ode to hampton park.

I've written about my love of Hampton Park before, but I really can't say enough about one of my favorite places in Charleston. Now that it's a block from my house, I stroll over with the pup several times a week. It's the perfect way to end a long day.

A lot of people don't know about the park — even people who grew up here — so it feels a bit like a hidden gem. That said, more and more people seem to be discovering its charms, and it's so nice to see the grounds full of runners, picnic-ers, cyclists, and people walking their dogs.

I rarely see them at work, but the park's volunteers do an amazing job with the gardens — they always seem to be in bloom. In the early spring, the azaleas and camellias flood the park with vibrant pinks and reds. Later in the summer, the hydrangeas explode with bright blue and purple blooms (I'm always tempted to steal a few stems!), and the magnolias fill the park with their fragrance. Right now the roses are peaking — stop by soon and take a sniff, and maybe scramble up a sprawling live oak while you're at it.

photos taken with my iPhone.