Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined

That Atlanta Botanical Garden has reopened - with safety measures, of course. With extended hours, they're now open seven days per week, reserving Mondays for members only. Tickets are timed. If you're not ticketed, admission will be based on available occupancy, to help keep staff and visitors healthy.

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

Imaginary Worlds is back for an exciting third year in a row, this year's theme being "Alice's Wonderland Reimagined", and it includes Alice herself!

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

Just as Alice did In the Lewis Carroll classic, she's falling down the rabbit hole—suspended over Howell Fountain at the northeast edge of the Great Lawn. I think you too will fall for this magnificent exhibition! 

Some of the Imaginary Worlds sculptures from the last two years remain, some have traveled on, and Alice's Wonderland Reimagined brings new ones! 

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

Not the first sculpture you'll see, but the first new one for Alice's Wonderland Reimagined is through the Crepe Myrtle AllĂ©e, just beyond the Levy Parterre and the Japanese Garden. AND it rotates! You'll get better lighting photographing her from the Great Lawn, but being a rotating vignette, you'll have lots of spectacular angles and vistas from where to capture memories of your visit.

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

One of the new pieces is the Red Queen--at 16-foot tall--playing croquet in the Skyline Garden. This hilarious and gigantic diorama depicts the Red Queen using a flamingo for a mallet, a hedgehog for a ball, and a red card centurion for a hoop!

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

With the Garden's extended hours, they're gifting us "Cocktails in the Garden" every evening from 5pm-9pm! Note that last entry is at 8:30pm. And the sculptures are dramatically lit for an unique perspective on something that is already quite unique! 

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

The Cheshire Cat has been moved from the Perennial Garden to the Skyline Garden, gazing at the complex and brilliantly wonderful Chess Board from Alice's Wonderland.

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

The 27-foot tall, picturesque White Rabit is back, too, in the Skyline Garden. 

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

The sculptures are created through the centuries-old art of mosaiculture in which steel forms are covered in fabric, filled with soil and planted with thousands of living plants to form a colorful carpet.

The Garden first introduced guests to the art in 2013 when it presented the United States’ first major exhibition of mosaiculture produced by International Mosaiculture de Montreal®, a nonprofit group that has staged wildly successful displays of its work around the world.

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

This summer exhibition is merely one of the things happening at the Garden...there's so much more! On  their website, you can now tailor your experience by what you like and why you're there! There's lots for families, first dates, a romantic night out, a girls night out, garden enthusiasts, and a it makes a great addition to your staycation plans!

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

Note that at this time, masks are required for all indoor spaces, including bathrooms, cafe/restaurant, as well as the gift shop, conservatory, and orchid center when they re-open soon. The Gainesville location is scheduled to re-open on June 16.

Go see Alice's Wonderland Reimagined now through November 1 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden!

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