At the Garden with MJ & The Guys

Last weekend I went with one of my dearest friends and her boys to the Atlanta Botanical Garden to see Scarecrows in the Garden and Imaginary Worlds: Plants Larger Than Life...we had a fantastic time! 

See all of our photos in a video at the end of this post.

Atlanta Botanical Garden, Moon Gate

Mary Jo had not been to the Garden in a number of years, Zach had been once but didn't remember a lot, and it was Kam's first time...we were all in for a treat with TWO exhibitions going on!

Unicorn, Imaginary Worlds, Atlanta Botanical Garden

The Garden is filled with scarecrows, which you start seeing (and making photos with) immediately upon entering. Same with the Imaginary Worlds living sculptures--there are 19 of them throughout the Garden, whereas the 131 scarecrows are scattered throughout the Southern Seasons Garden and the two-acre Children's Garden.

Scarecrows in the Garden, Atlanta Botanical Garden

I do believe this is a record year for Scarecrows in the Garden, and I heard a number of visitors say it was "the best year ever." It was fun having the boys along because they "got" the scarecrows that were based on cartoons and gaming icons.

Zach, pictured above with Mary Jo, had a birthday a few days after our excursion. "Happy birthday, Zach!"

Mary Jo and Kam, Atlanta Botanical Garden

Mary Jo and I have been dearest friends since 1987, having met when we both worked for Equifax. That seems like several lifetimes ago! So, I've known the boys since they were born. But I lived in Washington, D.C. during most of their formative years, but I got to watch them grow up via Facebook.

Kam was being a little camera-shay at first, but got over that before we got too far into the Garden...got some great photos of him and I love the one above of him and MJ.

Zach, Cobras, Imaginary Worlds, Atlanta Botanical Garden

I'm not a father and my nieces and nephews live in another state--and they all have kids of their own now!--so it's a real treat to get to hang out with these guys. After the Garden we went to Grindhouse Burgers for lunch and then we went to Midtown Bowl for a couple of games. It was a full afternoon!

Frog, Kam, Atlanta Botanical Garden

The guys really liked the statue frogs and LOVED the frogs in the Fuqua Conservatory. We'd originally planned on visiting the day before, Saturday, but I had to work longer than expected, but it work out because the weather was so much better when we did go. 

We'll have to go back so they can see the Saturday, 11:00 a.m. Frog Feeding...when ALL the frogs come out!

They enjoyed the other animals...the turtles, including the Dragon Snapping Turtle in the Conservatory, the salamanders, the quail, and of course all the real and mythical Imaginary Worlds and scarecrow animals and creatures.

MJ and Kam, Atlanta Botanical Garden

About half of the scarecrows are in the Children's Garden, so I was concerned that boys of their ages wouldn't want to go to the "Children's" Garden, but troopers they are! And we had a blast. Kam was climbing dinosaurs and Zach was taking it all in. 

Zach, MJ, Cobra, Atlanta Botanical Garden

Of course, I've seen both exhibitions multiple times, but this was a whole new experience. 

Yes, I'll occasionally have kids and teenagers along when I'm giving a tour in my role as a Garden docent--and I try to engage them as much as possible--but this was a new experience for me. Or at least one I've not had in many years...since my niece and nephew were in middle school! It was a totally AWESOME day! 

Travis, MJ, Kam, Zach, Atlanta Botanical Garden

I didn't want the day to end, but alas, all good things...

Zach, Kam, MJ, Atlanta Botanical Garden

Fortunately, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is never short on programming or new things to see. We talked about all returning this holiday season for Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, which starts in under a month!

See the rest of our photos here...

Imaginary Worlds: Plants Larger Than Life

Wow! Imaginary Worlds: Plants Larger Than Life at the Atlanta Botanical Garden would be beyond belief if its sculptures weren't so colossally larger than life—for real!

Imaginary Worlds, Ogre, Atlanta Botanical Garden

I'm hesitant to share too much about the exhibition because it truly is a must-see...and it's been predicted, by an external source, that 1,000,000 visitors will see Imaginary Worlds!

With that, I'm guessing it'd probably be better to see it sooner rather than later...because you know what happens when you wait until the last minute—you miss the exhibition entirely! You don't want that to happen...it's really that exceptional!

A few items:

• Imaginary Worlds was created by Mosaiculture out of Montreal, Canada
• There are 19 sculptures in the exhibition
• The sculptures are made entirely of living plants
• The tallest sculpture is 25 feet tall
• If you go to Cocktails in the Garden on Thursday nights, enjoy dramatic lighting

Now, here are some photos that I hope will entice you enough to go see this extraordinary exhibition in person:

Imaginary Worlds, Ogre, Atlanta Botanical Garden

Kids love the Ogre! And especially running through the space between his ears. Okay, okay...I admit it...I did it too, but only walked.

Imaginary Worlds, Earth Goddess, Atlanta Botanical Garden

Earth Goddess has already become a favorite. Visitors can see her from the entry drive, from the Canopy Walk, and on the Cascades Garden promenade. She's a towering 25 feet tall!!!

Imaginary Worlds, Cobras, Atlanta Botanical Garden

The pair of Cobras are a super fun surprise as you round the path leading from the Visitor Center, and they're a great photo op spot.

Imaginary Worlds, Unicorn, Atlanta Botanical Garden

I'm not sure who likes the Unicorn more...kids or grownups. The paparazzi are loving him though. He's going to be in a LOT of photographs!

Imaginary Worlds, Unicorn, Atlanta Botanical Garden

I really like this guy...I think partly because I've been streaming Merlin, a television show about Merlin at Camelot—the unicorn episode I recently saw was excellent!

Imaginary Worlds, Fish, Atlanta Botanical Garden

The Dancing Fish are brilliantly designed. When working out how to ensure all sides get adequate sunlight—standing still one side would be largely shaded by the Crape Myrtle Allee—it made total sense, and fun, to have them spin!

Imaginary Worlds, Rabbits, Atlanta Botanical Garden

The Rabbits are playful and adorable...and the red eyes totally give them credibility as authentic! You'll find them in the Orchard on the way to the Edible Garden.

Imaginary Worlds, Rabbits, Atlanta Botanical Garden

While the Rabbits totally look playful, I can't help but think that some of them look a little mischievous, too. The Orchard will be full of not carrots, but apples later in the season.

Imaginary Worlds, Rabbits, Atlanta Botanical Garden

While these little guys may not get carrots, they will be getting a lot of attention. I'm only showing some of the Rabbits here.

Imaginary Worlds, Dog, Atlanta Botanical Garden

The Shaggy Dog, in Storza Woods, is getting a lot of "Awwwww" from visitors who are surprised when they see him. And yes, he's made from living plants, too!

Well, that's all I'm going to show for now...there are other sculptures and some great background in the gallery of the Orchid Center, but I'm hoping you'll discover those in person. Come back and let me know what you think about Imaginary Worlds.