Friends of the Garden

Garden Story Time
2025-02-15 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-03-22 10:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Pre-schoolers and family are invited to listen to a garden-themed story followed by a fun craft or activity. Held the third Thursday of the month and the following Saturday. Age: All ages
Time: 10-10:30 a.m.
Fee: Free

Garden Story Time
2025-02-20 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-03-20 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-17 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-19 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-05-15 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-05-17 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-06-19 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-06-21 10:00 - 10:30 and 2 more dates | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Pre-schoolers and family are invited to listen to a garden-themed story, followed by a fun craft or activity. Held on the third Thursday of the month and the following Saturday. Age: All ages
Time: 10-10:30 a.m.
Fee: Free

Garden Walk and Talk: The Mosaic Garden & Sail Away Structure
2025-03-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
A guided garden tour covering park history, gardening techniques and how to incorporate features into your own yard.

Botanical Center 417-891-1515
Age: 16 yrs. and up
Time: Sat., 1-2 p.m.
Fee: Free

Cherry Blossom Kite and Piñata Festival
2025-04-05 11:00 - 16:00 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Celebrate culture and welcome spring with Springfield Sister Cities Association at the Springfield Botanical Gardens. This annual festival highlights Springfield’s sister city relationship with Isesaki, Japan and Tlaquepaque, Mexico. Bring a kite to fly or build one with us. Whack a piñata nearby. Concessions are available. Enjoy Japanese and Mexican performances, children’s activities and free admission to Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden as it reopens for the season.
More information HERE.

2025 Butterfly House Docent Training
2025-04-12 09:00 - 22:30, 2025-04-16 17:30 - 19:00 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Join us for an enchanting experience working with butterflies! We’re excited to offer a *free training session* designed for those eager to volunteer at the Roston Native Butterfly House this season.
Under the expert guidance of Dr. Chris Barnhart and Tammy Trantham, you’ll dive into the fascinating world of Lepidoptera, gaining the knowledge and skills you need to help in our butterfly haven. This opportunity is open to anyone aged 12 and up!
Don’t miss out—click HERE to secure your spot in one of our classes! If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 871-2952. To ensure we provide enough handouts and snacks, we kindly ask for your registration in advance. Come spread your wings with us! 🦋

Master Gardener Plant Sale
2025-04-26 08:00 - 16:00 | Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden Pavillion, 2400 S. Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Join the Master Gardeners of Greene County for their annual plant sale! Located at the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden Pavilion. Sale includes house plants, annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, bulbs, grasses, vines, ground covers, shrubs and trees. FREE admission, prices vary per plant. Held RAIN OR SHINE. Arrive early for best selection! Master Gardeners accept cash, credit cards or check. Other plant and garden groups also sell items near the Gray/Campbell Farmstead (some groups may not accept credit cards).
Open from 8 a.m. until SOLD OUT!

2025 Garden Day
2025-05-10 10:00 - 19:00 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
An event for garden enthusiasts, presented by Friends of the Garden in partnership with the Springfield Botanical Center. Visitors can meet with garden adopters and volunteers, learn about plant diversity, and more. The event includes Friends of the Garden’s Annual Meeting and kicks off National Public Gardens Week. More information HERE!
Age: All Ages
Time: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Fee: Free

Yoga in the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden
2025-05-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Enjoy the serenity of the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden while being led through an intermediate-level yoga session with Yogi Angie Snyder of Blue Pants Yoga. This one-hour session will take place on the moon deck lawn once the garden closes for the evening. $20 registration fee covers admission fee to the garden. Register HERE.
Only 20 spots available. Call 891-1515, ext. 4 for more information.
BYOM

Gigs in the Garden
2025-05-11 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Peace through People Pavilion, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
It’s Gigs in the Garden – Springfield Sister Cities Association’s spring and fall concert series at 2 p.m. on these dates:Sunday, May 4, for vocal powerhouse Johnnie Angelina King’s blues and jazz; CANCELEDSunday, May 11, for folk-country sister duo Maddi Warren and Alli Butler (with a Mother’s Day craft activity).Sunday, May 18, for national dulcimer champions Joe Collins, Ilace Mears, David Wilson with some friends.

Growing Mushrooms at Home
2025-05-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Join us as we will learn to collaborate with fungi to grow beautiful, unique, and delicious gourmet mushrooms! Mike Snyder of Wildwise Botanicals will be giving a presentation about how to successfully grow mushrooms at home, focusing on outdoor and low-tech methods. Mike will share a slideshow of his successes and experiences with a variety of methods he and his wife Cara have tried out on their homestead in South-Central Missouri. The basics of outdoor mushroom cultivation will be covered, as well as details about growing several species, including Oyster mushrooms, Shiitake, Lion’s Mane, and Wine Caps. Each participant will get to assemble their own oyster mushroom grow kit to take home, which will grow gourmet mushrooms in just a few weeks!
Registration required, $35/person. Register HERE!
Call 891-1515, ext. 4 for more information.

Garden Walk & Talk: Drummond Garden
2025-05-17 13:00 - 13:30 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
This month we are learning about Lake Drummond’s namesake, Anne Case Drummond, and her legacy of leadership. This talk will start at Drummond Garden at 1 pm.
For more information, call 891-1515, ext. 4.

Romance in the Garden 2025
2025-06-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Explore the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden after hours with your sweetheart or bestie during Romance in the Garden 2025 Friday, June 6 | 7-9 p.m.

Enjoy romantic music, lights and a charcuterie picnic Floating water lanterns, and beer and wine available for purchase. REGISTRATION REQUIRED by May 29.

FEE: $50/Couple, ages 21 yrs. and up only. Includes an artistic box of cheese, meats, fruit and non-alcoholic beverages.

Questions? Email AKeith@SpringfieldMO.gov or call 417-891-1515 Register online now at: ParkBoard.org/Botanical

Caterpillar Care Workshop
2025-06-07 09:00 - 11:00 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Learn the tried and true methods of rearing butterflies and moths in your own home from Dr. Chris and Deb Barnhart, curators of the Roston Native Butterfly House. Workshop participants will have an opportunity to take caterpillars and/or eggs home to rear!
Register HERE!

2025 Butterfly Festival
2025-06-14 09:00 - 15:00 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Friends of the Garden’s Butterfly Festival marks 16 years of celebrating pollinators alongside the Springfield/Greene County Park Board and local partners! Join us Saturday, June 14, from 9:00 am-3:00 pm!
More info is COMING SOON!

Story Times at the Roston Native Butterfly House
2025-07-09 10:30 - 11:00 | Springfield Botanical Gardens, 2400 S Scenic Ave, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Butterfly House Docent Lindsey leads a new butterfly-focused story time this summer! Each story time will include reading a butterfly-themed book, followed by a walk through the caterpillar cafe. Designed for toddlers to children 7 years old. Each story time will begin near the butterfly house.
The stories chosen are:

7/9: The Little Butterfly That Could
7/23: If You Want to be a Butterfly
8/6: Pete the Cat and the Cool Caterpillar
8/20: Caterpillars and Butterflies
9/3: I Wish I Were a Butterfly
9/17: Where Butterflies Grow

Free event, no registration required. For more information, call Friends of the Garden, 417-874-2952

Plant Mounting & Care Class
2025-07-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Join The Plant Room for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn to mount a Staghorn fern or other epiphytic plant. For just $35 per person, they’ll provide all the materials and step-by-step instructions. Registration required, limited to 20 participants. Call 891-1515, ext. 4 for more information.

Backpack Buddy Adventure: Ladybugs!
2025-07-19 11:00 - 11:45 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
Did you know a ladybug can eat up to 75 aphids a day? They are nature’s pest control on plants but their populations are in decline. This month, we will learn about native varieties of ladybugs, study their lifecycle, and search for them in the garden. We will also learn about ‘Lost Ladybug Project’ where students can be citizen scientists and submit their ladybug finds for Cornell University.
Class begins in the botanical center atrium before moving outdoors. Designed for children 5-12. For more information, call 891-1515, ext. 4.

Garden Walk & Talk: Kachel Fountain
2025-07-19 13:00 - 13:30 | Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S Scenic, Springfield, MO, 65807, United States
This month we are going to learn about Tom Kachel and the lovely gift he left to the parks for the construction of a fountain. We’ll also look at the plant selection for growing in a unique planting site. Talk begins at the fountain. Free event, no registration required. Call 891-1515, ext. 4 for more info.
