Join us for an artist talk with Stephen King, the creative mind behind Against the Grain: Fingerprints from the Forest, an exhibition capturing the life and essence of trees. Stephen’s unique relief printmaking process breathes new life into fallen trees, preserving their intricate patterns and history on paper. Each piece reflects his deep respect for trees as ancient giants—essential, silent protectors of our ecosystem. 

Through his art, Stephen invites us to recognize trees not only as a renewable resource but as “old souls” and “unsung heroes” that sustain life around us. In this talk, Stephen will discuss his process, inspiration, and the significance of trees as the true giants among us. Don’t miss this chance to experience nature’s story told through the beautiful details of tree rings and relief. 

Congratulations!

Brookgreen Gardens awarded nine community members for its inaugural Huntington Exemplary Service Award at noon on June 18, 2022. Established to recognize individuals who have worked to improve race relations in Georgetown and Horry Counties in 2021-22, the award was bestowed in honor of our founders, Anna and Archer Huntington, and in recognition of Brookgreen’s 90th Anniversary. Nominations were received via the Brookgreen website and reviewed by a community-wide committee.

Recipients are: Zenobia Harper, Marilyn Hemingway, Kelvin Waites, and Steve Williams (Georgetown County); Tracy Bailey, Veronica Gerald Floyd, Reverend Cheryl Moore Adamson, and The World Community Magazine (Horry County); and Issac Bailey (State).

The Awards Ceremony took place during Brookgreen’s Juneteenth Celebration.

    Visit Keepsakes this Wednesday 2-4pm for a special

author appearance!  Rose Tomlin will be here signing her books.

Duel of the Heart.

An exhibit of paintings by members of the Brookgreen Gardens Plein Air Guild.  Many of the paintings are of scenes of Brookgreen or other outdoor locations painted on site.  On view daily in the Noble Gallery of the Rainey Sculpture Pavilion.

Interested in joining the Brookgreen Plein Air Guild? Find information here. 

Open Daily 10AM to 2PM

This seasonal exhibit features a lush garden filled with tropical plants where hundreds of butterflies soar through the air or perch on your shoulders.

Gulf Fritillary, Monarch, Zebra Longwing, Giant Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, and American Lady are just a few of the species that call Whispering Wings home.  Colorful, dainty creatures, butterflies belong to the Lepidoptera order of insects. They are cold-blooded and depend on the sun to regulate their temperature. They are essential pollinators in the garden and need nectar plants for adult butterflies, host plants that provide food and camouflage for caterpillars, and plants that provide shelter from wind and predators.

Whispering Wings also contains a pupae emergence room where visitors may observe the transformation from chrysalis to adult butterflies!

We, the people of Brookgreen Gardens, invite you to come out, one and all, on September 17, 2022, to celebrate the signing of the Constitution from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Carolina Gold Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, activities will include Storytelling, Children’s Parade led by George Washington, crafts, and more. It will be a fun and educational event for the whole family. The event will begin at the Lowcountry Center and shall occur throughout the gardens.

“From Chaos to Beloved Community: Envisioning Social Justice” opens August 5 – November 30 in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium.

Curated by Torreah “Cookie” Washington, the 2022/2023 African American Fiber Art Traveling Exhibition features 19 pieces crafted by African American fiber artists from throughout the nation.

The 50-minute interactive program informs about values and qualities that are inherent to Gullah Geechee heritage. Songs, poetry, excerpts from cultural writings, and personal insights are presented by Ron Daise, Vice President for Creative Education.  “Cotch de laarnin,” that is, receive awareness about the significance of a living culture that exists in communities along the southeastern coast of the United States. The program is free with garden admission.

In Sept of 2021 Mike Lassiter gave a talk at Brookgreen Gardens on his new book Our Vanishing Americana South Carolina, he was accompanied by a film crew for SCETV.

Join us on July 16 at 2:30  in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium with Brookgreen U as we view the one hour documentary that follows Mike Lassiter on his journey across South Carolina capturing the stories of historic, often family-run businesses, that line main streets from the coast to the upstate. Visits include general and grocery stores, pharmacies with ice cream fountains, classic old movie houses, barber shops, landmark restaurants, and more. Presented by SCETV and filmed over the past year by Susie Films, the documentary is scheduled for broadcast in the ETV viewing area in August 2022, followed by a national release.

Mike Lassiter is a North Carolina native, raised primarily in Statesville. A graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Campbell University School of Law, he currently practices law in his hometown. His passion for photography and appreciation of days gone by led to his journey throughout the backroads and Main Streets of North and South Carolina. His first book, Our Vanishing Americana: A North Carolina Portrait, was published in 2006 and has sold more than 10,000 copies. In 2009, he produced Our Vanishing Americana, a documentary for Public Television.

This program received three Emmy nominations for the Mid-South Region. Mike lives in Davidson, North Carolina with his wife, Kate. He has spent his lifetime traveling with family to the beaches of South Carolina, and since 1989, to their vacation home at Pawleys Island. Copies of both books will be available for purchase and signing at the screening.

The company Ron and Natalie Daise of Georgetown, SC, has released a set of two self-published novellas authored by cultural interpreter Ron Daise. We Wear the Mask, Unraveled Truths in a Pre-Gullah Community and Turtle Dove Done Drooped His Wings, A Gullah Tale of Fight or Flight are the initial launch of Ron’s “Geechee Literature Series.”

An author of several books, singer, and performer, Ron Daise also is Vice President for Creative Education at Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC; star of Nick Jr. TV’s “Gullah Gullah Island”; a former chairman of the federal Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission; and a recipient of The Palmetto Award of SC, The Governor’s Award, and the Jean Lacey Harris Heritage Award.