Atlanta Botanical Garden

I love late February in the South. You might find snow one week and sun-filled warm days the next week. Littered along Ponce De Leon were snowman remnants, a muddy contrast to the sparkling sky and cheery warmth all around us. Debra and I decided it was the perfect day to visit the Gardens.

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Against our concierge's advice, we hit the streets of downtown and walked to the Gardens, a 3-mile hilly walk. We both were unaccustomed to the exercise and unprepared for the heat with our sweaters, jackets and fur-lined Crocs.

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We had a laborious, dull walk through the city before we stumbled upon a quaint neighborhood on Piedmont leading us into trendy Midtown - Piedmont and 10th and beyond. The street was suddenly adorned by gorgeous houses and people walking babies or dogs.

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Hot and incredibly thirsty, we thought we were on our last step when we finally found Piedmont Park.

The Botanical Gardens are at the far end of the park, so we knew we were close. Piedmont Park was inviting. Everyone was enjoying this sudden taste of Spring, biking, jogging, playing frisbee. The park reminded me of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco where I once got seriously lost on a bicycle. You can rent bikes here, too, at Piedmont and skates as well. If you visit the area, do it! Right outside the park is a place called Willies where apparently all the young locals gather on Saturday afternoons, it was packed. We were so thirsty and so tired, but kept trudging along, denying the call of Willies and the bikes.

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The Botanical Garden cost $15 per adult to get in, we used our AAA discount and got in for $13. We dragged our weary, worn-out, sweaty selves into the cool building and were greeted by the greeter. We discussed our hot walk and exhaustion and desire for water. He failed to tell us a water fountain was right upstairs and instead directed us to the closed Cafe', a walk up a hill. We were perplexed at the Cafe' - it closed 2 hours before the Gardens close. Debra sat at the table in the one chair that had shade while I went in search of water, feeling much like a pioneer. In the Day Hall I found the Camellia Show and was sidetracked for a minute.
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It was here they told me the Cafe was closed, but there was a water fountain right outside the door. I ran back and grabbed Debra and we limped to the water fountain. Guess what? It didn't work. We marvelled that there weren't drink machines throughout the park, why not? We walked through the Camellia Show and enjoyed it, but seriously thought about popping some flowers out and drinking water from the vase.
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The layout of the Garden is beautiful, everything is spread out with nice walkways. A lot of it was dormant, sleeping away the Winter, but it was very relaxing. We sat in the sun by the fountain and I let Mr. Frog read me a frightening story before we soldiered on.

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We passed through the Great Lawn with it's nice view of Atlanta's sky scrapers. The Japanese Garden and Rose Garden weren't much to look at in February. Coming Soon: Edible Garden and Canopy Walkway.
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We entered the Gardens Under Glass and things came alive. The splended leaf frog greeted us at the door and guess what we finally found? A working water fountain! I felt like an animal that had trudged through the dessert to the rain forest and could finally lap up some cold water. We guzzled. I have photos, but they're not flattering.

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We entered the humid rooms and these plants above threatened to eat us alive. Following my brother's bear advice, I made sure I wasn't the last body fleeing, leaving Debra behind me.

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I found this plant -- I thought it was very cool. It's a Nepenthes or "Monkey Cup," a plant monkeys drink water from. Also called "Pit of Doom." This is a carnivore, people, it eats insects and small mammals. Again, I let Debra follow me out:
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As we progressed we saw some cocoa pods, YUM, and some vanilla trees. Debra discovered this plant in the Africa exhibit and determined this must be where toothpicks come from:

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We left the African exhibit and went into the Rain Forest which was very, very cool, like a maze. We wandered through until we found an exit and then we headed to the main attraction: Orchid Daze: Vertical Gardens (Feb. 6 - April 11)
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Orchids of unbelivable colors, everywhere! Oh - and a wedding, I don't want to forget, there was a wedding just outside the Orchid exhibit with a violin and pianist. Nice.

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"Experience towering columns and walls dripping with brilliant orchids... Exotic beauties soar with lush green and silver foliage to create stunning living mosaics. 'People are accustomed to looking down on smaller plants like orchids -- to thinking of gardens as floral carpets,' says show designer Tres Fromme of Mesa Design Group. 'This year, the carpets climb the walls and become vibrant wallpapers and flowing banners....'"
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The orchids were fantastic. Here's Debra enjoying some rest and probably wishing she could drink that pool behind her. Look at her face - you can see it: "I want a drink, Val, I just want a lousy drink."

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You can visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden online for event schedules and more information.