Today started out in the upper 60s and cloudy it was a great day for traveling. We were up before the sun and on our way by 5:30AM for a 4 1/2 drive to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
We took the scenic route through Huntsville, Scottsboro, and several small towns to Atlanta Ga taking I-75 into downtown.
Veteran's Memorial Park Chattooga County Georgia "Dick Dowdy's Park" Summerville, GA
is where we stopped to take pictures of the War Memorials of Chattooga County, Couey's Log Cabin, Summerville's Train Depot, and the turntable.
Veteran's Memorial Park Chattooga County Georgia "Dick Dowdy's Park" Summerville, GA
is where we stopped to take pictures of the War Memorials of Chattooga County, Couey's Log Cabin, Summerville's Train Depot, and the turntable.
Veteran's Memorial Park Chattooga County, Georgia |
Couey's Log Cabin |
Train Turntable |
Summersville's Train Depot |
We spent several hours strolling through the botanical gardens, looking at all the breathtaking plants and Alice in Wonderland Characters.
We ate breakfast at McDonald's in Scottsboro and dinner at Red Lobster in Oxford, Alabama.
Admiral's Feast |
We also took the scenic route home. From Cullman, we took I-65 to Athens, then 72.
We did stop at Wendy's for a chocolate frost.
We did stop at Wendy's for a chocolate frost.
Hubby did not want a frosty, so we stopped at Dairy Queen for a creamsicle.
We were home by 8:30PM.
We were halfway to Atlanta when I realized I had forgotten to bring my cell phone and my sunglasses at Red Lobster.
(Valley Head, Alabama, where we stopped to take a picture of Valley Head Drug Mural, is where I realized I had left my cell phone at home)
I had to use hubby's cell phone to take pictures and airdrop them when I got home. I did go back to get my glasses before we left the restaurant.
(Valley Head, Alabama, where we stopped to take a picture of Valley Head Drug Mural, is where I realized I had left my cell phone at home)
I had to use hubby's cell phone to take pictures and airdrop them when I got home. I did go back to get my glasses before we left the restaurant.
I had a great day.
Imaginary World of Alice's Wonderland
We were greeted at the Admissions desk, paid our fee, were given a garden map, walked through the double doors, and began our whimsical journey looking for treasures.
We were looking for eleven characters from the Imaginary World of Alice's Wonderland.
Our first encounter was with PEGASUS, the flying winged horse, a child of Olympians & Poseidon.
Pegasus was covered in brown plants, and his wings, tail, and mane were covered in green plants. He appeared to be in a slow Trott.
At the Kendeda Canopy Walk, hidden by a canopy of trees and shrubs, was the Mammoth.
The Mammoth was covered in Greenery, except for his white tusk, which helped keep him hidden from view.
Mammoth |
Earth Goddess was nestled in the Cascade Gardens next to the cascading waterfall.
The Earth Goddess's face and hand were comprised of green plants.
Her hair, covered in multi-color plants, flowed down her head onto the ground.
Her eyes were closed, and water flowed through her fingers as the serenity of it all touched her soul.
Earth Goddess |
Eyes of an eagle, hungry enough to eat a man.
Sea Maid (Mermaid) |
Sitting in the fountain near the Rose Garden, we saw a beautiful mermaid.
The sea-maid was covered in green plants, and her brown(plant) hair flowed down to her waist, her tail folded beneath her.
The sea-maid was covered in green plants, and her brown(plant) hair flowed down to her waist, her tail folded beneath her.
A trio of camels lined the Anne Cox Chamber Flower Walk.
They were composed of brown bushy plants with a little greenery on their faces. The mats/blankets upon their backs were covered in multi-colors of green plants.
On one of the camels sat a rider his upper body was covered in greenery, his pants a reddish-brown, and his boots matched the matt.
The baskets the camels were carrying were covered in red, green, and brown plants.
Camels |
Stepping carefully along the flower walk.
Dragon |
The dragon was covered in a mixture of greens, & browns with brown spikes down his back. His upper wings were brown, the underside green. A fierce creature to behold.
the White Rabbit |
The not-so-white rabbit's body was covered in green plants, his ears and nose in pink plants, and his boat was covered in reddish-brown plants. Atop the cane in his hand was his tall green hat.
Floating in the pond among the greenery sat the not-so-white rabbit. It was the rabbit that Alice had followed down the rabbit hole.
The Queen of Hearts Chess Game |
The Shaggy Dog is sitting at the Garden House, waiting for someone to stroke his long green fur. |
Cheshire Cat and Sleeping by Alice |
Alice's dress was covered in blue flowers, her hair in yellow flowers that surrounded her face as she lay sleeping in a bed of flowers, grass, and red, yellow, and white mushrooms.
Her face, socks, and belt were covered in green plants.
The Cheshire cat was covered in multi-greens with pink inner ears, big blue/green eyes, and a wide, mischievous grin that showed his white teeth.
At the Botanical Gardens
We saw Picture plants Although pretty on the outside, the interior of a pitcher plant is quite sinister for visiting bugs. Once lured into a cup (a pitcher) by sweet-smelling nectars and flashy colors, the insect is greeted with downward-pointing hairs. Insects are captured by slipping and falling off the hairs and into a liquid at the bottom of the pitcher. They die by drowning in this liquid. Acids and enzymes then break down the insect into a soup, which is used by the plant for nutrition.
Picture Plant |
We saw Water lilies, Roses, Catci, tropical plants, and eatable plants. Plants inside hothouses, in a dry climate, in humid climates.
We saw turtles, male California quails, and blue, green, and yellow poison dart frogs.
We saw trees of different species and sizes, fountains, and several eating places closed except for one.
Chihuly Glass Art |
Orchids |
Water Lilies |
A couple of pieces of Chihuly Glass Art, one hanging in the great hall(greenish-yellow tubular glass shapes) and another atop a fountain (blue swirling glass) in the Rose Garden.
The garden's directions were easy to follow, and the foliage & flowers were breathtaking. It was a trip worth taking.
I took hundreds of pictures and still could not capture all of its beauty.