Brookgreen Gardens goes seriously 'green' in new exhibit

Brookgreen Gardens -- the  sculptures-plus-gardens destination in Pawleys Island, S.C. -- is not your typical beautiful getaway place.

Over the years, its outreach has extended to activities for kids (Enchanted Storybook Forest, Children's Nature & Sensory Trail), zoology (its Lowcountry Zoo), archaeology/history (Lowcountry Center and Trail, Oaks Plantation) and more.

Now Brookgreen is going green with a new touring  art exhibit.

"Environmental Impact," opening Friday in its Rainey Sculpture Pavilion, consists of 75 artworks --  paintings, photographs, prints, installations, and sculptures -- that deal with such issues as the over-development of land, dangers of nuclear energy and the impact of global warming.

The exhibit, there through April 26, puts the spotlight on the degradation of diverse environments, as well as on contemporary artists  whose creations focus on local and global environmental issues.

Bob Jewell, president and CEO of Brookgreen Gardens, puts it this way: “Traditional art generally depicts nature in all of its glory.  The artworks in this exhibit present a variety of today’s environmental issues and call attention to the consequences of depleting our natural resources."

Viewing "Environmental Impact" is free to see when you pay regular Brookgreen admission: $14; $12 for 65 and older; $7 for ages 4-12. Admission is good for seven consecutive days; daily hours are 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Image at the top of this post: "Green Amphorae,' by Karen Hackenburg, of Port Townsend, Wash.; image below: "Gulf Life - Blue Marlin" by Guy Harvey, of Grand Cayman, British West Indies.

Brookgreen Gardens rolls out holiday illumination Dec. 4

Brookgreen Gardens, just south of Myrtle Beach in Pawleys Island, S.C., is about to launch its annual "Night of a Thousand Candles" holiday presentation.

It's Dec. 4-6, 11-13 and 18-20, and is staged from 3 to 10 p.m. so visitors can better enjoy the outdoor illuminations, both candles (more than 5,500)  and displays.

New this year: an 80-foot holiday fir decorated with 60,000 lights; the switch is ceremonially flipped at 5:45 p.m.

More new highlights? The Peppermint Forest in the Children's Garden, the Ice Garden in the Lower Left Wing Garden.

Admission is $18, $10 for children; 3 and younger, free. Tickets are available at www.brookgreen.org, at the gardens, and by phone at 843-235-6016. All entertainment is included in admission; dinner there is available at an additional cost. 

Also new this year: a free mobile app that has performance details and info on food and beverage locations, a map for the event and more. Get it by searching Brookgreen Gardens in the App Store and in Google Play.

The event will draw crowds, and the staff there offers these suggestions:

* Carpool with family and friends. This makes for easier parking.

* Consider checking out the event on a Thursday evening ‑- Brookgreen Gardens will be less crowded.

* Arrive early between 4 and 5 p.m. so you can see the candles being lit. Dusk is also the best time to take photos. Also, a limited number of adult and child strollers are available at no charge on a first-come basis. Reservations for them are not taken, so get there early if you need one.

* Dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. "Night of a Thousand Candles" is a walk- not a drive-through.

Brookgreen Garden's harvest festival is Oct. 4-5

Brookgreen Gardens will stage its annual Harvest Home Weekend Festival Oct. 4-5, with family-friendly activities from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days.

There will be live music, special boat excursions on the creeks ($8, $4 for kids), wagon hayrides, a craft tent for kids, scarecrow building (you bring its clothes) and performances from costumed characters from Brookgreen’s Enchanted Storybook Forest.

Festival admission is free with regular admission ($14, $7 for ages 4-12). Details: www.brookgreen.org.