Nestled in the area south of the Murrells Inlet in South Carolina is a community garden that will take your breath away – Brookgreen Gardens.
The 9,100-acre property is home to many themed gardens, American sculptures, and natural ecosystems that will take you back to a former time.
If you’ve never been to Brookgreen Gardens, we say its high time to take a road trip. Here are seven things you should know about Brookgreen Gardens that make it a fantastic stop for any family:
1.It’s a public landmark
Part of Brookgreen Gardens (1,600 acres to be exact) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
In 1984, the sculpture garden portion was listed as a National Historic Landmark. If you’re taking a scenic tour of the country’s landmarks, be sure to include this community garden on your list!
2.It used to be a rice plantation
Brookgreen Gardens wasn’t always home to beautiful plants, lush greenery, and American sculptures. Before the gardens opened in 1932, the property consisted of four rice plantations and was called Brookgreen Plantation.
3.It was established by a husband and wife team
In 1929, Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington visited the property because they wanted to see the beauty of it. The couple was originally from Connecticut and were looking to establish a winter home on the cost. But when they visited, they saw the potential of the swamp, rice fields, and beachfront.
Anna was a sculptor and quickly realized how beautiful the property would be for displaying her sculptures. After three years and a lot of hard work, the property became the country’s first public sculpture garden and still has the largest collection of figurative sculpture by American artists in an outdoor setting.
4.Wildlife is preserved there
Brookgreen Gardens is more than a community garden and sculpture collection. The area acts as a nature and historical preservation. When you visit the Brookgreen nature exhibition center, you will find:
- Historical information
- Tours
- Programs
- Exhibits
- Guided tours
- Info on special events
5.They value the environment
Being a wildlife preservation, naturally Brookgreen cares about the environment. To lower their carbon footprint, Brookgreen Gardens uses MCG BioMarkers® to label their plants and flowers.
Perfect for lasting through all seasons, MCG BioMarkers® are made from DuraMaze™, a proprietary blend of corn cob by-products, or Biomass and recycled plastics. Biomass is a sustainable and renewable resource that is easier on the environment than traditionally manufactured garden labels.
6.The gardens have won several awards
Brookgreen Gardens has been named as one of the top 10 public gardens by Coastal Living Magazine. It’s also won many other awards – check them out!
7.There’s a zoo on the property
If you have little ones, then be sure to visit the Lowcountry Zoo, which is also on the Brookgreen property! You can also check out the ponds where the Brookgreen plantation houses used to be and visit the animals in areas that have been maintained as close to their natural habitats as possible.
