DRAGONFLY

11,500 LEGO Bricks

200 Hours to Build

Location: Islands bamboo path

Dragonflies and their relatives have been around for 325 million years, since before the dinosaurs. According to Encyclopedia of Insects, a dragonfly ancestor, Meganeuropsis permiana, is the biggest known insect of all time, with a wingspan of almost two and a half feet. The fossil of this species, found in Elmo, Kansas, is a holotype — the single physical specimen that exists.

DID YOU KNOW?
Dragonflies have five eyes! They have two large compound eyes, that make up most of their heads, and three ocelli — eyes with simple lenses. The large compound eyes contain up to 30,000 ommatidia (facets) that see color, form, polarization, and ultraviolet light. Humans compile data from our two eyes into one picture, but dragonflies use the data from their 30,000 ommatidia to create one comprehensive image.

FOX, RABBIT & BABY RABBIT

18,908 LEGO Bricks

240 Hours to Build

Location: Sculpture Garden near African Outpost

Balance is important in our lives. Too much work or too much play can make us unhealthy. Balance is also important in nature. Too many plant-eating rabbits in the garden can harm plants and reduce the amount of seed and fruit they produce. The natural solution is to have enough rabbit-eating animals around to keep the rabbit numbers in check. Can you name some other plant-eating animals and their predators?

DID YOU KNOW?
Foxes take off like rockets! According to Red Fox: The Catlike Canine, foxes have a take-off angle of 40-degrees (give or take about 6-degrees) which is very close to the optimal take-off angle for a missile (45-degrees). This allows them to soar greater distances than any other species in the Canidae family.

HUMMINGBIRD

36,300 LEGO Bricks

275 Hours to Build

Location: Main Plaza

The hummingbird uses its long narrow beak to sip nectar from the tube-shaped flower of the trumpet vine. It is no coincidence that the hummingbird’s beak and the flower it pollinates bear a similar shape. Like many flowers and their pollinators, trumpet vine and hummingbirds co-evolved to form a mutually beneficial relationship. You can attract hummingbirds to your yard by including nectar-producing plants with tube-shaped flowers, including honeysuckle.

DID YOU KNOW?
Hummingbirds are the only bird species who can fly backwards!

SNAIL ON MUSHROOM

18,000 LEGO Bricks

200 Hours to Build

Location: Carousel

Snails belong to the class Gastropoda, meaning “stomach-foot.” This refers to the broad muscular appendage on their underbelly that is used for support and locomotion. They are recognized for their diverse array of whorled shells that provide protection for their delicate bodies. Cuban painted snails, like the one depicted, are at high risk of extinction due to the illegal trade of their uniquely colored shells.

DID YOU KNOW?
Snails are the slowest moving animals on the planet, moving at a speed of around 0.5-0.8 inches per second. If a snail moved in a straight line without stopping, it would take over a week to move one mile! In comparison, the fastest person to ever run a mile, Hicham El Gerrouj, clocked in at 3 minutes and 43 seconds.

GOLDFINCH

2,875 LEGO Bricks

40 Hours to Build

Location: Islands Bamboo Path

Birds are inspiring creatures that capture our imagination with their ability to fly, their often colorful plumage, and their twittering songs that enrich our surroundings. Most are beneficial garden creatures because they eat insects and keep the populations of “bad bugs” in check. Some are predators that help with the balance of nature. The more types of food and shelter you provide for birds, the more types of birds you will have in your garden. American goldfinches (Carduelis tristis) are one of 210 species of birds that have been sighted at Powell Gardens.

DID YOU KNOW?
Goldfinch nests are water tight! According to the National Audubon Society, the cup-shaped nests, most often built in trees by the female are solid cups composed of plant fibers, spiderwebs, and thistle down that are so densely compacted they can hold water.

LAWNMOWER

13,704 LEGO Bricks

200 Hours to Build

Location: Glacier Run

Compared to a prairie or a forest, a lawn is not very wild. Still, lawns are an important part of the habitat of cities and towns. Lawns can handle heavy foot traffic and create spaces for play. The way we care for our lawns can affect the health of streams, ponds, and other places where plants and animals live. Underused turf takes away from more earth-friendly plants. Think about whether you could reduce your lawn by half and help the environment. If everyone in the United States did, it would enrich 20 million acres.

DID YOU KNOW?
Grass is the safest way to play! According to the University of Maryland, the texture of the grass adds surer footing than other surfaces, and the cushioning turf buffers potential injuries. Sports fields must be maintained for optimal field conditions to eliminate areas of bare earth where injuries are more likely to occur.

MOTH ORCHID

2,300 LEGO Bricks

20 Hours to Build

Location: Gift Shop

The orchid family is one of the largest and most diverse group of flowering plants on earth. Their flowers can range from dull and insignificant to showy and fragrant. Humans have been drawn to the flowers’ intricate splendor for centuries and have bred them to create increasingly beautiful specimens. Phalaenopsis, or moth orchids, are commonly available in most garden centers.

DID YOU KNOW?
Like humans, moth orchids can get sunburn! Their leaves will develop a reddish-purple tint or even freckles after spending too much time in the sun’s rays. The American Orchid Society recommends protecting orchids from direct exposure to summer sun with shade cloth or sheer curtains.

VICTORIA WATER PLATTERS

6,000 LEGO bricks

120 Hours to Build

Location: Lakeside Bridge Area

Just as people need clean water to drink, plants like water lilies and animals like fish and frogs need clean water to live in. Wetlands perform several important tasks. They act like a sponge, capturing water, which lessens the risk of floods. They also recharge water to aquifers, lakes, streams, and rivers. Calmer wetland waters also serve as a nursery for juvenile fish and provide habitats for beneficial insects and water fowl. The plants that live in the wetlands help clean and
purify the water.

DID YOU KNOW?
Water platters have a protective, spiky armor! Though they are generally smooth on the tops of their leaves that face the sun and air, Victoria amazonica leaves’ undersides are covered in sharp spines to prevent herbivorous animals such as fish and manatees from eating them.

PARROT (GREEN)

18,432 LEGO bricks

24 Hours to Build

Location: Hippo/ Gorilla Forest Area

There are over 330 species of parrots, and about a third of their population is highly endangered. These highly social birds can live up to 80 years and have developed an extensive vocal ability. In 1995, Puck, a blue parakeet, entered the Guinness Book of World Records for his 1,728-word vocabulary. Parrots have bigger brains than other birds in the same way that humans have bigger brains than other primates.

DID YOU KNOW?
Parrots can be left-handed (well, left-footed)! Parrots use their four-toed feet for climbing, grasping, and gripping food, and 80% of them have a preferred foot. Researchers from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia studied 16 different species of parrots and found that roughly 47 percent were left-handed, 33 percent right-handed, and the remainder ambidextrous.

PARROT (BLUE)

18,432 LEGO bricks

24 Hours to Build

Location: Lion / Camel Area

There are over 330 species of parrots, and about a third of their population is highly endangered. These highly social birds can live up to 80 years and have developed an extensive vocal ability. In 1995, Puck, a blue parakeet, entered the Guinness Book of World Records for his 1,728-word vocabulary. Parrots have bigger brains than other birds in the same way that humans have bigger brains than other primates.

DID YOU KNOW?
Parrots can be left-handed (well, left-footed)! Parrots use their four-toed feet for climbing, grasping, and gripping food, and 80% of them have a preferred foot. Researchers from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia studied 16 different species of parrots and found that roughly 47 percent were left-handed, 33 percent right-handed, and the remainder ambidextrous.

PARROT (RED)

18,432 LEGO bricks

24 Hours to Build

Location: Main Plaza

There are over 330 species of parrots, and about a third of their population is highly endangered. These highly social birds can live up to 80 years and have developed an extensive vocal ability. In 1995, Puck, a blue parakeet, entered the Guinness Book of World Records for his 1,728-word vocabulary. Parrots have bigger brains than other birds in the same way that humans have bigger brains than other primates.

DID YOU KNOW?
Parrots can be left-handed (well, left-footed)! Parrots use their four-toed feet for climbing, grasping, and gripping food, and 80% of them have a preferred foot. Researchers from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia studied 16 different species of parrots and found that roughly 47 percent were left-handed, 33 percent right-handed, and the remainder ambidextrous.

PARROT (RAINBOW)

18,432 LEGO bricks

24 Hours to Build

Location: Snow Leopard / Glacier Run Area

There are over 330 species of parrots, and about a third of their population is highly endangered. These highly social birds can live up to 80 years and have developed an extensive vocal ability. In 1995, Puck, a blue parakeet, entered the Guinness Book of World Records for his 1,728-word vocabulary. Parrots have bigger brains than other birds in the same way that humans have bigger brains than other primates.

DID YOU KNOW?
Parrots can be left-handed (well, left-footed)! Parrots use their four-toed feet for climbing, grasping, and gripping food, and 80% of them have a preferred foot. Researchers from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia studied 16 different species of parrots and found that roughly 47 percent were left-handed, 33 percent right-handed, and the remainder ambidextrous.

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