As mentioned the last time I went to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, I vowed to come back to see the Chihuly exhibit at night. Two of my friends and I returned last night for dinner and a walk around the gardens. Just as they said, it is quite magical all lit up at night. We arrived a bit before sunset so I will start with some garden pictures I took while waiting for our dinner reservation and then I will show you the beautiful sights at night.
There was a gorgeous hydrangea section. I prefer the big puffy ones to the flat headed ones but I think all are beautiful.
The white ones really popped out in the waning sunlight.
My camera is new. In fact, this was my first outing with my camera. Davis and Olivia got me a gift card for Christmas to get a new camera and I combined it with some teacher appreciation gift cards and a little cash of my own to get a new Nikon camera. I am not remotely proficient with it yet, but I already prefer it to my old one and can’t wait to learn about more settings and features of it. These photos are pretty much the same setting but I had fun trying out my new gift.
We headed to the Fuqua Orchid Center and saw a few Chihuly pieces and many orchid blooms.
Chihuly also works with neon lights and later you will see some of his paintings. He is a talented artist.
On the way back to the restaurant we saw some clouds and critters. The clouds gathered, darkened and opened up on us about an hour later, but for now, they are fluffy and innocuous.
My prince.
The restaurant features a top chef, Linton Hopkins, using some of the foods from the gardens. I was just glad frog legs weren’t on the menu. I could not have ordered them.
Our table gave us a good view of the trees on one side and the collection of Chihuly paintings on the other side.
At first, I must admit, I didn’t like my chosen entree. I ordered a vegetarian dish of roasted root vegetables but the more I ate it, the more I grew to like it and would definitely order it again. It featured carrots, turnips, beets, and some other root vegetables topped with crispy kale and with a base of lentils. Very satisfying even if I couldn’t identify everything!
By now it was getting a little darker so we headed back into the gardens again. We started on the canopy walk. It had rained a bit and the reflections added to the beautiful effect of all the lights on the paths and glass pieces.
Are you ready for a nighttime Chihuly? (YES! you are all screaming under your collective breaths. Enough with the carrots and sidewalks already!)
Okay, moving on. You can see in this photo that is still dusky but I like the fact that you can see the flowers around the glass. The colors of the glass are very vibrant and let me say again, gorgeous.
This particular piece is about 20 feet tall and in a courtyard over a fountain. It’s my favorite although it is hard to choose among them all.
It is pretty in the day but is a WOW at night.
Again, they look small in the nighttime because you can’t see a comparison for perspective, but these pieces are about 15 – 20 feet tall.
When you look over the canopy walkway to the ground you see this gorgeous display.
We walked closer and closer.
This one in all white was plain but still captivating.
As we made our way back up the path we stopped for a while at the garden’s Earth Goddess.
Our last stop was the giant yellow sphere outside of the restaurant. Although it doesn’t move, the design makes you think it could reach out to you.
There are many more things to see at the garden and if you live in the area you MUST come see this exhibit. It will be here until October. Call me! I will join you!!!!
These are absolutely beautiful pictures…
MC
Come see it with us. The exhibit is here till October.
Beautiful pictures!!!!!