This is the ‘most beautiful’ garden in SC, HGTV says. Here’s why it’s so special

HGTV has chosen the most beautiful garden in each state and South Carolina’s selection is Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet.

“Don’t fight us on our definition of ‘most beautiful’ here; we’re not out to compete. We love gardens of all shapes and sizes,” the show said, noting they didn’t want people to miss any icons.

A 9,000-acre former rice plantation, Brookgreen Gardens is certainly iconic, where art, nature and history join.

HGTV noted its live oak pathway, planted in the 1700s when the property was a working plantation, which creates “cathedral-like spaces draped with Spanish moss.”

Founded in 1931, by the Huntingtons — Archer, a philanthropist and scholar, and Anna Hyatt, a sculptor — Brookgreen offers an array of tours and events about sculpture, but also works to conserve plants and animals of the Lowcountry. It is one of the few places to earn recognition from the American Alliance of Museums, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums as well as being designated a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Among the animals on the property are red foxes, grey foxes, river otters, alligators, bald eagles, and white-tailed deer. The zoo includes Spanish goats, Tunis sheep, red Devon cows, and marsh tacky horses and an aviary has native birds.

The Huntingtons bought the property in South Carolina in 1930 as a quiet refuge for Anna to recover from tuberculosis. But 18 months later, they established Brookgreen Gardens, A Society for Southeastern Flora and Fauna.

“It became the first public sculpture garden in America,” the organization says on its website.

Anna created the first public monument by a woman in New York City, Joan of Arc.

Initially, the garden would display only her work, but soon it expanded to a permanent collection of American sculpture from the 19th century to the present.

The garden has been honored by USAToday 10 Best, Trip Advisor, South Carolina Art Commission and National Sculpture Society, among others.Travel+Leisure Magazine and Forbes said it had the best Christmas lights in South Carolina.

Admission for children 3 and under is free, children 4-12 $14, adults 13-64: $25 and 65 & Over: $23.