The Gullah/ Geechee people of Coastal Georgia and South Carolina have always demonstrated tremendous strength and tenacity, even in the face of insurmountable and unimaginable circumstances. Much of this can be attributed to their enduring spirits and strong connection to their African roots. Griot and Master Storyteller Lillian Grant-Baptiste will use the art of storytelling to bring the Gullah/Geechee story and history to life. She will skillfully demonstrate how storytelling was used during the most difficult and fiery times of our history, and beyond, as both tools of resistance and resilience. Lillian promises to stir, awaken, enlighten, inform, and entertain all in attendance. The young and old alike will be caught up and mesmerized by the magic of Gullah/Geechee storytelling. 

About the Speaker 

Lillian Grant-Baptiste is an informed cultural artist, motivational speaker, and an uplifting storyteller.  She has nearly 30 years of experience as a motivational speaker and a professional storyteller.  Ms. Grant-Baptiste has been showcased at storytelling and performance venues throughout the United States. She is a moving performer that will stir your soul and leave you on the edge of your seat yearning for more. She skillfully gathers and retells stories from diverse cultures but has a particular fondness and love for folktales from the African Diaspora. Lillian believes that storytelling is a powerful tool that can be utilized to uplift, empower, and ultimately transform individuals, families, and communities.

Join Janice Oldfield, Master herbalist, and Viki Richardson, horticulturist, both in costume (!) as they delve into the ancient folklore of herbs. You will enjoy the stories behind many of the well known herbs growing in your garden and in your kitchen cupboard! This is a class worthy of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts!

Free with admission, but reservations are required. Call (843) 979-6083 to reserve your spot. 

When settlers first arrived from Barbados in what is now South Carolina, they were in search of a way to create the large wealth-generating plantations that they had known in their Caribbean home. After several false starts with other crops, rice emerged as the dominant cash-crop in the area. To grow rice, however, involved the large-scale modification of the landscape from its previous state into a complex, human-controlled system of geography and hydrography. We will explore this transformation in detail as we study the various landscapes that make up Brookgreen Gardens. Free with garden admission.

Limit 24, for a reservation. CLASS IS FULL

Create a beautiful, functional basket just in time for Valentine’s Day. In this hands-on workshop, participants will weave a six-by-six-inch basket in a classic plaid pattern using natural and hand-dyed reed. The instructor will guide you through every step, from laying the base and twining to shaping the sides and creating a balanced plaid design. 

Students will learn techniques for working with both flat and round reed, exploring how to achieve even tension, consistent patterning, and smooth finishing. Each basket can be personalized through color choices, allowing every participant to leave with a unique creation that reflects their own style. 

This session is designed for beginners as well as those with some prior weaving experience. The workshop lasts approximately four hours and is limited to a small group to ensure personalized instruction and guidance throughout. 

A $20 materials fee (cash or Venmo) will be collected at the beginning of class. All tools and materials will be provided. No prior weaving experience is required. Participants are encouraged to bring a light snack and a bottle of water to enjoy during the workshop. 

Advance registration is required, and space is limited. Workshops are subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment is not met. In the event of cancellation, participants will be notified and refunded. 

About the Instructor:   

Tamara Przylepa has been weaving baskets for over 30 years. After taking a beginner class in the early 1990s with a friend in Maryland, she was hooked and has continued to improve her skills by attending basket-weaving conventions and making baskets on her own. While she has lived in various places worldwide, weaving baskets has remained constant. After meeting her husband in West Berlin, Germany, in the early 1980s while they were both serving in the army as Russian linguists, they both transitioned to civilian federal jobs. They lived in Maryland, Australia, Georgia, and Poland before retiring to Myrtle Beach. They both love their new home and all the opportunities it offers for staying active. Tammy teaches basket weaving with Coastal Carolina University’s OLLI program and enjoys sharing her love of basketry with new weavers. It’s essential to preserve this ancient art form! 

Corrie Clairborne, Ph.D. - “Literary Cultural Environments that Support Rice Heritage.”

Reign of Rice programs have been generously funded by Carolyn Riley, in memory of Dick Riley

The Color of Air Exhibit

About the Artist 

South Carolina artist Clay Johnson is a classic landscape painter working primarily in oil. Growing up in the Chicago area, Johnson received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University and then moved east to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. After living and working in Philadelphia for many years, he moved south, and now lives in Conway, near Myrtle Beach, where he continues to paint landscapes throughout the region. His work is widely represented in both private and corporate collections, and a limited number of paintings are available each year for purchase. 

Paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, and historic objects reflecting the world of wild and domestic animals, native plants, and the history of the Brookgreen property comprise the inaugural exhibit in the Brenda and Dick Rosen Galleries.  The works are drawn from the collection of Brookgreen Gardens and works on loan from renowned artist Sandy Scott and the Kaminski House Museum.  Among the artworks in the exhibit are those by and attributed to 18th and 19th century luminaries Washington Allston, William Curtis, John Gould, George Whiting Flagg, and Rosa Bonheur. Great illustrators and intaglio printmakers in the field of sporting art are included such as A. B. Frost, Churchill Ettinger, Richard Bishop, Reinhold Palenske, William Schaldach, and Hans Kleiber.  Artists who focused on dogs and horses as subjects – Marguerite Kirmse, Diana Thorne, and Marilyn Newmark – are in the exhibit.  A list of notables in contemporary animal art include John Seerey-Lester, Bob Kuhn, Heiner Hertling, Sandy Scott, Walter Matia, and Bart Walter, to name a few.  Lastly, 18th and 19th century stories of Laurel Hill, Springfield, Brookgreen, and The Oaks are told through fine art, decorative arts, and material culture from the Allston, Alston, Flagg, Jordan, Ward, and Weston families.

Rosen Galleries 1, 2, 3 and 4

Kicking off Brookgreen Gardens 90th Anniversary celebration over a two-year period. Included with garden admission.

Rosen Galleries, 1, 2, 3 and 4

Kicking off Brookgreen Gardens 90th Anniversary celebration over a two-year period. Included with garden admission.

This exhibit was made possible with the generous support of

Robert and Lou Rainey

Evans and Diane Whitaker

Join nationally recognized quilter and cultural preservationist Cookie Washington for a hands-on workshop celebrating the traditions of Gullah artistry. Cookie will guide participants through the rag rug technique made famous by Sharon Cooper-Murray, “The Gullah Lady.” Rooted in resourcefulness, this heritage craft transformed everyday materials into works of beauty and function, passed down through generations. 

This four-hour “no sew” class is approachable for all skill levels. Participants will: 

• Create a personal 9×9-inch burlap square to take home 

• Learn about the history and cultural significance of rag rug making 

What’s Included: 

• All materials: burlap base, pre-cut African print fabrics, and neutral muslin/broadcloth 

• Special tools for the “no sew” technique (provided during class) 

Optional: Bring scraps of fabric or old clothing to personalize your piece. 

Discover the creativity, resilience, and storytelling woven into every strip of cloth, and leave with both a finished piece and a deeper connection to Gullah heritage. Advance registration is required, and space is limited. Classes with insufficient enrollment may be canceled, with full refunds offered. 

About the Instructor  

Torreah “Cookie” Washington is a fourth-generation needleworker and Charleston-based fiber artist known for her narrative art quilts that honor the Divine Feminine and African ancestral heritage. Born in Rabat, Morocco, and self-taught in quilting, she carries forward the legacy of the women in her family—seamstresses, designers, and tailors—while forging her own path in textile-based art. 

For over 16 years, she has curated the African American Fiber Arts Exhibit for the North Charleston Arts Festival, helping the exhibition grow into a traveling showcase across the South. Cookie’s work is griot in spirit, using fabric, form, and storytelling to inspire emotional connection, cultural reflection, and social dialogue. She also teaches in underserved communities, gives school lectures, and donates quilts to support the unhoused. 

One of her proudest honors was being chosen as one of 44 Master Art Quilters to create a quilt in celebration of President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration. Her work has been featured in several documentaries, including Skin Quilt and The Wayshowers, for which she served as executive producer. 

Installing and maintaining a landscape may seem like an overwhelming task but, it doesn’t have to be. There are many ways we can work smarter and lighten the load in our yards. Join us as we discuss low maintenance landscapes and how we can make our life easier when it comes to installing and maintaining our outdoor space. 

About the Speaker: 

Brad Fowler is the Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator for Horry and Georgetown counties. Prior to working for Clemson Extension, he worked as a horticulturist for Brookgreen Gardens and as the manager for a local landscape company. Brad has a strong interest in helping homeowners and landscape professionals learn and maintain proper horticultural practices.

Get acquainted with some of our most misunderstood animals, the reptiles! Ranger Mike Walker from Huntington Beach State Park will introduce you to some of our scaly friends, including snakes, turtles, lizards, and alligators. Learn how these animals have far reaching impacts on our local ecosystems, including acting as bodyguards for wading bird chicks, helping marsh residents survive catastrophic droughts, and protecting you from vermin by acting as natural pest exterminators. What has a reptile done for you lately? A lot more than you realize! A few live animals will also be on hand. 

About the Speaker: 

A native of South Carolina, Mike Walker received his Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology at the University of South Carolina. He has occupied various positions with the South Carolina State Park System and is currently an Interpretive Park Ranger for Huntington Beach State Park. He oversees educational programs and resource management. Mike’s continuous pursuit of preserving and promoting South Carolina’s natural resources has led to the most satisfying career he could ask for.