ATLANTA (April 22, 2009) - Hot-air balloon rides, bronze pourings, sheep pettings, scavenger hunts. It's all part of the fun and excitement May 2-3 during the Atlanta Botanical Garden's grand opening of its green expansion and special exhibition of Henry Moore's monumental sculptures.

The ongoing project treats visitors to more gardens, more parking and more access to green space than ever before. And to celebrate, the Garden will at the same time unveil Moore in America, the largest outdoor exhibition of world renowned British artist Henry Moore's massive bronzes ever presented in the United States.  Ranked last year by TIME magazine as one of the top 10 museum exhibitions in the country when it appeared at The New York Botanical Garden, the 20 sculptures, all on loan from The Henry Moore Foundation in England, can be viewed through October.

The sculptures, most so tall, wide and heavy they require cranes for placement, will appear even larger when set amongst the dense plantings of the expanded Garden. The project includes the first phase of the new Southern Seasons Garden as well as the new Hardin Visitor Center and SAGE parking facility, both designed and built to the strictest LEED-certification standards.

"We've got quite a lot to celebrate this spring because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for visitors to experience Henry Moore before the sculptures return to England, all while touring brand new gardens and facilities," said Mary Pat Matheson, the Garden's executive director.

Most grand opening events will be held between 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3. rain or shine, including:

• Hot-air balloon rides for a bird's eye view of breathtaking new gardens.
• Bronze-pouring demonstrations for a taste of how Moore created his sculpture.
• The Big Draw, including contour drawings and chalk drawings on pavement where artist wannabes can show their talents.
• A sheep petting for a little flavor of Moore's beloved English countryside.
• Children's sculpting using home-made play dough.
• Puppet shows and storytelling in the children's amphitheatre.
• "Ask the Expert" stations and Discovery Carts for answering visitor questions.
• Cash bars and live music for setting the right springtime mood.

All events are free with garden admission except for balloon rides ($10 per person).

The Garden is collaborating with The New York Botanical Garden and The Henry Moore Foundation to bring Moore in America to Atlanta. The exhibition is sponsored nationally by MetLife Foundation and supported locally by UPS.

The mission of the Atlanta Botanical Garden is to develop and maintain plant collections for display, education, research, conservation and enjoyment. The Garden, located at 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, is open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday from April through October (until 10 p.m. on Thursdays) and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday from November through March. For information, call 404-876-5859 or go to http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/ or http://www.henry-moore.org/.