Monday, October 26, 2009

My World Tuesday = Brookgreen Gardens

My World Tuesday = Brookgreen Gardens


America's Oldest and Largest Sculpture Garden

in

A South Carolina Floral Setting

on

Former Colonial Rice Plantations


Today you will see sculptures indoors in two buildings and outdoors amid the flowers, fountains and tree.
These indoor sculptures have a western theme.

This is a Remington.

There are hundreds of outdoor sculptures including many created by the Anna Huntington, the wife of Archer Huntington, whose family created a fortune in the shipbuilding industry. Archer and Anna Huntington had homes in New York City and Connecticut. Each winter starting in 1931 the Huntingtons would come to this coastal area of South Carolina with their many exotic animals in tow in a trailer. These animals including a bear Anna used for rending her sculptures. Archer Huntington was creative also and would be the poet in the family.


During World War II the grounds and home of the Huntingtons was seized and used by the U.S. military for patrolling the coast for enemy submarines. In 1947 the estate was returned to the Huntingtons but shortly afterwards Archer Huntinton died and Anna Huntington no longer came to the estate for the winter season. When Anna Huntington died in the '70s the land was deeded to the state of South Carolina as America's first sculpture garden

The Fountain of the Seven Muses



White lily by the wall of the formal sculpture garden that includes many sculptures by Anna Huntington of small children with baby animals.

Here are four palmetto palm trees. The palmetto palm is the state tree of South Carolina and is featured on the state flag.

Here's a nice walkway for sitting in relaxing. One time years ago we came here and had a lovely lunch in the museum outdoor cafe after watching a predator bird demonstration.

Many American sculpture artists have works on display here either permanently or for a period of time.


This sculpture is like a sundial with a young family in the center.


Notice the big live oak trees with Spanish moss flowing in the breeze. You can't stop with just one photo of these huge oak trees. Look below for more.







Ditto for the beautiful flowers. You can't stop with just one photo.







Now if you would like to learn more about Brookgreen Gardens after this virtual tour, you can click here for the Brookgreen Gardens official website: http://www.brookgreen.org/

You will discover a slide show with musical accompaniment plus more history and tourist info.


Then click here to enjoy more My World Tuesday memes: http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

10 comments:

Martha Z said...

What an amazing place, thanks for sharing.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Joann: Beautiful captures on your trip, a beautiful site to the eyes.

Sylvia K said...

What a marvelous park! Would love to visit there for sure! Your photos are terrific! Love the moss on the trees. This was a great tour, Joann and Jack! Thanks for sharing!

Enjoy!

Sylvia

Carver said...

What a fascinating place. Thanks for the tour with your photographs and words.

marcia@joyismygoal said...

very nice tour i so enjoy Sculpture and gardens the walkway , the closeup of the sundial and the tree were my personal favorites of you pictures

Jim said...

A lot of similarities to our Botanical Gardens in Sydney that I featured a few months back on my blog. Thanks for showing these.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for the tour. Some of Anna's work can be found up here. I had heard about this place. It's nice to get a tour from you. And thanks for the history. Didn't know the military borrowed it for our own good.

Photo Cache said...

What an interesting post filled with glorious images. I love the majestic tree.

My entry is at www.ewok1993.wordpress.com

Snap said...

What a wonderful place! Thanks so much for the tour -- the grounds, the sculpture, the flowers, the fountains -- I'll be visiting the link! Thanks!

Maurice Lauher said...

Thanks for the travel information. My wife and I will have to get down there. We travel to Hilton Head often. You were right to include a live oak, you can show South Carolina without a live oak.