$1 Night
Thursday, May 1, 5 – 8 pm
On the first Thursday night of the month the Botanical Conservatory in downtown Fort Wayne offers $1 admissions, 5-8 pm, for adults and children. Babies and up to age 2 are still admitted free. This is a great time to see The Butterfly Effect—live butterfly display with family. For more info, call (260) 427-6440.
Mother’s Day Plant Sale
Friday, May 9, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 10, 10 am -5 pm
Sunday, May 11, Noon – 4 pm
McMillen Park Community Center, 3901 Abbott Street
Choose from almost 700 kinds of plants at the Botanical Conservatory’s three-day public plant sale. You’ll find herbs, tomatoes, and foliage perennials along with the annuals, perennials, houseplants, color bowls, mixed containers, and hanging baskets. These beautiful and sturdy plants are grown by Park staff and volunteers and sold as a fundraiser to help support the Conservatory. Come early for the best selection! Volunteers will be on hand to assist you in plant selection and loading. There is plenty of free parking. Conservatory members can enjoy a preview sale on Thursday, May 8, 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Memberships will be available for purchase that evening if you want first pick. Visit www.botanicalconservatory.org for a list of plants intended for sale. Learn more about gardening by shopping on Saturday and visiting with local garden advisors. For more information please call (260) 427-6440. Sponsored by 95.1 Best FM WAJI.
DIY Gardening at the Plant Sale
Saturday, May 10, 10 am- 4 pm
McMillen Park Community Center, 3901 Abbott St.
Have you ever wondered how to start a garden or had a basic question about landscaping? Look no further: gardening skills and knowledge are at your service during the Conservatory’s Mother’s Day Plant Sale. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or this is your first attempt at gardening, local experts are happy to help! Learn through easy-going conversations and educational displays, and get your questions answered by people who know gardening. Visit the Conservatory’s website, www.botanicalconservatory.org, for a list of guest speakers.
Mother’s Day in the Garden
Sunday, May 11, Noon - 4 pm
Treat Mom to a special outing at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory on Mother’s Day. By “Mom” we mean your mother, of course, but also grandmas, aunts, and anyone else who means “Mom” to you! Your mom will not only enjoy the beautiful displays of flowers but also a peek at our live butterfly exhibit. Each mom will receive a special Mother’s Day plant while supplies last. Regular Conservatory admission applies: $5/adult, $3/child age 3-17, free for children 2 and under. For more information, call (260) 427-6440. Sponsored by 95.1 Best FM WAJI.
Xeriscaping
Thursday, May 15, 6 – 7:30 pm
No water? No problem! Xeriscaping, or “dry garden design,” requires little or no irrigation or other maintenance. Let Master Gardener Deb Kohlmeier show you how to work smarter, not harder as she walks you through the steps necessary to make this transition as seamless as possible, including selecting the proper location, improving the soil in that particular area, choosing the proper turf areas, selecting plants (trees and shrubs), the importance of incorporating native plants, mulching and mulch choices, as well as water conservation and efficient watering practices. Make the choice to conserve and save precious resources this summer by xeriscaping! Ages 15-adult. Registration deadline: May 8. Min. 10. Max. 32. Fee: $10; Conservatory Member/Volunteer fee: $6.
Science Fun: Butterflies 101
Saturday, May 17, 11am & 1pm
There’s more to these insects than meets the eye…or is there? From life cycle to body parts we’ll discover all of the beauty of butterflies and even visit the Conservatory’s exhibit of our flying friends for an unforgettable experience you won’t find anywhere else. Hurry, before this class flies away! Preregistration is not required and the program is free with regular Conservatory admission (members and volunteers admitted free): $5/adult, $3/child age 3-17. Children age 2 and under free. For more info, call (260) 427-6440.
Sales Garden Summer Open House
Saturday, May 24, 10 am – 5 pm
The possibilities are almost endless for gardening in Fort Wayne once we’re past the last frost date! The Conservatory Sales Garden will offer patio pots of flowers, specialty annuals, tropicals and houseplants, flowering baskets, perennials, and a variety of herbs. Free lemonade while you shop! No admission is required to shop at the Conservatory, but to visit the gardens, regular admission applies. The early summer Showcase exhibit is “The Butterfly Effect,” featuring exotic live butterflies where you can immerse yourself in colorful beauty and thought-provoking wonder. For more information, call (260) 427-6440.
Family Garden Close-Up: Intriguing Insects
Saturday, May 24, 11am - 1pm
Let’s go look for some small air-breathing arthropods…also known as insects! Composed of head, thorax and abdomen, insects also have three pairs of legs and usually two pairs of wings. With a description like that it’s hard to miss these animals that exist virtually everywhere. We’ll find out where they live, what they eat and how they survive, all while getting up close and personal. FGC is especially great for young learners. Free with regular Conservatory admission: $5/adult, $3/child age 3-17; children age 2 and under free. For more info call (260) 427-6440.
Iris Flower Show
Sunday, May 25, Noon – 3 pm
One of America’s favorite garden flowers takes center stage during the annual Iris Show. A glorious range of colors, some fragrance, and a variety of forms will be found in irises displayed as individual cut flowers and in floral arrangements. Entries are judged for their perfection. Sponsored by the Northeast Indiana Iris Society. Special admission price includes the Iris Show and Conservatory gardens: $3/adult, $2/child, Free for ages 2 and under. For more information, call (260) 427-6440.
Botanical Brown Bag: Tomatoes, Seed to Salsa
Thursday, May 29, 12 – 1 pm
Come join us and have fun learning all about tomatoes, from seed to salsa. Master Gardener Penny Alles will teach you how to grow your own healthy tomatoes, step-by-step, and then how to use them to make salsa. Choosing the right type of tomato for your needs, how to grow and prune, and then how to make a wonderful treat – this is a great class for the beginning gardener with some extra ideas for the horticulturist. Can't wait to see you there! Bring a sandwich or stop in at the Bagel Station Café. Free coffee and tea. A Conservatory fee applies at the door: $5 for an adult, $3 for a child age 3-17, Conservatory member or volunteer.
Spring Bonsai Show
Saturday, May 31, 10 am - 3 pm
Explore a forest of miniature trees carefully trained and pruned by members of our local bonsai club. Elms, maples, junipers and other familiar plants look just like their outdoor cousins – but a fraction of their size! The club also grows tropical bonsai that don’t need special winter treatment. Learn about the fascinating hobby or just enjoy “a stroll in the forest.” Bonsai pots and young plants will be available to purchase. Sponsored by the Fort Wayne Bonsai Club. Special Conservatory admission price includes show entry: $3/adult, $2/child, Free for ages 2 and under. For more information, call (260) 427-6440.
Discovery Corner: Floppers & Loppers
During May in the Discovery Gallery
Our young visitors enjoy stories and activities behind Woody the Talking Tree. In May, we’ll learn about ears. Read aloud and explore the idea of dark and light, day and night, sun and shadows together. Free with admission; great for preschool and kindergarten as well as other young learners.
The Butterfly Effect – Live Butterfly Display
Through July 6
The magic of live butterflies returns again to the Botanical Conservatory this spring and summer. Visitors can enjoy a beautiful array of large exotic species within the display tent, butterflies native to habitats from South America to Africa and Asia. This year, the Conservatory examines “the butterfly effect” concept from chaos theory, that even a small action in one place can significantly affect people and systems far removed. While experiencing all that butterflies evoke in the human imagination, Conservatory guests are encouraged to consider the ripple effect of their own choices and actions in the unpredictable dimension of their sphere of influence. This thought-provoking display is sponsored by WMEE. Regular Conservatory admission applies. For more information, call (260) 427-6440 or visit www.botanicalconservatory.org.
