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 5:30 A.M. for a 4 1/2 drive to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.
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.
My Hubby didn't want a Frosty, so we stopped at Dairy Queen for a creamsicle.
We were home by 8:30 P.M.
We were halfway to Atlanta when I realized I had forgotten to bring my cell phone and my sunglasses to Red Lobster.
(Valley Head, Alabama, where we stopped to take a picture of the Valley Head Drug Mural, is where I realized I had left my cell phone at home)
I had to use my husband'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, and received a garden map. We then 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 the Olympians and 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 trot.
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| Pegasus |
At the Kendeda Canopy Walk, hidden by a canopy of trees and shrubs, was the Mammoth.
The Mammoth was covered in Greenery, except for its white tusks, which helped keep it hidden from view.
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| 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.
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| Earth Goddess |
The Giant Phoenix was perched along the wall of the Astor Overlook. His body was covered in brown plants. The tip of his feathers was covered in green plants, and his wings spread wide.
Eyes of an eagle, hungry enough to eat a man.
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| Giant Phoenix |
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| 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.
A trio of camels lined the Anne Cox Chamber Flower Walk.
They were composed of brown bushy plants with a bit of Greenery on their faces. The mats/blankets upon their backs were covered in multi-colors green plants.
On one of the camels sat a rider; his upper body was covered in Greenery, his pants were a reddish-brown, and his boots matched the mat.
The baskets the camels were carrying were covered in red, green, and brown plants.
The camels were covered with green mats carrying baskets of red, purple, green, and brown.
Stepping carefully along the flower walk.
We saw the larger-than-life, fire-eating dragon standing guard over the plants in the Rock Garden, ready to breathe fire on offenders.
The dragon was covered in a mixture of greens and browns, with brown spikes down its back. His upper wings were brown, the underside green. A fierce creature to behold.
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.
Within sight of the not-so-white rabbit stood the Three of Hearts, the Ace of Hearts, and the chess players on a green and white chessboard lined with heart-shaped green and brown trees, waiting to capture Alice. However, Alice was asleep in the nearby garden.
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| The Shaggy Dog is sitting at the Garden House, waiting for someone to stroke his long green fur. |
The Cheshire cat was sitting in the tree watching Alice sleep.
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 multicolored greens with pink inner ears, big blue-green eyes, and a wide, mischievous grin that showed its white teeth.
At the Botanical Gardens
We saw a pitcher plant. 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 nectar 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 nutrient-rich soup, which the plant utilizes for its nutrition.
We saw Water lilies, Roses, Catci, tropical plants, and edible plants. Plants are grown inside hothouses in both dry and 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.
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| 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, but still couldn't capture all of its beauty.
