The Birth of Spring at the Botanical Center

April and May 2011

Tablescapes: Easter and the Birth of Spring – April 16

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Learn tricks from the trade – dressing your table to impress just in time for Spring! This is one of eight instructional demonstrations with Peter Longley. Light refreshments served.

Fee: $5, Pre-registration required: 417-891-1515

Earth Day at the Botanical Center – April 22

11:00 am – 2:00 pm Picnic for the Planet – pack a lunch, pick out a place on the great lawn to sit and enjoy your beautiful park! This is a celebration of the planet we live on, the food it provides and the people we share it with. Sandwiches and other food items are available for purchase in the Botanical Boutique and Marketplace. Make it a no waste lunch! Recycling and vermicomposting (worms!) stations on the South plaza and Roof plaza.

11:00 am – 2:00 pm – Recycling Crafts – make and take a creative critter made from recycled materials. Free.

12:00pm-2:00pm – Solar Tram Tour – Test-ride the new solar tram on its maiden voyage around our beautiful 114-acre park. A new paved trail, made possible by a generous donor, lies parallel to the Kickapoo Edge Prairie and will complete a full circuit for garden accessibility. First-come, first-served.

Easter Weekend at the Botanical Center – April 23-24

Throughout the Gardens –surround yourself in the splendor of spring! Enjoy flowering trees, peonies, flowering bulbs and freshly emerged foliage! See if you can spot the rabbit in the garden! An excellent photo opportunity weekend for families and flowers!

10:00 am, Saturday, April 23 - Easter Egg Roll down the Great Lawn - as seen at the White House! Children will be broken into age classes and given a plastic egg to race and roll.

1:00pm – 5:00pm, Saturday-Sunday, April 23-24 – Solar Tram Tours with the Easter Bunny

Little Critter “Walk-A-‘Bout” – April 28

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. “Get Outdoors”, discover nature in Springfield-Greene County Parks. Program includes short, easy walks with a guide where little ones learn through hands-on, seeing, smelling and touching nature. Participants receive a take home packet as well. Register on-site 20-minutes prior to program. Age: 3 – 5 (w/adult) Fee: $2/child

Master Gardener Plant Sale and Lois K. Boswell Memorial Botanical Reference Library and Stained Glass Window Dedication – April 30

7:30 a.m. – Master Gardeners share their favorite perennials with the public. Proceeds of the plant sale go to growing and maintaining the Demonstration Garden at Nathanael Greene Park and Xeriscape Garden on National Avenue.

11:00 a.m. – A public presentation of the beautiful stained glass window created by local artist, Robin Coulter-Crabb and dedication and opening of the new reference library. The Lois K. Boswell Reference Library is a wonderful new browsing and research resource for the public to enjoy. Rain, hail, sleet or snow does not stop the window from offering a beautiful scene.

417.891.1515 / www.BotanicalCenter.org

Public Gardens Day – May 7

9:00a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Spring Into Gardening presented by Master Gardeners – Identify and control weeds in your kingdom… and those pesky Japanese Beetles and other pests of summer

Fee: $10, pre-register 417-891-1515

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Flower craft activity – Kids celebrate public gardens, learn more about flowers and create a craft, a perfect gift in time for Mother’s Day. Fee: Free!

Dr. Bill Roston Native Butterfly House Opens for the Season! – May 14

10:00 am – 6:00 pm Discover the Magic of Metamorphosis in this interactive, educational garden experience presented by Friends of the Garden. This garden is completely funded by donations and volunteer service! This special attraction will be open on weekends 10am – 6pm and Tuesday-Wednesday 5pm – dusk until September 30^th.

4^th Annual Young Sprouts in the Garden – May 21

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. presented by Master Gardeners – This event will feature children oriented displays, crafts, and activities designed to nurture an appreciation for gardening and the natural environment. Free!

Workshops offered by the Gray-Campbell Farmstead For information and registration call 725-4921 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

•  Beginning Knitting – May 1^st, 2-4 pm. Minimum age 7, $10.00 per person + 1 ball of knitting worsted cotton yarn and size 8-10 needles.
•  Wagon Train Dolls - May 14^th, 2-4 pm. Minimum age 10, materials provided, $10.00 per doll.
•  Hearth Cooking – May 21^st , 2-4pm. Minimum age 15, materials provided, $30.00 per person, maximum class size-6 persons
•  Period Lap Quilting – 3 sessions to complete wall hanging, June 4(2-4pm), 11(2-4pm), 18(2-4pm). Material provided, $40.00 per person + scissors. Registration deadline May 15
•  Basketweaving – July 2, 2-4pm. Minimum age 15, materials provided, $25.00 per person, maximum class size-6 persons

Free Activities

•  Wednesdays are Work Days! Kickapoo Edge Prairie – Get involved! To RSVP, and if you have questions, contact Ric Mayer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 417-353-6422. April 6th : 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., planting native forbs; April 13^th, April 20^th, May 4^th, May 18^th, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., weed pull.
•  April 6— 6:30pm GO! Floating

Discover the world of canoeing, kayaking and rafting on lakes and rivers in this educational classroom presentation.

•  April 16 –9am-12pm Hostas Dig and Divide

Learn how to make more plants with this simple plant propagation method. 3, 1hour programs starting the top of the hour. Instructor: Tom Lakowske, Greater Ozark Hosta Society

•  May 11—6:30 pm GO! Wildflowers

Learn about the prairies of Missouri and enjoy the beauty of Missouri’s natural flowers by walking through the gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Parks.

For a Complete Listing of All Upcoming Events the Botanical Center, Click the Calendar at:

www.BotanicalCenter.org

For a Complete List of All things gardening visit the Friends of the Garden Garden Calendar.