There is nothing prettier than a fresh wreath made with different shades of green and with different textures! It isn’t hard to make a wreath and garland yourself for the holidays. Join Brookgreen Gardens horticulture volunteers as they show you the tricks of making a beautiful wreath or garland for the upcoming holidays. Free with Garden admission.

Class is full at this time.

Join Charles Ruth of the Department of Natural Resources, as he tells you the life history, restoration, and current status of the wild turkey in South Carolina. Free with Garden admission

Join photographers George DeCamp and his special guest, Bill Jones, as they share some of their beautiful photos of birds in honor of National Bird Day. Highlighting amazing photographs from the late Thomas Benson, you will learn more about bird watching with a camera instead of binoculars. In addition, learn other important things we can do for our feathered friends. The talk will be followed by a bird walk in Brookgreen Gardens led by Hal Vivian, a long-time member of the Audubon Society and an avid birder. 

About the Speaker: 

George DeCamp is an international award-winning nature photographer. His images have appeared in various magazines, corporate publications and several museums including 'The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History' in Washington DC, 'The Natural History Museum' in London and several others. 

Dr. Martin, Professor of African American Studies & English at the College of Charleston, will discuss the value of folklore in society. Who are the folk and what exactly is lore? Focusing specifically on the origins and context of West African cultural practices that evolved into African American folklore, she will share the meaning and beauty behind many folk practices and beliefs held by various populations of people of African descent.

About the Speaker: 

Dr. Kameelah L. Martin was raised in a military family and has lived all over the United States. She entered Georgia Southern University as a first generation college student and earned her BA in English and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Afro-American Studies from the University of California Los Angeles. Dr. Martin earned her PhD in English from Florida State University in 2006. Her area of focus is twentieth century African American literature with an emphasis in folklore and, more specifically, the African American conjuring tradition. Her dissertation earned the FSU Department of English J. Russell Reaver Award for Outstanding Dissertation in American Literature or Folklore. Dr. Martin’s research explores the lore cycle of the conjure woman, or black priestess, as an archetype in literature and visual texts. In 2013, Palgrave McMillan published her first monograph Conjuring Moments in African American Literature: Women, Spirit Work, & Other Such Hoodoo which engages how African American authors have shifted, recycled, and reinvented the conjure woman figure primarily in twentieth century fiction. Dr. Martin is also the author of Envisioning Black Feminist Voodoo Aesthetics: African Spirituality in American Cinema (Lexington 2016) which explores the treatment of the priestess figure in American cinema. 

Join Passage Products for an enriching experience that explores the time-honored herbal teas and remedies of the Gullah-Geechee people, rooted in West African traditions. This immersive workshop offers guided tastings, engaging discussions, and a deeper understanding of the cultural significance and resilience behind these natural blends. Whether you're a tea enthusiast or a cultural explorer, this unique event will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the wisdom of the Gullah-Geechee community. 

About the Speaker: 

Jacque Williams is not just an entrepreneur, she is a Gullah Geechee Herbalist, Alchemist, and Cultural Historian. Born and raised in the small community of Midway located outside of the seaport city of Georgetown, SC, Jacque’s roots run deep in the rich traditions of the Gullah Geechee people, who are the direct descendants of West Africans that were brought to the South for the purposes of rice production. Her upbringing with her “Big Mama”, Elizabeth Sumter and Grandmother Myrtle Gathers, immersed her in the healing wisdom passed down from generations. That very same wisdom is what Jacque infuses into her brand Passage Products, creating handcrafted teas and skincare products that are enjoyed by customers all around the world. 

*This event is full.

The Chanticleer from Clay to Bronze; How to Build a Public Sculpture with Bryan Rapp.

Bryan Rapp, Director of Master Sculpture Program at Brookgreen Gardens, will offer a presentation on how he constructed the Chanticleer sculpture for Coastal Carolina University, which will be installed soon. He will show images and videos of the process from clay to bronze.

Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium and free with Garden admission. 

Celebrate World Poetry Day at Brookgreen Gardens!

I am a South Carolina poet whose chapbook, The Book of Myth (Stepping Stones Press, 2009) was one of six winners in the South Carolina Poetry Initiative chapbook contest. I am motivated to write about the questions I think of: A long life, what I read in the news, my coastal environment, and people who populate my circle. I am inspired by certain folk who bring questions, issues, and beauty to my life. What stirs in my inner self compels me to stay the course. It’s only through craft that I find meaning in words.

Free with Garden admission.

Join Jimmy Brandt, a Brookgreen Gardens horticulturist, for an overview of shade gardening, with recommendations for plant selection and usage. Jimmy will share his experience gardening in shad, highlight plants that perform well in our area, and provide suggestions on how you can transform your shady spaces into beautiful gardens at home!

Free with Garden admission.

A woman moved to Georgetown in 1936, bought a house three miles south of the town of Georgetown, and opened a brothel. She ingratiated herself to the town by having a single location for her business and by not embarrassing the residents. She made a lot of money and she spent a lot of money on Front Street. Her name can be found in the local newspaper as a donor to the March of Dimes and the Easter Seals. She was as generous to Georgetown charities each year as was International Paper. She owned her brothel 33 years, finally closing in 1969 and retiring in the same location. 

Free with Garden admission.

Celebrate World Wildlife Day with us! The Huntington’s are well known for their vast contributions of art and museums, but they also left behind a legacy of stewardship of our natural resources. Ranger Mike Walker will discuss how their love of nature and wildlife guided the development of Huntington Beach State Park, and how the park works with many partners (including Brookgreen Gardens) to keep this legacy alive by protecting threatened and endangered species such as sea turtles, shorebirds, seabirds, wading birds, seabeach amaranth, and more!

Free with Garden admission.