As part of the 15th annual Sculpture in the Garden exhibit, these creations -- along with nearly 70 other works of art -- are adding a new dash of creativity to the great outdoors.
Kathy Buck, curator of the show, came up with the idea 15 years ago when she was a sculpture student at UNC.
"I started it because there were very few places to show outdoor artwork in the area," she explained.
In its first year, the exhibit featured only 20 pieces, but the well-attended reception last Sunday proved that it has grown into a larger community event.
Artists, garden staff and others simply enjoying the early fall weather gathered in the afternoon to take in the art, as well as find out this year's award winners.
Juror Mike Cindric, who has taught sculpture at UNC in the past, described the challenges of selecting the top pieces, particularly as the seasons begin to change.
"The garden is not a gallery, it's an ever-changing backdrop," he said. "The evolving nature of the garden forced us to see the work with a changing lens."
Best in Show went to Jeffrey Hurr of Garner for his giant steel grasshopper, "Menace Hopper." Although he created the piece prior to visiting the gardens, he described the importance of the natural world in his work.
"(Menace Hopper) is one of a series of grand-scale bugs," he said. "It was inspired by nature and the mechanics of insect movement."
