March Issue 2002
Spring bursts into bloom at Brookgreen Gardens in Pawleys Island, SC
The Southern Living Gardening School, a portrait sculpture exhibit, a new Lowcountry Center and a festival are all evidence that it's spring at Brookgreen Gardens in Pawleys Island, SC.
Starting Mar. 9, 2002, Brookgreen Gardens will begin its full schedule, offering creek excursions, back road Trekker tours, new animal and archaeology programs, as well as the regular botanical and sculptural tours and activities.
The gardens have perked up with bright yellow daffodils, cream-colored narcissus, camellias, azaleas of every hue and dainty white snowdrops with green-tinged petals. Curator of Gardens Bobby Mottern predicts the last two weeks of Mar. and first week of Apr. as peak spring bloom time - unless there's more freezing weather which could push the peak time back a week.
During the spring season, which runs through May 31, hours are 9:30am to 5pm. Here's what's new:
The Southern Living Gardening School on Mar. 23 will offer three sessions from garden expert and author Bill Slack, offering advice on planning, planting, maintaining and enjoying your dream garden in this coastal area.
Gates open at 8:45am for this event, and sessions are slated for 10am, ("Garden Rooms: Understanding the Basics"), 11:30am, ("The Landscape and Garden: Planning for Success") and 2pm, ("Finishing Touches: Color and Impact").
The garden school is free with admission to Brookgreen, which is $12 adults, $10 seniors 65 and over, $10 ages 13-18, and free for children 12 and younger.
A Perfect Likeness: Portraits in Sculpture is the new exhibit opening in the Rainey Sculpture Pavilion. It features 36 works of many personalities you'll recognize, as well as some less known but no less memorable. George W. Bush will be there, alongside Strom Thurmond, Dorothy Hamill, Georgia O'Keeffe and others. Some of the pieces are from the Brookgreen collection, while others are on loan from sculptors across the country. The show will be up until Aug. 18, 2002. It's complimentary with garden admission.
Opening of the E. Craig Wall, Jr. Lowcountry Center is on Mar. 9. Built in 1931 as a barn and later used as a maintenance facility, this $4 million renovation project has resulted in a state-of-the-art educational building that offers something for everyone. It features nature sculpture, a new café, two new programs, a major exhibit about the land, classrooms, cultural garden and a program area for outdoor demonstrations.
The Lowcountry Festival, Mar. 9 through May 25, 2002, will celebrate the new Lowcountry Center, Brookgreen is presenting three months of Saturday afternoon lectures, programs and events. It's a series you won't want to miss. On Mar. 9, Suzanne Cameron Linder, will talk on "Times and Tides: Plantations of Georgetown County" at 3pm in the Lowcountry auditorium.
Richard Porcher, author of Wildflowers of South Carolina will speak on wildflowers and on the rice culture of the area at 1 and 3pm. respectively on Mar. 16, also at the Lowcountry Center auditorium.
On Mar. 30, starting at 3pm, Ron & Natalie Daise, folk art performers known for their "Gullah Gullah Island" program that aired for several years on Nickelodeon, will present a musical program featuring traditional songs of the Lowcountry in the Gullah tradition.
On Apr. 6, at 3pm, Frank Beckham, Pawleys island chef will be speaking on the "History of Lowcountry Foods and Traditions," this native South Carolinian is a self-taught chef who specializes in the cuisine of the region. He teaches cooking classes locally and will present three Lowcountry dishes - she crab soup, clam chowder and barbecue - and discuss their origin, giving out recipes and food samples.
On Apr. 13, starting at 3pm, "DeGullah Enna Pry," featuring Gullah performers and native South Carolinians Frank and Sharon Murray who work to preserve and promote the Gullah culture. They will lead a traditional sing-a-long and discuss and demonstrate rice processing.
Dedication of the Lowcountry Center will take place on Apr. 20.
On Apr. 27, from 1-4pm, Brookgreen Gardens will present Revolutionary and Civil War re-enactors. Visit a camp of Revolutionary War Militia who might have served with Francis Marion, the legendary Swamp Fox. Meet Union troops of the 4th New Hampshire Volunteers Company E and the 1st SC Volunteers Company E and start to the sound of cannon fire by the 2nd US Colored Light Artillery, Battery B. The Confederacy is represented with two programs on antique firearms of the Civil War.
On May 4, starting at 3pm, William Baldwin, a lifelong resident of the Lowcountry and author of novels and nonfiction, will speak on "The Oral Tradition in the South Carolina Lowcountry." His most recent book is Lowcountry Plantations Today.
On May 11, starting at 3pm, Bob Becker, Director of Strom Thurmond Institute will give a lecture on development trends. This Clemson University professor director brings the historical story of the Lowcountry up to the present and confronts issues for its future as he speaks on "Development and Population Trends in the Lowcountry."
On May 18, starting at May 3, Dale Rosengarten, historian/author will give a talk about sweetgrass baskets. This historian will be speaking on "By the Waters of Babylon: The Art of Sweetgrass Basketry," making the connections between South Carolina and African basket weaving. Rosengarten is the author of Row Upon Row and other books.
On May 25, starting at 3pm, Leland Ferguson, archaeologist will give a talk. Ferguson, of the University of South Carolina Anthropology Department, will speak on"West African Medicine and Lowcountry Pottery." Visitors will learn about the connections of African culture with life in the Lowcountry as told through the clues of archaeological findings.
"Digging Deeper" is the first regular archaeology program offered at Brookgreen. It's an up close look at some of the archaeological history of the gardens and a hands-on chance to try sifting for your own "artifacts." It will be at noon daily in the Program Shed of the Lowcountry Center.
"Meet the Animals" was so popular during last summer's childrens program that we decided to offer it daily at the Lowcountry Center. A staff member will introduce visitors to some of the native wildlife of the area, talking about the adaptability of animals to their environment. At 2:30pm in the Program Shed of the Lowcountry Center.
Trekker excursions will delight history and nature lovers as they climb aboard this custom-built vehicle and travel over Brookgreen's back roads and trails not otherwise open to the public. Tour participants will visit the old rice mill tower of Laurel Hill plantation high on the bluffs of the Waccamaw River, as well as other historic sites. Tour times are 11am, noon, 2 and 3pm, daily. $7 per adult, $4 children 6-12. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office. Not recommended for children younger than 5.
Creek excursions aboard The Springfield give
visitors a view of the creeks and marshland only accessible on
this 48-foot pontoon boat. An interpreter shares the history and
nature experiences of the area. This tour lasts about an hour.
Tickets are $7 adults, $4 children and can be purchased at the
Box Office. Tours are at 11am, 1, 2 and 3pm.
In addition, all the regular daily strolls, including sculptural,
botanical, garden and wildlife, are offered at various times throughout
the day.
For more information check our SC Institutional
Gallery listings, call 843/235-6000 or at (http://www.brookgreen.org).
Mailing Address: Carolina Arts, P.O. Drawer
427, Bonneau, SC 29431
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