The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at Swan Lake Iris Gardens
822 West Liberty Street
Sumter, South Carolina 29150
September 19, 2020
 USA map showing location of North CarolinaSC map showing location of Sumter

Swan Lake Iris Gardens began in 1927 as a private fishing lake for wealthy businessman Hamilton Carr Bland, who also began landscaping his garden with Japanese Iris flowers. It is currently the only public park in the United States to have all eight species of swans; including Royal White Mutes, Black Necks, Coscorobas, Whoopers, Black Australians, Whistlers, Bewicks, and Trumpeters.

On this date, Karen Duquette was able to photograph 3 of these 8 species. There were not as many swans here in 2020 as there were in 2019 - check out the Flashback below. The photos from these two years are quite different from each other.
Welcome to City of Sumter sign Swan Lake Iris Garden entrance

Below: Swan Lake Iris Garden is actually located on both sides of a busy street, so it has a bridge for visitors to walk across.
bridge from one side of street to the other side bridge from one side of street to the other side

Below: A metal sculpture and a water fountain.
a metal schulpture and a water fountain Swan Lake Iris Garden sign
a metal schulpture and a water fountain a metal schulpture and a water fountain

Below: The Swans
sign about swans

Below: Royal White Mute Swans
Royal White Mute Swan sign Royal White Mute Swan information
Royal White Mute Swan Royal White Mute Swan
Royal White Mute Swans

Below: Signs about the Black Neck Swans. The two RV Gypsies did see them here, but they were off in the distance behind a fence and could not be photographed. That is okay because the two RV Gypsies have seen black swans elsewhere.
sign about the Black Neck Swans sign about the Black Neck Swans

Below: Black Australians
sign about the Black Australian Swans sign about the Black Australian Swans
Black Australian Swans
Black Australian Swans Black Australian Swans
a Black Australian Swan a Black Australian Swan

Below: Coscorobas Swans
sign about the Coscorobas Swans sign about the Coscorobas Swans

Whistlers
sign about Whistler Swans sign about Whistler Swans
whistler swan whistler swan

Below: The two RV Gypsies saw these 3 swans several times in different areas.
3 swans in a row 3 swans in a row
statue fountain and cypress knees
tree in the lake directional signs
Scabiosa atropurpuria sign
pincushion bush
flowers
Chocolate Vegetable Garden sign
purple flower sign
purple flower bush
chocolate chair Lee Duquette on the chocolate chair
pinus taeda tree sign
close-up of the tree bark
Camellia Island sign

Recovery is a monumental work by renowned sculptor Grainger McKoy, and it has taken flight at Swan Lake Iris Gardens. The sculpture stands almost 18 feet high from ground level. The actual wing is 14-feet in height and weighs about 1,500 pounds. The sculpture is visible from nearly every point of the south side of the gardens. Following an entire year's work, it was unveiled to the public on May 1, 2010.

Note: Quotes about the Recovery Sculpture is from the brochure obtained at the gardens in 2019.

Recovery sculpture sign

The stainless steel sculpture represents the wing of a pintail duck in flight. This is when it is least productive and most vulnerable, yet has the grace and beauty that exists nowhere else. The wing was inspired by an earlier sculpture, Pintails, and represents a step beyond the 6-ft Recovery Stroke that Mr. McKoy created in 2006. The Swan Lake Sculpture is more than twice the size of the one it was based upon.

Recovery Sculpture Recovery Sculpture
Recovery Sculpture Recovery Sculpture

Below: View from the bridge crossing over the street and exiting the bridge. The flowers and scenery were much better in 2019, so the two RV Gypsies did not take pictures on this side of the bridge. To see the three pages of the 2019 pictures, choose the link below. There is a link at the bottom of the third 2019 page to bring you back here.
Swan Lake Iris Garden Swan Lake Iris Garden

look below

back button FLASHBACK - It is recommended that If you have not seen the Swan Lake photos from 2019, go there now, because unlike this date in 2020, the flowers were in bloom plus there were a lot more swans, turtles, dragonflies, etc. Plus Karen Duquette was with the Camera Club and they spent more time at Swan Lake than the two RV Gypsies did on this date. Photos taken are very different from these as there are 3 full pages. There is a link at the bottom of the third 2019 page that will bring you back here.

OR

go to the next adventure of the two RV Gypsies AFTER you have seen the 2019 Swan Lake photos via the link just above, Continue on in the order of occurrence in 2020 - to Georgetown, Pawleys Island and Lee's birthday dinner