There are no crates to put the sculptures in...
no cranes to move them about...
Eleutherodactylus coqui calling
As the sun sets, the cast of characters in our Conservatory changes. Just as our poison frogs are settling down for a nights rest, Puerto Rican Coqui Frogs, Green House Frogs, and Tokay Geckos begin to stir and to fill the night air with their vocalizations. The Coqui Frogs are famous on the island of Puerto Rico for their two tone call. We have hundreds of these frogs living in the conservatory and the chorus that they create on warm summer evenings can be deafening. Adding to the chorus are the repetitive peeps that Greenhouse Frogs produce. Not to be outdone, the Tokay Geckos produce a loud two part bark that can’t be missed. For those that haven’t experienced a tropical forest at night, our Conservatory is certainly a good introductory experience.
Exposing the public to a realistic representation of a tropical forest, through our Conservatory, is important to the conservation mission at the Garden. When people experience the feel of a tropical forest, we hope that they will begin to develop an appreciation for the complexity and the beauty these forests have. Following suit, we hope that folks will support conservation efforts to conserve these rapidly dwindling natural resources. Special moonlight tours are often offered via our website. With flashlight in hand, we like to offer these nocturnal experiences which expose the public to a fantastic resource that all Atlantans have in their own back yard. If you have a chance, please check in with the website from time to time and come by to experience the amphibians and reptiles in our Conservatory at night.
Volunteer Jimmy Dills demonstrates ways to draw with multimedia.
Volunteer Tammy Bezona helps visitors add to a large mural that will be
displayed at October’s pin-up show.
Volunteer Polly Sanders assists children in coloring their
interpretations of Moore’s work as Large Reclining Figure looks on.
[sculpture] must make you stop and look at it of its own accord irrespective of where it is. If it has an immediate explanation as to why it is there, the average person will see this, go away and lose interest. It is better if the sculpture should be of some challenge or of a mystery. I want sculpture that has lots of interpretations, like Hamlet. It is important that there be continued interpretations… People have an intrinsic interest in shapes. If a thing has ‘universal touch’ it will interest generations. (Elsen, ‘Henry Moore’s Reflection on Sculpture’, p. 354.)