Brookgreen Gardens
On a recent trip to Myrtle Beach, SC Debb visited Brookgreen Gardens. Brookgreen is actually situated in the low country of Murrell's Inlet, SC.just south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Brookgreen Gardens was the estate of Archer Milton Huntington and his wife Anna Hyatt Huntington. In 1930 they bought more than 9000 acres of former rice plantations, to display the works of Anna Hyatt Huntington. Eventually the couple acquired a vast collection of nineteenth and twentieth century sculpture. All the works in the collection are by Americans (or naturalized Americans), are representational, and are in permanent materials, suitable for outdoor display.
Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark, is considered the finest public sculpture garden in America. Stephen May of The New York Times once said that "Brookgreen provides an unusual opportunity for a survey of just about every major American representational sculptor of the last century and a half."
There are more than 9,000 acres
in Brookgreen's property and more than 550 works of art in the
garden by more than 240 artists. And the majestic live oaks within
the gardens are over 250 years old. Since opening to the public
in 1932, Brookgreen Gardens has cultivated its tradition of welcoming
visitors to the tranquil beauty and
incomparable collections of sculpture, plants and animals. It's
truly an inspiring getaway.
Here are a few photographs from the visit
An impressive armillary sundail sculpture.
A sculptured muses fountain and iris blooming along a pond bank.
Symmetrical lion statues guard a sculptured figure.
A huge southern oak tree with spanish moss covered branches. These trees are so large that their heavy branches touch the ground.
Shadows paint a design on a shaded pathway.