This Is the Color of Spring … And a Bit of History

The happy, happy flowers here dwell along Lake Greenwood in Ninety Six, South Carolina. Yep, that’s the town’s name, Ninety Six.

So how did it get its name? Some say that most likely, Ninety Six was named when a surveyor estimated that it was ninety six miles to Keowee, the capital of the Cherokee nation. Several battles were fought there. The first Revolutionary War land battle in the South was fought at Ninety Six November 19-21, 1775. Later, considered a major back-country outpost, British forces fortified Ninety Six, building a stockade around the village; at one corner they constructed a star-shaped fort of massive earthen embankments. Inside Star Fort, the British held out for 28 days in May through June, 1781 against a siege by General Nathaniel Greene and his American Continental Army. There’s a lot more history about this little town in South Carolina, and I encourage you to read it! Remnants of the fortress remain. My little family visited the historical national park years ago in May, and let me tell you, it is wicked hot outside. We just could not imagine wearing wool suits and surviving! Makes you wonder how many died of heat stroke.

We have a yearly family reunion at my Aunt and Uncle’s home on Lake Greenwood, that area is such a beautiful place. No wonder all of the plants and flowers thrive there!