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Zilker Garden turns surreal after dark with fantastical neon art

May 8, 2022
in Home & Garden
Reading Time: 19 mins read
42 Neon sea monster - TodayHeadline


April 25, 2022

21 Dinosaur sculpture Neon cowboy boots - TodayHeadline

Last Friday my husband and I decked ourselves out in floral clothing and headed to Zilker Botanical Garden to attend The Surreal Garden, an interactive neon-art event. I have to say, it was even more fun than I’d imagined. Fantastical neon light sculptures filled the gardens (mainly the prehistoric garden, rose garden, and winding ramp to the visitor center), creating a Vegas-y glow amid the palms, cypresses, and ponds.

Dance music played throughout the garden, and costumed attendees roamed the grounds to enjoy the art, dance in neon-lit cages, relax on neon benches, or pedal an interactive neon octopus — yes, really. Many of the neon artworks, created by Austin’s Ion Art, are customized to the garden’s permanent features, like the red cowboy boots “worn” by the bronze dinosaur in the prehistoric garden (pictured above). They are all delightful to experience. If you love art and gardens and people-watching, you should go.

01 D Neon snake arch - TodayHeadline

The Surreal Garden occurs after hours, from 6 to 10 pm. We arrived around 7 pm and had no problem finding free parking along Stratford Drive, although ride sharing is officially encouraged. Here’s David under a double snake arch at the entrance to the prehistoric garden.

02 Neon Diana huntress - TodayHeadline

A neon rendition of Diana the Huntress? By the way, all the artwork is for sale, with price lists at the garden’s entrance. Can you imagine finding a spot for something like this in your home or garden? In the right context, I think it could be pretty fabulous — and certainly a talking point.

03 Neon Easter Island head - TodayHeadline

Two-dimensional glowing Easter Island heads were some of David’s favorites.

05 Neon jellyfish lady - TodayHeadline

This glam mirrored jellyfish woman wowed us.

06 Neon jellyfish lady - TodayHeadline

She’s keeping one Picassoesque eye on her admirers.

07 Dinosaur w neon cowboy boots - TodayHeadline

The dinosaur is ready to go boot scootin’ in his neon red cowboy boots.

08 Neon orangutan Waterfall selfie - TodayHeadline

An orangutan perches atop the waterfall in the prehistoric garden — a popular spot for a selfie.

09 Neon orangutan Waterfall - TodayHeadline

Later, after dark, the colors grow more pronounced.

10 Neon spouting whale - TodayHeadline

A spouting whale with fishbone teardrop

11 Neon anglerfish - TodayHeadline

An evolving anglerfish?

12 Dinosaur sculpture Neon cowboy boots - TodayHeadline

Another look at the cowboy dinosaur

13 Neon snake in tree - TodayHeadline

A neon snake slithers down a tree.

14 Neon Jungle Lounge cabana - TodayHeadline

A shade pavilion has been transformed by a neon sign and light tubes into The Jungle Lounge.

15 Neon tiki head - TodayHeadline

A glowing Mayan head amid cycads

16 Neon aliens Palms - TodayHeadline

Aliens are landing in the palms, as a fog machine adds mystique.

17 Neon alien reflection - TodayHeadline

Greetings

18 Neon sculpture petroglyph - TodayHeadline

A limestone cliff created a perfect opportunity for neon petroglyphs. Here’s one of several along the cliff wall.

19 Neon tiki totems Easter Island head - TodayHeadline

Glowing tiki columns echo the straight trunk of a bald cypress, alongside another Easter Island head.

20 People in costumes - TodayHeadline

People-watching at an event like this is as fun as experiencing the art. This happy foursome was rocking a mix of surreal, botanical, and steampunk costumes.

32 Neon kinetic meteors - TodayHeadline

On the Rose Garden lawn, we found the party in full swing, with glowing meteors dipping and swaying above, music pulsing through the air, and neon light washing everything with color.

22 Neon octopus w bike - TodayHeadline

An arm-waving octopus who has snagged the moon is powered by anyone willing to hop on a stationary bicycle. Others can then walk between the octopus’s moving arms to ham up being attacked.

24 Neon tiki bar sign - TodayHeadline

We found a bar under a neon sign for the Aloha Room.

23 Neon hanging chair - TodayHeadline

All around the garden are places to sit — or dangle — and people-watch.

26 Neon hanging jellyfish - TodayHeadline

Neon jellyfish hang from trees…

27 Neon hanging jellyfish - TodayHeadline

…creating an under-the-sea vibe.

28 Neon sharks - TodayHeadline

Sharks fit right in.

29 Neon anchor Gazebo Pond - TodayHeadline

As does a giant fishhook.

30 Neon skull crossbones - TodayHeadline

On the sea, there be pirates.

31 Neon directional sign Real World - TodayHeadline

After circling the koi pond, we followed a directional sign to find the sea monster. The Real World was lit up, but we weren’t ready to leave yet.

25 Neon mandrill - TodayHeadline

A winking lion-baboon greeted us along the way.

37 Women neon bench - TodayHeadline

Neon benches were popular with selfie-takers.

33 Neon bench - TodayHeadline

And for glamour shots of bottles of booze, apparently.

34 Neon art in garden - TodayHeadline

A wide view of the jellyfish area

35 Neon scorpion - TodayHeadline

A scorpion with a flickering tail on neon rocks

36 Neon flamingos Ferns - TodayHeadline

A pair of flamingos foraging in the ferns

38 Neon snailmadillo - TodayHeadline

How about a snailadillo? This is a creative alternative to the other Texas creature mashup, the jackalope.

39 Neon flower w eye - TodayHeadline

Blue-eyed Susan flower

40 Costumed people Neon art - TodayHeadline

The glowing scene along the path

41 Women looking out Butler Window - TodayHeadline

The Butler Window offers an overlook of the party lawn.

42 Neon sea monster - TodayHeadline

And hey, we found the sea monster! It’s a toothy anglerfish…

43 Neon sea monster selfie - TodayHeadline

…and like Marlin and Dory we moved in for a closer look.

44 Neon tunnel - TodayHeadline

If you survive the teeth, you can walk through the monster’s body — a tunnel of angular lights.

45 Neon hammerhead shark - TodayHeadline

Near the exit, a hammerhead lurks.

46 Cage dancer Neon cowboy hat - TodayHeadline

The younger set was cage-dancing to the music.

47 Neon tigers 1 - TodayHeadline

Heading up the hill we found pacing tigers…

48 Neon fly - TodayHeadline

…a prosaic housefly rendered beautiful in neon light…

49 Neon tiki mask - TodayHeadline

…a tiki mask…

50 Neon monkey w umbrella - TodayHeadline

…and a prancing monkey with an umbrella.

51 Neon whale tail - TodayHeadline

In a pond by the visitor center, a serpentine whale’s tail stands tall.

54 Neon surreal sign - TodayHeadline

The Surreal sign at the visitor center

53 Penick books - TodayHeadline

In the gift shop I saw both of my books for sale. Thanks for carrying them, ZBG!

52 Woman w glowing horns - TodayHeadline

What a fun costume, with her glowing antlers and flower crown

64 Neon jaguar in tree - TodayHeadline

Near the food trucks a jaguar lounges in a tree.

55 Surreal Garden art list - TodayHeadline

Here the prices for Ion Art’s artworks are displayed.

56 Surreal Garden art list - TodayHeadline

The bigger pieces are expensive, naturally, but the smaller ones aren’t crazy for original art.

57 Surreal Garden art list - TodayHeadline

Blue-Eyed Susan and Snailadillo are calling my name. Which would you choose?

58 Salvador Dali costume - TodayHeadline

A Salvador Dali costume, complete with pet ocelot Babou, is very much on-theme.

59 Couple costumed w purple flowers - TodayHeadline

Botanical costumes are good too!

60 Neon tall elephant Costumed people - TodayHeadline

A long-legged elephant caught my eye, as did the costumed group beside it.

62 Costumed woman w headdress - TodayHeadline

The woman in the magnificent headdress kindly posed for me.

61 Neon tall elephant - TodayHeadline

Salvador the Elephant did too.

65 Woman in owl mask - TodayHeadline

Check out the curled-paper owl mask this woman made.

66 Couple in Venus flytrap Flower costumes - TodayHeadline

And this couple. She’s wearing a floral, light-up hat. He’s a fly caught in a Venus flytrap!

67 Neon sub sardine - TodayHeadline

At last it was time to return to the real world. We passed a yellow sub-sardine on the way out, with flickering tail and bubbling bubbles. Check it out, and a few other short videos of the event, in my Instagram stories today.

The Surreal Garden runs for three more nights, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6 to 10 pm. Tickets are $50. Surreal or botanical-themed costumes are encouraged. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy.

I welcome your comments. Please scroll to the end of this post to leave one. If you’re reading in an email, click here to visit Digging and find the comment box at the end of each post. And hey, did someone forward this email to you, and you want to subscribe? Click here to get Digging delivered directly to your inbox!

__________________________

Digging Deeper

May 5th at 8 pm: Attend the final Garden Spark talk of the season! Jennifer Jewell, award-winning author and Cultivating Place podcast host, shows that gardens are powerful agents for change, addressing challenges like climate change, resource use, habitat loss, and more. Using beautiful images from her book Under Western Skies, she’ll share innovative gardens that celebrate western landscapes. Get your ticket at this link. Tickets must be purchased in advance; no walk-ins. Come learn something new and hang out with fellow garden lovers!

Explore the Surreal Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden. For two consecutive weekends, the public is invited to attend evening soirées at Zilker Botanical Garden, including botanical-themed neon surrealism, interactive art sculptures, local-favorite foods, craft cocktails, live music, costumes, dancing, and more! A portion of the proceeds benefits the ZBG Conservancy. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door (plus fees & tax). Dates are April 22-23 and 28-30 from 6 pm to 10 pm. Get tickets here.

Join the mailing list for Garden Spark! Hungry to learn about garden design from the experts? I’m hosting a series of talks by inspiring garden designers, landscape architects, and authors a few times a year in Austin. Check out the 2021-22 schedule. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance. Simply click this link and ask to be added.

All material © 2022 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.


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