked to be passing through.

The pond has a ‘gator trail’ leading to a swampy area, that leads to another short trail to a marsh and the Ashley River. All this is compressed into a small space since each corner attaches to each other. What this means is the wide Ashley is a highway to the peaceful ponds here. They just come and go as they please.

This post is just an example of a fun interaction we get often. While the Alligator have their trails the photographers also have their own. It’s right through the plantation grounds too.

“City’ gators by Magnolia Plantation Gardens.