One of the McIlhenny’s (Tabasco family) was a conservationist who transformed part of the island into a Jungle Garden.  It is home to once almost extinct. but now thriving egrets, alligators are in the bayous alongside the trails, and one small snake scurried out of my way alongside some blazing azaleas.  A few squirrels and turtles resting below the egret nests were the only other wildlife we saw.  We weren't saddened by missing the bobcats and a litany of other wildlife purportedly present here.  Some other visitors were kind enough to point out the alligator trails in the swampy water to me so I could see where they had been.  We saw a few sleeping in the slime of the bayous, but we had been warned not to approach them, so we heeded the warning!

A forest of live oaks draped with Spanish Moss was stunning; each vista more spectacular than the previous one.  I couldn't help but think of the Elizabeth Taylor/Montgomery Clift movie, Raintree County.  It could have been filmed here.  Took lots of photos again.