Brookgreen Gardens, a 9,127-acre nature preserve, today announced their programming and events for April 2025. You can see all of the details below.
Exhibitions:
The Genius of Archer Milton Huntington, Now – April 20
This special exhibition delves into the visionary life and legacy of Archer Milton Huntington, one of the founders of Brookgreen Gardens. Renowned for his extraordinary contributions to the arts, humanities and philanthropy, this exhibit features rarely exhibited objects and images from The Hispanic Society of America in New York City, The Mariners Museum in Newport News, Va., the Chair of Poetry at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and the American Numismatic Society in New York City, in addition to Brookgreen Gardens. Archer Huntington owned, selected or acquired the objects on view.
- Related Event: Noemi Espinosa, Assistant Curator at the Hispanic Library and Museum, Speaks about Archer Huntington, April 4, 2 – 3 p.m.
Brookgreen Plein Air Guild Exhibit, April 26, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
An exhibit of paintings by members of the Brookgreen Gardens Plein Air Guild, many of which feature scenes of Brookgreen or other outdoor locations painted onsite. This exhibition is on view daily in the Noble Gallery of the Rainey Sculpture Pavilion.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Special Events:
Art After Hours, April 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30, 5 – 8 p.m.
Experience an evening of art and dining in the Gardens with Brookgreen’s extended hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the month. Visitors can enjoy art and indulge in dinner at Harvest Restaurant.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Members Only Eggstravaganza!, April 12, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Families will embark on a magical spring adventure, exploring the Enchanted Storybook Forest and Lowcountry Zoo in search of eggs and seasonal treats. With a map in hand, children will collect goodies for their baskets while meeting beloved Barnyard characters. Live animal encounters and playful surprises make this members-only event a delightful experience for all.
Price: Members: $20 per child
Earth Day Festival, April 19, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Guests can join Brookgreen for a day filled with fun and educational stations for all ages. Adults will learn more about native plants and conservation while children explore S.T.E.A.M. stations to complete their Earth Day passports. The day will include meet and greets with live animal ambassadors, Community Conservation Partners’ Stations and exciting games that help families become more aware of the natural environment and fundamental conservation principles.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Spring Plant Sale, April 19, 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
During the sale, visitors can choose from a vast selection of plants, many propagated at Brookgreen, including native plants, annuals, perennials, shrubs, and edibles. Brookgreen’s horticulture staff and knowledgeable volunteers will be onsite during the sale to answer any questions.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Spring Break Camp, April 21 – April 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Campers will explore the wonders of spring through hands-on activities that blend nature, science and art. Younger children (Grades K-3) will discover what the season means for plants and animals through STEAM projects and nature exploration, while older campers (Grades 4-6) will connect with nature by participating in guided hikes, learning about native animals in the zoo and creating art inspired by the outdoors. This immersive 4-day experience fosters curiosity, creativity and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
Price: Members: $185 | Non-Members: $210
Brookgreen Gardens Art Festival, April 26 – April 27, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This beloved two-day event showcases the fine craftsmanship and quality art being produced regionally and throughout the nation. Guests can come and enjoy the work of talented artists and artisans at the annual festival, where painting, sculpture, fabric art, pottery, glass and more will be available to browse under Brookgreen's centuries-old live oaks.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Harmony in Nature Series:
These curated events are designed to deepen the connection with the natural world amidst the lush tranquility of Brookgreen, offering participants an invigorating blend of relaxation and discovery.
- Breakfast with the Birds - Harmony in Nature Series, April 1, 22, 7 – 9 a.m.
- Yoga In The Gardens - Harmony in Nature Series, April 5, 12, 19, 26, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- Get to Know Trees - Harmony in Nature Series, April 8, 10 – 11 a.m.
- Tibetan Sound Bowl Meditation - Harmony in Nature Series, April 8, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Brookgreen Labyrinth Walks - Harmony in Nature Series, April 19, 1 – 3 p.m.
- Chair Yoga - Harmony In Nature, April 23, 30, 10 – 11 a.m.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Classes and Workshops:
Photo Walks in The Garden, April 2, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Photographers Anne Malarich, George DeCamp and Rick Farrell will take guests on a two-hour walk through Brookgreen Gardens with a camera in hand. Walks will cover photography topics like exposure and composition. Participants should have a good working knowledge of their cameras.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Brookgreen U Intensive: A Collage Playshop, April 11, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
This creative “playshop” invites participants to explore the stress-relieving benefits of art through an engaging two-hour collage session. With materials provided, attendees will enjoy a playful environment to express themselves through words and images.
Price: Members: $45 | Non-Members: $45
Brookgreen U Intensive: Light Up Your Intentions!, April 11, 1 – 3 p.m.
This hands-on playshop delves into hive culture and the significance of beeswax, celebrating the energy and craftsmanship behind its creation. Participants will hand-roll their own beeswax candles, designed to support personal intentions, and leave with both a finished candle and inspiration for future creations.
Price: Members: $45 | Non-Members: $45
Botanical Printing: Creating a Scarf with Plants, April 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Textile artist Kathleen Lang will facilitate a workshop highlighting the magic of Eco Printing. Eco Printing is a sustainable natural dyeing technique for capturing botanical prints using no chemicals. Students will collect botanicals prior to the workshop such as leaves and other natural dye materials from nature, flatten them and have them ready on the day of the workshop. Participants will learn to arrange a plant design on their silk scarf, bundle, and process it. The natural dyes with the botanical design will discharge into the fabric capturing the plant's shape.
Price: Members: $75 | Non-Members: $90
Indigo Dyeing Workshop with Caroline Harper, April 25, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Participants will learn the ancient art of dyeing cloth in this indigo pigment workshop and leave with an original set of four cotton napkins, dyed four different ways. They will discover the Arashi Shibori technique, also known as pole-wrapping, an ancient Japanese method of creating vertical or diagonal stripes reminiscent of storm-driven rain. Prepared napkins will be dipped in a non-fermented indigo bath, and after unwrapping, reveal everyone’s unique creation.
Price: Members: $95 | Non-Members: $105
Presentations:
“Spiderwort, Root Medicine, and Spiritual Healing", April 2, 16, 1 – 2 p.m.
Ron Daise explores Gullah Geechee culture and history through his novel Raptors in the Ricelands, set in a fictional twenty-first-century Georgetown, SC community. The story weaves family secrets and cultural conflicts with historical events, including the Orangeburg Massacre, Reconstruction and the launch of White supremacy in Fort Mill, SC. The book is conveyed in four acts and with chapter names that follow the production stages of Carolina Gold Rice.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Never Had the Sun Shown so Brightly: Emancipation and Black Lives in South Carolina, April 3, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
This talk is designed to explore the meaning of freedom and how it was achieved during and following the Civil War in South Carolina. Emancipation was achieved at different places and at different rates during and after the Civil War, and while many know about the Emancipation Proclamation, which conferred legal freedom on former slaves, what it granted was only theoretical liberty. The initiatives taken by Black people themselves and what they created made freedom real and meaningful. These efforts will all be explored by examining the contours of black freedom in South Carolina during this most fraught and unprecedented time.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Tea Tastings at Keepsakes, April 5, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Enjoy a refreshing hibiscus tea tasting with The Republic of Tea while learning about its many health benefits. Sample this flavorful drink and discover a variety of unique blends from an expanded collection.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Bats of South Carolina, April 15, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
South Carolina is home to 15 species of bats, vital to the ecosystem yet often misunderstood. Join Jennifer Kindel, Statewide Bat Biologist for SCDNR, as she sheds light on these fascinating creatures and their important role in nature and the economy.
Price: Members: Free with Registration | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission and Registration
Enjoying Carnivorous Plants in Nature and at Home, April 22, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Discover the fascinating world of carnivorous plants, from their unique adaptations in nature to their conservation status. This talk will also provide tips on how to successfully grow and propagate these extraordinary plants in a confined bog garden or at home.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Dirt and Details: Nana and Papa's Garden and the Fountain Garden, April 24, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Join Kevin Bendetti for an insightful tour of the Fountain Gardens and Nana and Papa’s Garden, exploring their current state, recent transformations and future plans. This walk offers a behind-the-scenes look at the ongoing care and evolution of these stunning Brookgreen Gardens landscapes.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Brookgreen 101, April 24, 1 – 2 p.m.
Brookgreen 101 is a monthly public information program at the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium, covering various aspects of Brookgreen Gardens, including its collections, property, history, people, poetry, art history, corporate history, founders and purposes. This month’s topic will be Huntington Home Movies with Robin Salmon.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission
Pollination Ecology, April 29, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Explore the vital role of pollination in nature, from its impact on biodiversity to its importance in food production. This lecture will uncover the science behind pollination, identify key pollinators and reveal how plants attract them.
Price: Members: Free | Non-Members: Free with Garden Admission