Exploring Wonderland at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

It was a hot summer day, but that didn’t keep us from falling down the rabbit hole to experience Imaginary Worlds: Alice’s Wonderland at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

This exhibition features larger-than-life living sculptures inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Wander throughout the gardens in search of Alice, the Cheshire Cat, and the White Rabbit. There were fun discoveries to be made around every corner!

Overview

• Imaginary Worlds: Alice’s Wonderland runs until October 27, 2019
  • If you can’t make it in time, consider visiting for their Garden Nights, Holiday Lights event that begins mid-November.
• Tickets
  • Adults: $21.95 plus tax
  • Kids Age 3-12: $18.95 plus tax
  • Children under 3 and Garden Members: Free

Into the Gardens

The garden sprawls across 30 acres in Midtown Atlanta, right next to Piedmont Park. Once you pass through the Chihuly-decorated lobby and enter the garden, you will soon forget you are smack dab in the beating heart of a major city.

But first…

So long as you are 21+, grab a Garden Beer golden ale. It is will cool you down on a hot Atlanta day. The beer is a collaboration between Atlanta Botanical Garden and local brewery, Wild Heaven Beer.

Pro-Tip: Bring a reusable water bottle with you. There are refillable water bottle stations throughout the park. Stay hydrated!

Alice’s Wonderland

Not all of the Alice’s Wonderland sculptures are in one place. You will have to explore to find Alice and the Cheshire Cat.

I loved the red and white mushrooms scattered around her. The attention to detail and love of the plants is evident throughout the whole park. And who is that lurking in the bushes?

I am definitely the person who would be the one to enter a magical portal if one so whimsical as this presented itself.

This huge chessboard featured plant sculptures of the knights, pawns, and the Queen of Hearts’ playing-card guards. Luckily, the queen was nowhere around so I was able to keep my head!

The White Rabbit seems to have arrived at the place he was running late to, as he relaxes in an upside-down umbrella. This incredible sculpture clocks in at about 27 feet tall. It is truly a sight.

Imaginary Worlds’ Giant Plant Sculptures

In addition to the Alice in Wonderland exhibition, the Atlanta Botanical Garden brought back some fan-favorite giant plant sculptures from last year, revamped them, and placed them throughout the gardens.

I loved the fluffy hair and the finesse of the wings. It’s hard to believe these are made of plants!

A wooly mammoth sculpture peacefully lurks in the woods.

This picture does not do the dragon any justice. The dragon plant sculpture is 20 feet tall, 25 feet long, and is made up of over 24,000 individual plants.

The phoenix is an impressive, stately plant sculpture.

There are a few other giant topiaries you can seek out, but I won’t spoil all of the fun!

Throughout the Rest of the Garden

In addition to this exhibition, there are thousands and thousands of other plants and sights to see.

Walk amongst the treetops to find the iconic Earth Goddess fountain.

The Fuqua Conservatory and Orchid Center

We spent a lot of time in the Fuqua Conservatory and Orchid Center. It was peaceful and awe-inspiring. I saw exotic plants I had never seen before in my life. It was a nice place to find a seat, and take it all in.

The high elevation house was cool and humid, something I had never experienced before. A lot of the plants in this area were almost otherworldly. It seemed evident that this climate and the plants that flourish in it were the inspiration for some fantasy/sci-fi worlds we’ve seen in books and films.

Exiting the Rabbit Hole

Whether the Imaginary Worlds exhibition is going on or not, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is a worth a trip whether you have a few hours or a full day. Bring the kids, bring a date, either way you can have a special day outside and connect with the natural world.

If you end being further north, visit the ABG’s Gainesville Garden. This intimate garden offers a lot, and is worth popping by whenever you are in the area and need a family-friendly outdoor activity.