Scarecrows in the Garden
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Three-year-old twins Zach and Mia Mason were perplexed as they encountered “Fracrowzer,” one of 97 scarecrows now on display at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
“The scarecrow is sad,” Mia said.”Why?” asked her brother.
Hyosub Shin/Staff Photographer
Bobbie Goldman, (second from left) of Atlanta, with grandchildren Mia (left) and Zach Mason, 3, and daughter Beth Mason (right), pass by ‘I Am Scarecrow,’ created by Savannah College of Art and Design’s Sculpture Department.
Hyosub Shin/Staff Photographer
The Atlanta Botanical Garden hosts its 6th Scarecrows in the Garden festival, with more than 100 scarecrows decorated by local artists, organizations and businesses. Picture shows ‘Not so itsy bitsy spider’ by CNN/HLN Design Department.
“Because,” said their grandmother Bobbie Goldman. “He has no head.”
The family, along with the twins’ mother, Beth Mason, were touring the ABG’s annual “Scarecrows in the Garden” exhibit, now in its sixth year. This year’s show features the most scarecrows to date, said garden spokesman Danny Flanders, all built by families, professional artists, businesses and community groups. The headless Fracrowzer, for example, was submitted by The Frazer Center.
“It’s really hit its stride,” Flanders said. “It started as a fun event to get people out in the fall, but now, it’s gotten pretty competitive.”
The scarecrows range in shapes, sizes and even messages, such as “Scary Housing Market” submitted by Peachtree Mortgage Services Inc. Its display features two black-robed grim reapers —with name tags Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — hovering over birdhouses, glass houses and trailers.
Gary Girasole, president of the company, said his team began meeting in March for monthly Halloween-themed pot luck dinners and work sessions. But prior to last month’s collapse of the housing giants, they were unsure if the Fannie and Freddie connection would be lost on passersby.
“We thought maybe we were going out on a limb,” Girasole explained. “Of course, now it’s a household name.”
Exhibit: Through Oct. 31. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; free Children’s Garden activities 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 1345 Piedmont Ave. 404-876-5859; www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org
* Winners: KMA One’s “Scarecrow Family Photo” won the non-design professional category. The Fernbank Museum’s “Super-saur” took the professional title.
