Small in number but large with enthusiasm were members of the Glove and Trowel Garden Club who traveled to Murrells Inlet on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 on a field trip to Brookgreen Gardens – a 9,100 acre sculpture garden and wildlife preserve. Becky Lyell was our Hostess and Program Presenter.
Brookgreen Gardens offers one of the most beautiful landscapes on South Carolina’s Coast. It is the country’s first public sculpture garden and has the largest collection of figurative sculpture by American artists in an outdoor setting in the world. It is also a nature and historical preserve with a small zoo, and a nature exhibition center. It was developed and owned by Archer Milton Huntington (stepson of philanthropist Collis Potter Huntington) and his wife Anna Hyatt Huntington from Connecticut, who saw the potential to develop her vision of making it the showcase for her sculptures. It opened in 1932, and is built on four former rice plantations, taking its name from the former Brookgreen Plantation. About 1,445 works of American figurative sculpture are displayed at the Sculpture Garden. Many of the works are creations of sculptress Anna Hyatt Huntington, but other artists are also featured. Walkways and garden paths link the sculptures in their distinctive garden, fountain, or landscape settings, with vistas of the scenery surrounding them. Anna’s “FIGHTING STALLIONS” sculpture is at the garden park entrance.
Some of our members enjoyed the Creek Excursion for a closer peek at the areas history and wildlife – a cruise on a pontoon boat along historic rice fields now home to alligators, waterfowl, and osprey with an interpreter describing the distinctive landscape of the rice plantations.
Outside the entrance to the Welcome Center was a table filled with containers displaying the flowers in bloom throughout the garden at this present time. There was one that none of us had knowledge of – an orange azalea!!
After a delicious lunch at the Pavilion Restaurant, our President, Julie Sawyer, conducted a short business meeting. Recognition of April birthdays:
Rosemary Bethea (April 7) and Dawn Arnette (April 21). A name submitted for membership will be voted on at our May meeting. Other items for discussion in May: Program ideas/ hostess preference; two members to serve on a Tree Committee with Earl Dutton; Fund-raising Project; a volunteer for a flower arrangement for National Garden Week June 5 – 11, 2016.
Our GCSC, Inc. State Meeting is at Riverbanks Botanical Garden in Columbia on April 27 (5:30 p.m. Garden Dedication and Reception) and April 28 (State Meeting/ Awards Luncheon).
After our meeting, we enjoyed visiting the Gift Shop where you could see works of art by local artists, garden wares, etc. All purchases help support the Gardens whose mission is to display figurative sculptures by American artists and to preserve regional plants, animals, and history. The walking tour of the Sculpture Gardens was absolutely beautiful! The historic Live Oak Trees are an inspiration to all. There is something for all ages to enjoy (Butterfly House; Animals, Birds, Sculptures, etc.) We are very fortunate to have in South Carolina one of the most Beautiful Gardens in the United States!
We are members of the Coastal District of the GCSC, The Garden Club of South Carolina, Inc., the South Atlantic Region, & the National Garden Clubs, Inc.
