A Traveling Museum Exhibition of Miniature Paintings by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist

Wes and Rachelle Siegrist capture the attention of viewers with miniature paintings so exquisitely rendered that they are often mistaken for photographs. Miniature art has been in existence for centuries and the current revival in its popularity has given rise to miniature art societies, which in turn have given the Siegrists a platform for international recognition among peers and collectors. Their tiny treasures typically measure less than 9 square inches and appear even more detailed when viewed under magnification. Consequently, Wes and Rachelle Siegrist enjoy a dimension of interactivity with viewers that few painters of standard easel-size paintings enjoy. A hallmark of their work is the ability to convey the feel of larger canvases or the essence of the natural world in miniature. It is no wonder that the Siegrists have been referred to as "World Ambassadors for Miniature Art".

This is the only South Carolina exhibition of these astonishing works. Make plans to visit!

Magnifying glasses are available for use in the gallery.

David J. Wagner, Ph.D.
Curator/Tour Director

This exhibition is generously sponsored in part by Gwen and Richard Heusel.

September 17 is designated “Constitution Day” as this is the date when the Constitution of the United States of America was formally signed.  In celebration of the signing of the Constitution, the Carolina Gold Chapter and the Theodosia Burr Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution invite staff, volunteers and guests of Brookgreen Gardens to participate in the following activities:

 At 2:15 pm,  gather at the Constitution Oak at Brookgreen Gardens where, at 2:30 pm, members of the Carolina Gold Chapter NSDAR will begin to read the Constitution. The Constitution Oak is left of the Pegasus lawn.

 At 3:30 pm, staff, volunteers, and guests of Brookgreen Gardens are to gather at the Brookgreen Bell Tower. The Bell will be tolled thirteen times beginning at 4:00 pm (once for each of the original thirteen colonies with the last signer of the Constitution having signed at 4:00 pm).   Staff, volunteers, and guests will be invited to help toll the bell. 

Imagination Walk 2024: A Magical Adventure for the Whole Family!

Set off on a whimsical journey through the gardens on Saturday, October 26, 2024, anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. for our annual “Imagination Walk.” Wear your favorite costume and explore a day filled with exciting activities, creative crafts, and plenty of treats!

Pick up your scavenger hunt map next at the Butterfly Field, and follow the path to the Storybook Forest. Along the way, you’ll discover new activities, including Magical Creature Mask-Making, where you can create your mythical masks, and Potion-Making, where you’ll brew glowing “potions” using safe, colorful ingredients. Don’t miss our Wishing Tree, where little ones can hang their dreams on a special tree.

Storytime will be provided by the Waccamaw Neck Branch Library, featuring magical tales that will captivate young listeners and spark their imagination. We’re also excited to introduce a Face Painting station this year, where you can transform into your favorite character or animal before heading out on your adventure!

In addition to these new experiences, fan-favorite stations like Frog Races and DIY Bracelets will be back, offering endless fun for children ages 3-12 and the young at heart. There will be a Costume Parade at 2:00 pm with prizes for the most creative costumes.

This family-friendly event is free with Garden admission. Make lasting memories and celebrate the magic of the season at Brookgreen Gardens!

For National Honeybee Day the Education Department will have an information table set up at the Observation Deck Beehive from 10 am - 4 pm. Volunteers will give information about bees, the hive, and some fun facts. Guests will be invited to make a craft and learn about how they can help save the bees!

Join Hal Vivian, a member and volunteer at Brookgreen Gardens for 25 years and an avid birder. Hal was a member of the Bucks County, Pennsylvania Audubon Society and the Waccamaw Audubon Society where he served as President for 2 years.

The group will meet at the Welcome Center after checking in at the front gate. Everyone will board a vehicle for the trip. The route will be from the Welcome Center to Beach Alley; Beach Alley to Pond Road; from Pond Road over to Oaks; then back to Beach Alley.

Participants need to bring/wear: hat, sunglasses, closed-toed outdoor style shoes, insect repellant, water & binoculars.   Please make sure to dress appropriately for the weather conditions, and you are more than welcome to bring your birding book.    Please be aware, there will be a significant amount of walking.

Rain or Shine  (Rain plan to host birding seminar / lecture under Leonard pavilion or zoo program shed)  

Excursion is from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (gates to open 6:30 am) and there are 11 maximum participants per day

Ticket cost: $10 Members, $25 Non-members (no children under 12)

One ticket is required for each person. Space is very limited, therefore tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available for sale the day of the excursion.

Tickets are non-refundable; unused tickets will be considered a donation to Brookgreen Gardens. Only open to those aged 12 and over.  

Changes and registration can not be made after 5:00 pm on Wednesdays prior to program date.

Portrait Sculpture – Beyond Likeness with Marc Mellon, FNSS, $550 plus materials fee and model’s fee (includes a ticket to Nights of a Thousand Candles)  

The four-day class will be structured to advance the portrait skills of both beginners and more advanced modelers.  Mellon will discuss and demonstrate lighting and photographing the model, basic armature building, and tools and varieties of surface treatment.  He will discuss ways of conceiving the portrait, utilizing proportional ideas, abstraction of mass, and basic facial anatomy.   He will also discuss and demonstrate training the eye, finding likeness, and expressing personality through nuance and selective emphasis.  Students will be encouraged to keep a photographic record of their process.  Reviewing any books on sculpting a portrait and artistic anatomy are encouraged, as are tutorials available online.

The workshop is $550 plus materials fee. For registration information, click here. 

William Barclay Hall, founder of the Charleston Tea Plantation, is a world-renowned tea taster and tea maker who is the founder of the Charleston Tea Plantation. An expert, third-generation tea taster, he received formal training in a four-year tea apprenticeship in London, England; and has traveled extensively throughout the tea-growing regions of the world.

Join Caleb Dennis of Brookgreen’s Zoological staff as he helps us understand the value of snakes and their purpose in our ecosystem. He will show how to identify a venomous snake from a non-venomous snake, and their importance in a food chain.

Jim Martin  recently completed the European Master Certification Program, a three-year intensive floral arts study. He is currently Director of Programs at Charleston Parks Conservancy.

Create Flower Moments using your creativity and the Garden. Our gardens are filled with endless floral opportunities. Harnessing this ability means looking at these spaces with new eyes. Join Jim as he plays with plants, structures, and interesting techniques that lend a fresh approach to bringing the garden into the home. Walk away with tips and tricks sure to inspire the flower arranger in you that is just waiting to emerge. Following a drawing, a lucky participant will have a chance to take home one of the demo arrangements!

Does pruning your bushes and trees leave you scratching your head? Let Cheney Taylor, Brookgreen's resident Arborist, show you the right way to prune the woodies in your garden. From the proper cuts to the best time of year for the job, Cheney will take the mystery out of pruning.