What’s Happening at the Botanical Conservatory in May
$1 Night
May 3, 5 – 8 pm
On the first Thursday of the month we offer $1 admissions,5-8 pm, for adults and children. Babies and up to age 2 are still admitted free. Enjoy our evening hours and a special discount once a month. For more info, call(260)427-6440.
Mother’s Day Plant Sale
Friday, May 11, 4 -7 pm
Saturday, May 12, 10 am - 5pm
Sunday, May 13, 12 - 4 pm
McMillen Ice Arena, 3901 Abbott Street
We had such a great time last year, we’re doing it again! Come down to the McMillen Ice Arena over the Mother’s Day weekend to get your garden started. The Botanical Conservatory is offering around 750 kinds of plants for purchase at a three-day plant extravaganza. You’ll find herbs, tomatoes and other vegetable plants, along with annual and perennial flowers and foliage plants, tropical plants for indoors or out, color bowls, mixed containers, and hanging baskets. New this year, we’ll have a special line-up on Saturday of displays to help beginners and do-it-yourself gardeners. The plant sale is a fundraiser for the Botanical Conservatory to support its public programs. Come early for the best selection because it won’t last long. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you in plant selection and loading. Plenty of free parking! Are you a Conservatory member? If so you can enjoy the preview sale on Thursday, May 5, 4 -7 pm. Memberships will be available for purchase that evening if you want to beat the crowd and get the best selection. Please check our website www.botanicalconservatory.org for a plant list. For more information, call (260) 427-6440. Sponsored by WAJI Majic 95.1 FM.
Do-It-Yourself Gardening Expo at the Plant Sale
Saturday, May 12, 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Now you can get more than plants at the Botanical Conservatory’s annual Plant Sale. This year you can talk to local gardeners and learn from displays. We’ll be emphasizing soil care, choosing flower and vegetable plants, pest management, butterfly gardening, and selling your extra produce. Bring your questions. Visit the Conservatory’s website, www.botanicalconservatory.org, for updates.
Mother’s Day in the Garden
Sunday, May 13, 12:00 – 4:00 pm
Treat Mom to a special outing at the Botanical Conservatory on Mother’s Day. By “Mom” we mean your mother, of course, but also grandmas, aunts, and anyone else who means mother to you! Your mom will not only enjoy the beautiful displays of flowers but our Butterflies of Malaysia exhibit. Pot up a special Mother’s Day plant for her to take home, 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 WAJI Majic 95.1 FM.
Spring Bonsai Display
Saturday, May 12, 10:00 am-4:00 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 this fascinating hobby. Bonsai pots and young plants will be available to purchase. Sponsored by the Fort Wayne Bonsai Club. Specially discounted Conservatory admission: $3/adult, $2/child. Call (260) 427-6440 for more information.
Summer Open House
Saturday, May 19, 10 am–5 pm
The possibilities are 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 “Butterflies of Malaysia,” a very special display of exotic live butterflies where you can immerse yourself in colorful beauty. For more information, call(260)427-6440.
Iris Show
Sunday, May 27, 12 -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. Regular Conservatory admission fees apply. Call (260) 427-6440 for more information.
Hybridizing, Care and Culture of Irises
Sunday, May 27, 1:00-2:00 pm
Did you ever wonder how we get so many different varieties of flowers; different colors, sizes and shapes? Lana Wolfe and Brian Wendel from the Northeast Indiana Iris Society will demonstrate how to hybridize irises to get those differences. They will also give advice on how to plant and care for your irises. Each registered participant will receive a potted rhizome ready to put in the ground. Ages 10-adult. Registration deadline: May 21. Min. 10. Max. 25. $7/public, $5/Conservatory member or volunteer. To register, call (260) 427-6011. Held at the Botanical Conservatory,1100 S. Calhoun Street in downtown Fort Wayne.
Botanical Brown Bag – Botany in the Grocery Store
Thursday, May 31, 12 – 1 pm
When is a berry not a berry? Can it be true that there is no such thing as a vegetable in spite of an 1893 ruling by the United States Supreme Court? Join Dr. Larry Yoder, Associate Professor Emeritus from Goshen College’s Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, for an entertainingly informative hands-on review of the plants and plant parts that comprise the vegetable part of our diet. Fresh examples will be part of his presentation. In addition to learning how to identify roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, or seeds on the menu, Dr. Yoder will review the cultural and genetic origins of our important food crops and the plant families to which they belong. Conservatory admission applies: $5/adult, $3/child ages 3-17. Conservatory members and volunteers admitted free. For more information, call(260)427-6440.
Succulent Wreath Workshop
Saturday, May 26, 9:00 - 11:00 am
Why restrict yourself to the beauty of a wreath only at Christmas time? In this workshop, you will make a delightful living wreath from a variety of succulents that will grow and thrive throughout the year. Led by the Park Department’s own Lynda Heavrin, you’ll learn the proper ways to select, trim, and embed the plants into the wreath form so they will take root and continue to grow. She will also share the proper methods of watering and caring for your wreath, as well as location tips for both indoor and outdoor displays. All supplies are provided, although you might want to bring a pair of gardening gloves. Registration deadline: May 18, 2012. Ages 12+. Min. 10. Max. 25. $35/public; $29/Conservatory member. Refer to Code #227011-S1 when registering by phone at (260) 427-6011 or online at www.fortwayneparks.org. Held at Botanical Conservatory,1100 S. Calhoun St.,Fort Wayne.
Butterflies of Malaysia Exhibit: Through July 8
Enter a world of wonder as you immerse yourself in a live exhibit teeming with hundreds of butterflies. Bred specifically for exhibit, these delicate creatures demonstrate the beauty and resilience of Malaysia and neighboring Thailand and Indonesia, where the tropical lowland ecosystem is in conflict with economic development. From the giant Paper Kite in black and white to the understated Chocolate Pansy, these living wonders will intrigue you. Special protocols require that we keep the butterflies inside our exhibit tent, so volunteers will help you enter and exit. For more information, call(260)427-6440. Sponsored by PNC Foundation, M.E. Raker Foundation, Wilson Family Foundation, and 97.3 WMEE. Admission is $5/adult, $3/child age 3-17, free for children 2 and under.
Drop-In Yoga in the Garden
Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
The practice of yoga is a wonderful way to build strength and flexibility, reduce stress, and enhance general well-being. Taught by certified yoga instructor and world traveler Lanah K. Hake, these classes provide a sampling of a variety of yoga styles and are tailored to fit the ability level of the group. A few blankets and mats are available but you should bring your own supplies if you have them. Additional class information is available by following Fort Wayne Outdoor Yoga on Facebook, or by checking the instructor’s website at www.lanahlink.com. Ages 15+. $7 per class/public; $5/Conservatory member or volunteer. For more information, call(260)427-6440 or visit the instructor’s Facebook page at Ft Wayne Outdoor Yoga. Held in the garden at the Botanical Conservatory,1100 S. Calhoun St.,Fort Wayne.
Drop-In Zumba in the Garden
Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
When participants see a Zumba class in action, they can’t wait to give it a try. Led by licensed instructor Hillary Halsema, our Zumba classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats. Before participants know it, they’re getting fit and their energy levels are soaring! It’s easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating, often building a deep-rooted community among returning students. Ages 15+. Fee: $7 per class Member Fee: $5 per class. Held at Botanical Conservatory,1100 S. Calhoun St.,Fort Wayne. For more information, call(260)427-6440.
