Brookgreen Gardens - Where sculpture, poetry, and nature dance toge...

Brookgreen Gardens, located near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA, spans over 9100 acres and combines horticulture, sculpture, poetry, and other works of art into one beautiful display after another. The garden has been named one of the top public gardens in the United States, and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and is also designated as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. National Parks Service. What all of this means is that this place is a sight to behold. At Brookgreen Gardens, acres upon acres of lush gardens mingle with art and sculpture. Each emphasizes the beauty of the other. Around every corner is another sight of beauty. Here are some of my favorite shots from a visit I had a few years back.

Pegasus by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907)

Sea Urchin by Edward Berge (1876 - 1924) Bronze 1921.
Edward Berge modeled this sculpture after his niece Sarah. He enjoyed the moments where children discovered treasures at the shore., as is depicted in this playful sculpture. Interestingly, an enlarged reproduction of the sculpture, set in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, was subject to repeated vandalism, and would periodically disappear only to reappear elsewhere in the city.

Fountain of the Muses, by Carl Milles

Samson and the Lion by Gleb Derujinsky (1888 - 1975) Limestone 1949
Derujinsky referenced Biblical stories often in his artwork, and sculpted not only in limestone, but also in clay and wood.

Forest Idyl by Albin Polasek (1879 - 1965) Bronze 1903.
Polasek sculpted this piece while he was a visiting professor at the Art Institute of Chicago, but his training at the American Academy in Rome initiated his interest in sculpting the human figure.

Live Oak trees are common in the Southern U.S., and are named for their gnarled and twisting branch structure. This Live Oak touched down before growing upwards.
A fun fact about live oak trees, from the National Wildlife Federation: "Wood from southern live oaks is incredibly tough and durable. The naval vessel USS Constitution was nicknamed “Old Ironsides” after her live oak hull survived repeated cannon fire during the War of 1812."

Spanish Moss on the Live Oak Trees

St. Francis by Julian Hoke Harris (1906 - 1987) Bronze, 1962.
Harris was commissioned to sculpt President Jimmy Carter's inaugural medal.

Spanish Moss is also referred to as Grandad's Beard. I think maybe it's time Grandad visited the barber.

Adonis by Eli Harvey (1860-1957), Bronze, 1905.

From Brookgreen Garden's website, its mission is:

To collect, conserve and exhibit figurative sculpture by American artists;
To cultivate a display garden and exhibit sculpture therein;
To collect, conserve and exhibit the plants, animals and cultural materials of the South Carolina Lowcountry;
To educate a diverse audience about sculpture, horticulture and the ecology and history of the Lowcountry;
To provide additional artists and cultural opportunities for members, guests and the community;
To sustain the institution and all of its assets with visionary leadership, sound management and prudent fiscal policies.

This bronze female figure is set near the Brown Sculpture Court in the Poetry Garden.

Sunflowers by Charles Cropper Parks (1922-2012), Bronze.
Before he passed away, Parks donated nearly 300 of his sculptures to the state of Delaware so that they could be shared with the public.

Lions by Anna Hyatt Huntington (1876-1973) Bronze, 1930.
There are two Lions sculptures, which were first displayed in 1930 New York City's Hispanic Society of America. In 1932, they were brought to Brookgreen Gardens. The globes that are positioned between the lion's paws represent each lion protecting a part of the world.

I'll leave you with a poem inscribed on a copper placard among the gardens.

Brookgreen Gardens
I stood in these Gardens of Beauty
Where the old and the new interchange,
And my soul on wings of the morning
Rose free in its infinite range.

For here in these Gardens of Beauty
Where my heart was attuned to the past
I heard a soft sound as of footfalls
And the creak of a bending mast.

And a figure was wafted past me,
The daughter of Aaron Burr,
As she lightly descended the stairway,
To the waters that ripple and stir.

And my heart cried out "I must stop her."
As she went to her nameless fate.
And I put out my arms as she passed me,
But I knew that my help was too late.

And I saw the lovely young matron,
Take boat on the channel that led,
To the ill-fated vessel, the Patriot,
Ghost-ship of the lost and the dead.

And now the graves of her loved ones,
Alone mark the place of my tears,
And I found I was left in the Garden,
With ashes of vanished years.

--Maude Waddell, 1950

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, check out some of my recent nature and photography posts:

All photos by @jaymorebeet, taken in 2010 using Canon Rebel EOS xTi.

Brookgreen Gardens - Where sculpture, poetry, and nature dance together