10 out of 10...

I had a 10 out of 10 experience at Ashton Gardens today. I’ve been wanting to take Cash to Nature Connects. There are fifteen sculptures made from LEGO pieces. We were amazed over and over by this incredible exhibit! 

Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point is proud to welcome Sean Kenney's Nature Connects made with LEGO bricks! 

Sean Kenney is a renowned, award-winning artist and "professional kid" who uses LEGO pieces to design and create contemporary sculptures for high-profile clients, major corporations, and venues around the globe for more than 15 years. Each sculpture is built by Kenney and his team of nearly 10 artists who work in their professional studio based in Brooklyn, New York. The sculptures are fully glued, steel reinforced, custom-curated and durable to withstand the life of the exhibit.

Nature Connects at Ashton Gardens features 15 sculptures made from LEGO pieces. Each sculpture is built entirely with LEGO pieces. 

Corn Spider

16,492 LEGO bricks

135 hours to complete

Cash was walking ahead of me and when he saw the spider, it startled him.

Cash thought the waterfall was awesome.

Cash liked the Bonsai tree. He told me he wanted one and had seen someone selling them by the road. We stopped on our way home, the one we liked was almost four hundred dollars! 

Doe and Fawn

37,879 LEGO bricks

215 hours to complete

Monarch on Milkweed

39,708 LEGO bricks

425 hours to complete

Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly

27,788 LEGO bricks

515 hours to complete

Cash's favorite

Cash and I had never see lily pads and they were so beautiful.

Peacock

68,827 LEGO bricks

625 hours to complete

Grandma's favorite

Gardening Granddaughter

11,294 LEGO bricks

202 hours to complete

Gardening Grandfather

35,646 LEGO bricks

334 hours to complete

Buck

45,562 LEGO bricks

215 hours to complete

Pansy and Bee

29,314 LEGO bricks

280 hours to complete

Cash was the best guide. He had the map and did a great job of navigating us around the gardens. I was lost half the time but Cash knew exactly where the next exhibit was! 

Birdbath
14,802 LEGO bricks
200 hours to complete

Galapagos Tortoise
23,317 LEGO bricks
290 hours to complete

We didn't take a picture of the ant hill or the wheel barrow but they were cool also! 

Ashton Gardens is a very unique setting and Cash often commented how beautiful all the trees and flowers are.

We also walked through the The Light of the World Gardens. It is two-and-a-half acres and includes a total of 15 scenes and 35 statues, with 14 scenes from the New Testament and one LDS Church-inspired scene depicting Joseph Smith’s First Vision. It was a sweet and experience to see the statues and talk about the Savior and Joseph Smith.

First Vision

Jesus walking on the water 

And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings...

I asked Cash where he wanted to have lunch and he chose Zupa's. I really love this handsome, smart, kind, and clever boy. He has brought more joy in the last ten years than I ever could have imagined. I feel so blessed to be his grandma. He opens doors for me, says thank you often, and is so fun.

We went back home for awhile and played some games. I asked Cash what he wanted for dinner and his reply was, "Whatever is easiest." I will remember this day always.