February 26, 2018
For Immediate Release
Contact: Natalie Eggeman (260-427-6028)
Public Information Officer
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
$1 Night
First Thursday of the month
March 1, 5-8 pm
The Conservatory is open on the first Thursday night of the month for a discounted admission of just $1 per person. During each $1 Night you can also drop in to our program room for a fun and educational lecture or activity. No reservations required. We validate parking tickets from the Civic Center Parking Garage for free parking. For more information, call (260) 427-6440.
$1 Night Insight: All About Seeds
Thursday, March 1, 6-7 pm
Seeds are all different and unique, designed to grow into the likeness of their parents. They come in various colors, shapes and sizes. Join us to take a closer look at a variety of seeds and examine what is on the inside. We will have fun exploring seeds and their properties, making a fun craft using seeds, and even eat a healthy seed snack that evening. For more information, call (260) 427-6440.
Art Display: Justine Hettler – embroidery, watercolor, block print
March-April
Public Reception: March 4, 1 -3 pm
Justine is inspired by adventure. Adventure can mean looking further – into cultures and surroundings that differ from our own – or looking closer, studying more intently the tiniest details of nature that surround us. After exploring outside, she will end up with a handful of objects that have caught her eye: a single piece of bark, nut shells, or an oddly shaped flower bud. Each piece has a quiet, secret beauty, revealing interesting shapes, color gradients, intricate lines, and hidden textures. Justine adapts and represents these aspects with watercolor, printmaking, and other media. Her small-sized works invite the viewer to bend closer, pause, and examine, so that the viewers’ experience mirrors her own intimate study of nature. Meet the artist at a Sunday afternoon reception, March 4, 1 - 3 pm. Exhibit is open Tues-Sat 10-5, Thurs ‘til 8, Sun 12-4. Both the exhibit and the reception are included in regular Conservatory admission: $5/adult, $3/child age 3-17, free for children 2 and under. For more information, call (260) 427-6440.
Fairy Tale Tea
Saturday, March 10, 10 – 11:30 am
Come dressed as your favorite fairy tale character and join us at the Botanical Conservatory for a celebration of popular fairy tales! A special guest with the Allen County Public Library will read us a special tale. We will also meet a princess, learn proper “prince & princess etiquette,” enjoy a delicious treat, and take home a party favor. We will conclude our time together by releasing you to explore our “Fairy Tales” winter garden exhibit, which features a full-sized, indoor playground. Bring a camera or cell phone so you can get a picture with the princess! At least one adult is required to remain with their child for the duration of the program (no registration required). Ages 4 - 8. Please indicate at registration if a participant has food allergies. Registration deadline: March 2. Min. 10. Max. 20. $20/person; $15/Conservatory member or volunteer. To register, call (260) 427-6000 or go to www.fortwayneparks.org and refer to code 227102-S1. Held at the Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St. in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Spring Forest Bathing Walk
Thursday, March 15, 6 – 7:30 pm
Spring is in the air, so what better time to get down to the gardens for forest bathing? Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is the experience of immersing oneself in the sensory gifts of nature. This can be done in a forest setting, but also in gardens and parks. The benefits are not only a greater sense of well-being, but a boost in immune function and ready access to lower stress hormones and boosts in serotonin levels. This is a series of invitations using the senses to rediscover your inner child and your connection with the natural world. Being relaxed, revitalized, and better equipped to handle the stresses of daily living are the goals of this forest bathing walk. Instructor Christy Thomson is a life-long resident of northeast IN. She is the only certified forest therapy guide in Indiana and is thrilled to share this opportunity with the Fort Wayne community. Note: If we meet our registration minimum, additional students may drop in for the session, up to the class maximum. Drop-ins should call ahead to make sure class will be in session. Registration deadline: March 8. All ages are welcome, but children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Min 5. Max 15. $14/person; $11/Conservatory member or volunteer. To register, call (260) 427-6000 or go to www.fortwayneparks.org and refer to code 227055-R1.
Grow Your Own: Apple Trees from A to Z
Saturday, March 17, 10 am - Noon
Be a part of something fresh and new happening here at the Botanical Conservatory. For our very first Grow Your Own workshop, Scott Krieg, co-founder of Three Rivers Fruit Growers Club, will teach you the basics of apple tree care. He’ll discuss many points, from the best soil to how much sun your new fruit tree will need to grow and produce. Scott will also demonstrate how to graft an apple tree and explain the benefits of this 4000-year-old practice. Take home a grafted, dwarf Liberty apple tree start to continue growing for years to come! Each quarterly Grow Your Own workshop will introduce a new plant and offer all the knowledge you will need to care for it at home. Ages 12+. Registration deadline: March 9. Min. 10. Max. 24. $10/person; $8/Conservatory member or volunteer. To register, call (260) 427-6000 or go to www.fortwayneparks.org and refer to code 227052-S1. Held at the Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St. in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Garden Preschool
Tuesday, March 20, 10-11 am
Beginning this spring, the Botanical Conservatory will offer their Garden Preschool class every month! Parents or guardians will assist children side by side in each of these monthly classes that encourage the basics of exploring in the gardens at a young age. We will explore different themes through a story, hands-on activity, craft, and snack. Children and adults alike will learn by hands-on activities in the garden that are sure to get everyone thinking. At least one adult is required to stay and participate (no registration required) for the duration of the class with their child. Please indicate at registration if a participant has food allergies. Ages 3-5. Min. 5. Max. 10. $6/person; $4/Conservatory member or volunteer Registration deadline: March 13. Held at Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St. To register, call (260) 427-6000 or go to www.fortwayneparks.org and refer to code 227100-T1.
Orchids: Repotting Yours Today
Saturday, March 24, 10 am - Noon
So you got your orchids to re-bloom and now you want to take orchid growing to the next level but aren’t sure what to do? Learn to re-pot your orchid with confidence. This class will demonstrate all aspects of repotting orchids and draw on the experience of long-standing Orchid Society members and Lawton Greenhouse volunteers. If you have an orchid at home that needs repotting, bring it with you and learn the proper techniques from the pros. Even if you don’t, this class will send you home with a new orchid you can watch grow and when the time comes you will already know the proper repotting methods. If bringing an orchid, protect from cold damage during travel by packaging in a paper sack and minimizing time outdoors. Ages 17+. Registration deadline: March 16. Min. 15. Max. 30. $19/person; $16/Conservatory member or volunteer. To register, call (260) 427-6000 or go to www.fortwayneparks.org and refer to code 227049-S1. Held at the Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St. in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Painted Lady Hatch & Release
Saturday, March 24, 11 am – 1 pm
Participate in the Conservatory’s “Hatch & Release” program by purchasing a butterfly kit and growing the caterpillar to adulthood. Visit the Botanical Conservatory’s booth at the Fort Wayne Home & Garden Show March 1–4 to access kits and learn more about butterfly gardening, or visit the Conservatory Gift Shop after March 5th. The butterfly’s lifecycle is a process of four stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult. You can celebrate your butterfly’s emergence by releasing it into the Conservatory’s Tropical Garden. Whether you have a butterfly ready for release or not, the public is welcome to visit and learn about the Painted Lady, native butterflies, and butterfly gardening. If temperatures are warm enough, your butterfly can be released outdoors! Included in regular admission. For more information, call (260) 427-6445.
Easter in the Garden
Friday, March 30, 10 am – 3 pm
Hop on down to the Botanical Conservatory with your camera and your children to meet the Easter Bunny. Play games for prizes, make crafts, pot a plant and enjoy light refreshments. Look for Easter eggs in our annual Easter Hunt, designed for toddlers through elementary ages. Enter our drawing for a chance to win a “sweet” Easter basket. We’ll also have live animals to meet such as baby chicks, ducks, bunnies, sheep and goats. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Regular Conservatory admission fees apply: $5/adult, $3/child ages 3-17, free for children ages 2 and under. Sponsored by WAJI Majic 95.1.
Downtown 4-H Club
Fourth Thursday night, monthly, 6:30-7:45 pm
You don’t have to own a cow or know how to garden in order to join the fun and be a part of 4-H. Our downtown community 4-H club, the Clover Rovers, meet at the Botanical Conservatory led by experienced Purdue Extension volunteers. The club focuses on science, citizenship, healthy living, and fun! Any Fort Wayne area youth in kindergarten through 12th grade can join before May 15. Monthly evening meetings will offer children a chance to meet friends, learn skills, and explore ideas. Free parking at meters after 5 pm or in the Civic Center Parking Garage with validated ticket. For more information or to sign up, contact the Extension office at (260) 481-6826.
“Fairy Tales” Winter Garden Exhibit
Through April 8
A child’s imagination is fueled by stories. In classic fairy tales, we discover giants, wolves, and witches are no match for the valiant but ordinary people to whom unusual circumstances fall. When the Conservatory converts its Showcase Garden to a winter play space, visitors can pretend to be Jack on a bean stalk, look for Rapunzel in the castle tower, trip-trap over the troll’s bridge, or take goodies to Grandma’s house. This participatory garden exhibit encourages active pretend play and a gentle exploration of moral virtues for children and adults alike. Sponsored by WAJI Majic 95.1, Fun 101.7 and the Howard P. Arnold Foundation.
Discovery Corner: Renovations Ahead
Daily in the Discovery Corner
Renovations are coming to the Discovery Corner behind Woody the Talking Tree. During March, our young visitors are encouraged to find stories and activities relating to our Fairy Tale theme across the hallway in the Discovery Gallery. Discovery Corner materials are safe and suitable for kids in pre-K through 1st grade levels, but everyone is welcome to explore. Adults are encouraged to read aloud to their young learners and discover new ideas together. Discovery Corner fun is free with general admission; pre-registration is not required.
The Botanical Conservatory is located in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana at 1100 S. Calhoun St. The Conservatory admission desk validates tickets for free parking in the Civic Center Parking Garage across from the Conservatory’s entrance at Jefferson and Calhoun St. Metered parking is available on nearby streets; parking is free on evenings and weekends. Bus and handicap accessible parking is available in the Conservatory’s Calhoun Street driveway. Friend us on Facebook: Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. Follow us on Twitter: FFBotCons.
