Atlanta Botanical Gardens

  Our travels around the world have included stops at a number of superb botanical gardens; some larger than others, but all equally beautiful. During our current visit to Atlanta, we are fortunate to be only a half-mile from this city's 40 year old gardens (we pass it everyday on our way downtown). While compared to some of the others we've visited, Atlanta's Botanical Gardens are relatively small (encompassing only 30 acres), it is big in its design, exhibits, and beauty. Just looking at the pictures included here, will only provide a taste of the elegance. One of the unique aspects of these gardens is the 600 foot long canopy walk that carries visitors forty feet above the city's last remaining forests. Another highlight is the magnificent orchid center. This place is amazing!

The Piedmont Ave entrance to the gardens, which sit on the edge of the city's Piedmont Park.

The Visitors Center building.

Glass sculpturist, Dale Chihuley, spent 18 months studying at the Murano Glass Works in Italy. One of his pieces hangs in the lobby of the Visitors Center...

...and another is part of the Parterre Garden Fountain.

Tulips were in bloom everywhere.

We were just stunned by the amazingly beautiful flowers on exhibit.

One of the top attractions in the Gardens is the Orchid Center.

The High Elevation House exhibits flowers and plants that grow above 6000 feet.

A delightful area for children is the model train exhibit...

...which includes Thomas the Tank Engine.

The twenty foot tall Earth Goddess living sculpture was designed in Montreal and holds more than 18,000 individual plants.