Brookgreen Gardens

    Encompassing over 9,000 acres of sculpture and botanical gardens and wildlife preserves, Brookgreen Gardens is the largest outdoor museum of sculpture in the United States. The original purpose of Brookgreen Gardens was to contain the sculptures of Anna Hyatt Huntington, a well-known sculptor and owner of the nearby Atalaya Castle. However, the garden quickly expanded to include a permanent collection representing the best of American sculpture from a variety of artists, spanning the 19th century to the present. Paths wind through lush courtyards interspersed with marble statues, and vines and Spanish moss drape over lilypad-studded pools. There are many notable sculptures, but one of my favorites is the Fountain of the Muses. Its sculptor, Carl Milles, has described his inspiration as drawing from Greek mythology: “Five of the eight figures in the pool have just been drinking the water from a legendary well that inspires artists to work and create. We see them rushing home filled with new ideas. These concepts are represented by the objects they carry. The Poet: a blue bird. The Architect: a newly formed column. The Musician: a curious instrument. The Painter: Flowers. And the Sculptor: still reaching for his gift from the Gods.” At Brookgreen Gardens, the sculptor has safely attained his gift and and has used it well, by endowing all visitors to the gardens with the very best of sculpture.

Spanish Moss

Sensitive Plant, also known as Mimosa