Visitors were in awe, and the cameras were everywhere at Royal Botanical Gardens this week. Selfies were being snapped by young and old alike. And why not? There was plenty to capture.
Alice in Bloomland, an immersive floral wonderland, provides an enchanting indoor escape from winter at the RBG Centre on Plains Road West.
The exhibit, which opened Thursday for a sneak peek for volunteers, staff and supporters, runs Saturday, Feb. 1 until the end of March, Tuesday to Sunday. It's closed Mondays, Family Day (Feb. 14) and March Break (March 8 to 16).
The crowds who attended the preview were in awe over the beautiful displays, masterfully spread throughout. It provides a break from the grey skies, and takes you away to a world of fantasy and fun.
The installation has plenty of local connections, in addition to the RBG itself. Waterdown artist Sandra Hollett branched out from her usual medium to create one of the centrepiece attractions - colourful, eye-catching, hanging teapots.
Alice in Bloomland is an experience where reality bends and blossoms into a world of curiosity for all ages. Inspired by the pages of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the floral showcase weaves together the magic of horticulture, the whimsy of floral design, and the marvel of visual arts to create an enchanting indoor wonderland straight out of a dream.
Some 25,000 real blooms unfold over the course of this awe-inspiring exhibit that spreads throughout the RBGs expansive greenhouses. Marvel at curious plant displays featuring cyclamen, primroses, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, hellebores, hydrangeas, bromeliads, anthuriums, and air plants. There are also life-sized pieces that invite the viewer to step into a world of wonder.
And art lovers won't want to miss Of Wonders, Wild and New exhibit produced by Cobalt Connects, featuring textile-based artworks crafted by artists from near and far, adding yet another layer of magic to this floral fantasy.
