May 29, 2018
For Immediate Release
Contact: Natalie Eggeman (260-427-6028)
Public Information Officer
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Bug Day
Saturday, June 23, 10:00am – 3:00pm
Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun
Explore and learn about the exciting world of exotic butterflies and other arthropods at our summer “Bug Day” event. Visitors take part in activities, games and crafts, all with a “buggy theme”. Get up close and personal with one of our resident arthropods or take home a bug balloon crafted by a local balloon artist. Edible insects, anyone? Several local organizations will be on hand to help you learn more and to answer your questions about honey bees, butterflies, mosquitoes and more! Admission is $5/adult, $3/child age 3-17, free for children 2 and under. Sponsored by 97.3 WMEE, WPTA-TV ABC21, and WAJI Magic 95.1 FM. For more information, call (260) 427-6440 or visit www.botanicalconservatory.org.
June Plant Swap
Saturday, June 2, 10:00-11:00am
The Conservatory’s free plant swap is coming up again on the first Saturday in June. Bring at least one plant to share and take home an armful of starts from other gardeners in the area. Plants can be seedlings, divisions or full-grown plants; they could be plants grown for vegetables, flowers, fruits, groundcovers, shrubs, trees or vines. (No weeds, please!) Bring a box or bag to carry home your new babies. Everyone gets a number when they arrive and everyone will take turns picking. The swap is free, but phone reservations are required by May 30. For more information or to register, call (260) 427-6446.
Gardens of Europe: Photography
June 3 – August 31
Ramon F. Miller of Gera, Germany, is a landscape architect with a photographer’s eye. On his travels through Europe to visit private and public gardens, Ramon has captured images that reveal his own aesthetic priorities as well as the breadth of Western garden design. This photographic exhibit brings the horticultural wealth of Europe to us in vibrant color and lively definition. Ramon’s works will be displayed at the Botanical Conservatory throughout the summer, coinciding with German Fest in early June and extending through our Botanical Roots concert season to the end of August. Exhibit admission is included in regular admission. Sponsored by the Fort Wayne Sister Cities International, Inc. For more information, call (260) 427-6440.
$1 Nights
First Thursday of the month:
June 7, 5:00-8:00pm
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: Chocolate Challenge
Thursday, June 7, 6:00-7:00pm
Can you tell what kind of chocolate you are eating? Is it milk, dark, or some other kind? Join us at the Conservatory for a fun chocolate challenge that will test the skill of your taste buds. We will discuss where chocolate comes from and you can observe a chocolate tree with your eyes in our tropical garden! We will have several different types of chocolate for you to test out and in celebration of National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, enjoy a scoop of this delicious delight on us! No reservations; included in $1 Night admission.
Grow Your Own: Salsa in a Pot
Saturday, June 2, 1:00-3:00 pm
It’s time for another Grow Your Own workshop. With the increasing interest in container gardening, we couldn’t find a better way to get you in on the action than by helping you grow your own salsa plants in a pot! Join us at the Conservatory while instructor and Advanced Master Gardener Pam Snyder teaches you the necessary basics so you can be making fresh salsa in a matter of months. Learn the amount of indirect or direct sunlight your plants will need to thrive, and how much and how often your new plants will need water. You will be given all the supplies you need including: the pot, soil, and one of each of the following – tomato, parsley, and pepper plant. Note: When registering for this workshop, you will need to specify if you would like a hot or sweet pepper plant. Please bring your own gloves and trowel. Registration deadline: May 25. Ages 16+. Min. 10. Max. 20. $23/person ($18 for Conservatory member or volunteer.) Held at Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St. To register, call (260) 427-6000 or visit www.fortwayneparks.org. Refer to class code # 327028-S1.
Summer Forest Bathing Walk (Shinrin-Yoku)
Saturday, June 2, 9:30 am-12:00 pm
If you have not yet come to one of our forest bathing classes, this is the one to attend. This class will be a full-length, 2 ½ hour experience. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, allows you to immerse yourself in the sensory gifts of nature. 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 series of invitations uses the senses to rediscover your inner child and connection with the natural world. Being relaxed, revitalized, and better equipped to handle the stresses of daily living are the goals of a forest bathing walk. Instructor Christy Thomson, certified Forest Therapy guide and life-long resident of Northeast Indiana, is excited to share this opportunity with the community. Note: Additional students may drop in, up to the class maximum, but call ahead to make sure class will be in session. Registration deadline: May 25. All ages are welcome, but children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Min. 10. Max. 15. $25/person ($18 for Conservatory member or volunteer.) Held at Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St. To register, call (260) 427-6000 or visit www.fortwayneparks.org. Refer to class code # 327055-S1.
Garden Preschool: Bug Buddies
Tuesday, June 19, 10:00-11:00 am
Garden Preschool meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Botanical Conservatory. Parents or guardians will assist children side by side in this monthly class that encourages the basics of exploring in the gardens at a young age. Each month we will explore a different theme 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. Registration deadline: June 12. Ages 3-5. Min. 5. Max. 10. $6/child ($4 if member family) per session. Held at Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun Street, Fort Wayne. To register, call (260) 427-6000 or visit www.fortwayneparks.org. Refer to class code # 3271000-T1.
“Bugs!” Live Butterfly Exhibit
Through July 8
Visit the Botanical Conservatory for our 16th year of live butterflies and you can also explore the larger world of insects and their arthropod relatives. Thrill to the experience of entering our butterfly tent filled with over a hundred exotic butterflies as they feed, fly, and rest. These large and colorful creatures inspire awe by the delicate lives, aerial prowess, and complex metamorphosis. You will also discover a diversity of invertebrates in our live hallway display of such arthropods as beetles, spiders, isopods, and millipedes. Enjoy large-scale bug sculptures by Ken Plencner in the Showcase Garden. Regular admission applies. Sponsored by 97.3 WMEE, ABC21 WPTA, the Florence M. and Paul M. Staehl Foundation, and the Magee-O’Connor Foundation. For more information, call (260) 427-6440.
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.
