Atlanta Blooms! 2022

"Atlanta Blooms!", now in its second decade, is one of the most beautiful events in all of Atlanta, and it's in your own backyard, at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. 

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

If you know our Garden you know that there is always something going on, something new growing or expanding. If you haven't been in more than a year, it's time to go back and check out all that's new, which is a lot!

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 is featured throughout the Garden! You'll have the marvelous opportunity to explore hundreds of thousands of tulips, daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths, as well as other spring blossoms. And check out the Garden's Events Calendar for opportunities to check out a variety of ways to grow bulbs, including container gardens and floating islands. 

Also, be sure to watch for updates on peak bloom times at atlantabg.org.

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

There's a LOT blossoming right now! The usual suspects--tulips, daffodils, etc.--are fully present, but there's also flowering shrubs, flowering trees...there are blossoms everywhere you look! It's definitely one of the more beautiful times to visit the Garden.

The day I went, earlier this week, was a heavy pollen day, so I wore my COVID mask. It cut way down on pollen inhalation and it didn't look weird! How awesome is that?! I think we'll see masks around a lot more in springtime in the coming years. When I lived in DC I used an umbrella when it was snowing--a lot of people did--and I saw others using umbrellas when the sun was beating down, wholly unbearable. I don't think any of those protective measures are weird anymore!

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

My favorite flower is the tulip, so this exhibition is especially wonderful for me. I've told the story before, but please allow me to share it once more. When I was barely able to walk, we'd had a late frost at my grandmothers. Little Travis ventured outside and picked the only surviving tulip and brought it inside and said, "Flower, mommy, flower." I loved hearing that story growing up and it was the catalyst for my love of tulips. 

Did you know that tulips are a symbol for true love or deep love? And the various colors have meanings, too. My favorite floral arrangement is red roses with white tulips. It's stunning!

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

There are several Chihuly sculptures in the Garden--part of its permanent collection--that blend beautifully with spring blossoms. The one pictured above is in the Levy Parterre, right about the middle of the whole of the Garden.

Speaking of sculptures, check out Orchid Daze, running in conjunction with Atlanta Blooms!, on display in the Conservatory and Orchid Center, but only through April 10. It features sculptures by Kristine Mays.

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

There's so much to see at this exhibition, so please explore the whole Garden! Get a map when you first come in--the Garden volunteers are super helpful and sweet. I was a volunteer and docent here for years and it was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a way to share your time.

Look right, look left, look across the Garden, and definitely look behind you for some truly awesome vistas/photographs that you just won't get if you don't look around. 

Here are a few tips for photographing flowers with your phone camera. There are a lot on tips and tutorials on the Internet for flower photography. I recommend spending a little time viewing/reading those and use the ones that resonate with you. You stand the chance of developing your own style or perhaps improve on your current style! 

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

All these blossoms bring out the beautiful pollinators! There's not reason to be afraid of them; they're busy pollinating and care more about the flowers than us visitors. And they make for some great photographs! 

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I remember the first time I saw an orange azalea, many years ago at Callaway Gardens. I was mesmerized! The Atlanta Botanical Garden has had them for a number of years now which I find exciting, and their azalea collection is growing with the relatively new Azalea Walk!

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I love the purple flower pictured above, but I didn't know what it's called. I turned to the Garden's trusty Plant Hotline (which you can call or email) and they came through--as they always have! It's a Camassis quamash, sometimes called a Camas. "Thank you!" to Master Gardener Jeanne for the assist! 

FYI, the Plant Hotline is operated by a team of Master Gardeners who answer questions from all over the world! They respond remotely and onsite in the Sheffield Botanical Library. They're truly remarkable experts, always super nice, and, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest assets at the Garden! 

Camas are typically found in the Western U.S., so it's a real treat for us to get to see them here. The ones pictured above are over near the Glade Garden where you'll find the Dale Chihuly "Radiant Yellow Icicle Tower" (which has replaced the former "Saffron Tower"). You can't miss that tower!

Also, the new "creek" in Storza Woods is complete so if you haven't been to the Garden recently, this will be a delightful treat for you!

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

While the Garden's Camellia Show was last month--because many Camellia varieties bloom in winter--there are still quite a few gorgeous Camellia blossoms on the Camellia Walk near Earth Goddess in the Cascades Garden. 

If you're a member of the Garden, remember that your membership includes admission to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, GAINESVILLE! They have super-fun exhibition going on right now titled, "Nature Connects". The exhibit includes 15 larger-than-life (much larger in some cases) LEGO sculptures! It's going on through May 30, but don't wait...you know how quickly the days and weeks tick by!

Atlanta Blooms! 2022 | Atlanta Botanical Garden | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I'll share some additional photos over on wanderlust ATLANTA's Facebook and Instagram pages, but do go see Atlanta Blooms! in person...it's truly magnificent!