The east gardens stretch eastward from the main residence for approximately before descending in a series of terraces to the floodplain of the Ashley River. Two congruent ponds at the eastern base of the terraces resemble butterfly wings, and are thus known as the "Butterfly Lakes". Levees separate the ponds from the river to the north and from the mill pond to the south. A smaller by garden (subdivided into four still smaller gardens) lies between the north and east gardens.