Only in L.A.: Botanic Garden Displays LEGOs to Connect Visitors With Nature

A fun exhibit at the South Coast Botanic Garden is reviewed by park planner Clement Lau.

1 minute read

April 2, 2016, 9:00 AM PDT

By wadams92101


Los Angeles County park planner Clement Lau has the perfect exhibit recommendation for those of you enjoy LEGOs and nature. He recently visited the South Coast Botanic Garden to see the Nature Connects exhibit, which is an interactive art installation consisting of 15 nature-themed sculptures constructed entirely from almost half a million LEGO bricks. Created by New York-based artist Sean Kenney, the sculptures took seven months to build. The pieces are all very detailed and assembled exclusively using LEGO pieces, ranging from a 575-piece statue of a goldfinch to a hummingbird, the symbol of the Garden, which requires 31,555 pieces and stands over six feet tall. 

What Lau likes most about Nature Connects is that it really does help to connect children (and adults alike) with nature. During his visit, Lau observed many children marveling at the colorful exhibits and learning more about nature from the informational displays that accompany the sculptures. This was encouraging to see, especially at a time when a growing number of kids may be suffering from "nature deficit disorder." While LEGOs are typically used to make models of man-made structures like high-rise buildings, fire stations, airports, and other infrastructure, Kenney reminds us of the importance of nature and creative expression. In the article, Lau includes various photos of the exhibit.

Sunday, March 27, 2016 in UrbDeZine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up of full beer glass with purple train-themed design sitting on bar between two frosty tall cans.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?

TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

4 hours ago - Cities Today

Vintage red Toronto streetcar passing in front of Rogers Arena in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events

Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

5 hours ago - blogTO

Map of Berlin with ring roads in green and red.

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan

The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.

6 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.