Introducing Brookgreen Gardens: The attraction with the truest motto ever!

Recently, on a perfect 75-degree Saturday, without a cloud in the sky, my husband and I spent the day together at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.  All the elements just came together for me.  It was so lovely that I teared up a bit.  Okay, if you know me, you know that I cry at episodes of “Blue Bloods” and commercials and pretty much everything. Please don’t let that fact bias you against this story.  The motto for this attraction is: Ever Changing. Simply Amazing. (It really is.)

Brookgreen Gardens is actually a National Historic Landmark property of over 9,000 acres.  No, that is not a typo.  The entire property is over 9,000 acres.  Some of that land is undeveloped or used for “behind-the-scenes” necessities, but there is a lot a walking and a lot to see.  The property is home to one of the largest outdoor sculpture displays in America.  There is also a small zoo and a butterfly enclosure. 

At first, we were a little concerned with the $18/adult ticket price because we are such budget travelers.  I felt a little better when I read on their website that the ticket gives you access to the sculpture gardens, the indoor galleries and the zoo.  The tickets are also good for seven whole days!  If you don’t get to see everything in one day, you can go back.  How clever is that?

The botanical gardens have varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials blooming and growing all year round.  In Fall and Winter there are nearly 40 varieties thriving.  Imagine what Spring must be like!  I did not inherit my mother’s green thumb, so I know nothing about plants.  Still, I was astounded.  The botanical gardens really are ever changing. Wait.  It gets better.

The gardens also contain the largest and most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture in the United States.  Yes, I said in all of America.  Is your mind blown yet?  It’s like someone constructed this attraction with me in mind. 

• National Historic Landmark for the woman who spent an entire career managing & preserving unique and historic properties: check. 
• Classical sculpture for the woman who loves traditional (non-avant garde) art the most: check. 
• Fountains galore for the woman who became fountain-addicted by launching an historic preservation effort on a specific fountain: check. 
• Massive plaques with poetry etchings to complement the sculpture for the former English teacher: check.

Our cameras worked overtime.  We couldn’t figure out how to narrow down the options of where to shoot next.  We met many people with fancy lenses or tripods who said they were taking photos for their local photography club.  There are a couple of small sculpture galleries inside as well for the pieces that are too delicate to be out in the elements.  The sculpture gardens and collections are simply amazing.  (See what I did there?)

We walked around for five hours and still did not see everything.  There are additional activities, for example, a pontoon boat ride past historic rice fields, that visitors can purchase for an additional ticket price.  If you choose to do that, you really will need to plan for more than one day. 

Out past the farthest garden wall is a trail through a small portion of the undeveloped property.  This is so visitors can see the original, untouched lowcountry.  However, due to previous heavy rains, this area was completely submerged and, therefore, off limits to all visitors on the day we went.  I was disappointed about this because somewhere out there was a labyrinth made of greenery that I was hoping to explore.  Sadly, I could see only a tiny piece of it from my dry perch near the garden wall.

My husband was worried that the zoo would be “three goats and maybe a dog” (nearly his exact words).  It is true that since we are from Florida, the zoo was not the highlight for us.  The animals were similar to what we can see at home (i.e. alligators, fox, deer).  If you are from another area of the country, or from a foreign country, I could see where those animals would be quite a thrill. 

The one exception for me was the otters.  I squealed a little watching them play.  They are so darn cute!  Despite the zookeepers warning to us that they are mischievous and a little mean, I don’t love them any less. I also found the information about the historic horse, cattle and fowl breeds that were common to the area generations ago interesting.  Many of these breeds are rare to see today and the farm had them there for you to interact with (if you could coax them in from grazing).

The weather was perfect and due to the vast space available, we were able to go maskless except when visiting the interior galleries. 

All the visitors seemed to be having just as good a day as we were, including a charming group of seven southern belles from North Carolina.  They asked if we could take a group picture of them in front of a blooming butterfly sculpture.  We were happy to oblige.  Their all-day field trip gives new meaning to the idea of a “garden party theme” for a bachelorette party!  What a unique way to bond before the big day.  The lovely belle in the center will be exchanging vows on May 16, 2021.  Congrats & thanks for recommending must-see places for our upcoming N.C. trip.  It was lovely to meet you all! (Ladies, if you are reading this, please say, “Hello” in the comments section).

• Meeting a bride-to-be during her bachelorette weekend for the former wedding planner: Check.

I’ve always said meeting people and making new acquaintances is one of the best benefits of travel.  The world seems a lot smaller when two middle-aged people from Florida can bond with twenty-somethings from N.C. over a shared love of a beautiful property.

Ever Changing. Simply Amazing.  True for their gardens.  True for our world.

Have you ever been to a place that seemed made just for you? Tell us about it in the comments below. Yes, you may share this blog on social media.