LEGO sculptures connect the public with nature at Huntsville Botanical Garden
A LEGO butterfly sits on LEGO blossoms at Huntsville Botanical Garden, which is featuring its Nature Connects LEGO exhibit through May 20. (Brittany Faush/Alabama NewsCenter)
From a distance, an unsuspecting visitor to Huntsville Botanical Garden might think the hummingbirds grow really big in these parts.
A much-larger-than-life hummingbird sculpture made from LEGO bricks is one of the eye-catching sights in Nature Connects, a series of 14 Lego scenes created throughout the garden by New York artist Sean Kenney. The exhibit, which opened recently, runs through May 20.
Some of the living creatures recreated by Kenney — a woman gardening, a woodpecker, other birds — appear at life size. Others, such as the hummingbird, a butterfly and a praying mantis, are delightfully huge.
The exhibit, which required almost half a million Lego bricks, has proven popular with visitors, said Katelyn Henderson, the garden’s marketing manager. “Kids love them, but also young-at-heart adults love them, too. I personally love them.”
The Lego scenes are scattered throughout the 112-acre garden, she said, “So you have to explore the entire garden to see them all.”
Along the way, visitors get to experience the garden’s natural beauty during spring.
[vimeo 261999448 w=640 h=360]Nature connects with LEGO in Huntsville Botanical Garden’s new exhibit from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
Huntsville Botanical Garden, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in May, is growing all the time. A new guest center opened a year ago, featuring a larger gift shop and more rental venues.
As with any garden, the attractions change with the seasons. An exhibit called Gardens of Myth will begin in June and run until fall, Henderson said. Visitors during that period will find statues of mythical creatures, such as fairies, trolls, goblins, a dragon and Bigfoot, along with information on the international origins of each.
The special attractions are just part of the garden’s efforts to keep the public engaged. “The community is highly involved in this garden, and we’re really proud of it,” Henderson said.
