Saturday, October 20, 2018

Scarecrows in the Garden 2018

Scarecrows in the Garden, at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, is one of my favorite autumn events. The cleverness alone will make you love that you visited.


Scarecrows in the Garden | "The Greatest Crowman" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | "The Greatest Crowman" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I've not yet seen The Greatest Showman, but I immediately recognized the cleverness of "The Greatest Crowman"...isn't this wonderful?! I think Hugh Jackman himself would be impressed.

The exhibition is open Tuesday – Sunday, 9am through 7pm and it's open late on Thursday evenings, through 9pm for Fest-of-Ale.

(NOTE: The Garden is closed on Mondays, except for some Monday holidays and Holiday Lights.)


Scarecrows in the Garden | "Indiana Bones" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | "Indiana Bones" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I'm a huge fan of the Indiana Jones franchise, so to see something this clever—"Indiana Bones"—for Scarecrows in the Garden was pure awesomeness! Of course, I don't think Harrison Ford does or ever did have a "straw belly"...then again, Indiana did imbibe the amber liquors, right?


Scarecrows in the Garden | "The Turnerverse" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | "The Turnerverse" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I don't get most of the references in this one, but I still think it's brilliantly done and the kooky owls are hilarious! 

If you're going on a Thursday evening during Fest-of-Ale, be sure to head straight to the two-acre Children's Garden where you'll find a great many of the scarecrows in the exhibition. I say go there first because, historically, they close the Children's Garden at dusk.


Scarecrows in the Garden | "Midtown Mayhem" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | "Midtown Mayhem" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

If you've ever seen Godzilla (1954) (2014) or King Kong (1933) (2017), you'll appreciation "Midtown Mayhem", created by a Midtown apartment building team.

There's a LOT going on in the Garden in October, so you'll get to see much more than these awesome scarecrows. Imaginary Worlds: Once Upon a Time is on display through Sunday, October 28, the same day that Scarecrows in the Garden closes.


Scarecrows in the Garden | "The Candy Horns" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | "The Candy Horns" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

"The Candy Horns" took 1st Place! I'm not sure in which category, though...there are two: professional (a team with anyone who is paid for professional design services) and nonprofessional (families, individuals, clubs, etc.).

If you have little ones, mark you calendars and make sure they have their costumes by Sunday, October 28...the Garden will be hosting its annual Goblins in the Garden!

From 10am through 4pm your kids can walk the Goblin’s Runway, enjoy some fall themed art activities, listen to a storyteller, and enjoy TRAIN and PONY rides! And for you adult goblins, there will be a cash bar...there's something for everyone! 


Scarecrows in the Garden | "The Huntress" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | "The Huntress" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

"THE HUNTRESS - Thrift Shop Style" is delightfully brilliant! Look at her...she's on a mission!

She's got the right idea. There's so much to see at the Atlanta Botanical Garden! I try to visit all 30 acres every time I go. Because we have such a long growing season in Atlanta, the Garden never looks the same meaning there's always something new to see! 


Scarecrows in the Garden | "Indecisive Imagination" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | "Indecisive Imagination" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I love the scarecrows with bright colors! "Indecisive Imagination" totally embraces vivid colors and yet is so serene at the same time.

I usually go early October to see the scarecrows so that I have time to see them again, but it's been a busy month. There's so much going on in town! On this recent visit, I went with my friend Gordon, a friend of 30 years and he's a Certified Master Gardener. It was fun visiting with someone who knows so much of the flora we were seeing!

We were pondering which sculpture the Garden will keep after the two-year run of Imaginary Worlds (the Garden is wonderful about keeping a piece of art/artifact after its special exhibitions—that's how we got Earth Goddess!). We tossed around a few ideas and landed on the Phoenix overlooking Longleaf Restaurant.

As we walked down the Promenade, we noticed that the Phoenix's exterior plant material had been removed—as has Earth Goddess's in preparation for her transformation into Ice Goddess for Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. We ventured up to Alston Overlook—the highest point in the Garden and where the Phoenix is located—and sure enough, there's a sign with a rendering of what the Phoenix will look like during Garden Lights, Holiday Nights! Exciting!!!


Scarecrows in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Didn't catch the name or creator of this bright purple dinosaur with yellow wings, but it took 3rd Place, so that says something...I like it a lot! A festive dinosaur...what's not to like?!

They say 'membership has its privileges', and it does. I've been a member for many, many years and it's probably the membership I use most, because it's such a lovely place to visit AND because of the vast amount of programs and exhibitions...there's always something to do at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Become a member and find out for yourself! You'll get to see Scarecrows in the Garden, and other exhibitions free! #notsponsored


Scarecrows in the Garden | "Skel-ELTON JOHN" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | "Skel-ELTON JOHN" | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I had the honor of meeting Sir Elton John many, many moons ago at a party where he played for a modest group of guests. Delightful, charming, and incredibly talented! It was so exciting to meet him and I was impressed by how humble he was. I can only imagine the number of ways he's been immortalized, now including at Scarecrows in the Garden playing piano!

If you love the scarecrows here, head up to this Garden's annex and see Scarecrows in the Gainesville Garden!


Scarecrows in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Scarecrows in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Be sure to read the "scroll" at the base of this one...there's some Shakespeare in the mix. I love its title: "If the Phoenix Bird can fly, then so can I". I was there at dusk, so if you see her in daylight, she'll be even more brilliantly colorful!

There you go...a sampling of the approximately 100 scarecrows in this years Scarecrows in the Garden at the always beautiful Atlanta Botanical Garden. Go enjoy them through Sunday, October 28!

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