WPB's Mounts Botanical Garden to Host Fall Family Festival, Fall Plant Sale & Workshops in Oct & Nov

Sept. 17, 2012 - PRLog -- (West Palm Beach, FL – September 17, 2012)  The Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden will be hosting numerous fun and horticulturally informative public events during October and November 2012:

Workshop  /  Designing, Creating & Maintaining Your Home Landscape
Saturday, October 13, 20 & 27 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mounts Exhibit Hall A – Clayton Hutcheson Complex
$50 for members, $60 for non-members
This three-part workshop will explore all of the steps needed to improve a home landscape.
+ October 13: Session One includes an evaluation of site conditions, how to avoid common landscape mistakes and a review of good design principles.
+ October 20: A homework assignment prepares participants for Session Two which begins with a tour of Mounts Botanical Garden to see and discuss a large number of plants suitable for South Florida. They will also learn about purchasing, planting and establishing the plants.
+ October 27: In Session Three, experienced Master Gardeners work closely with participants to address problem areas they identify in each landscape, evaluate ideas and discuss options. Tips and techniques to conserve water, reduce pesticide use and minimize will finish the program.
(NOTE: Registration deadline is Wednesday, October 10.)

Fall Family Festival
Sunday, October 14 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Throughout the Garden
FREE for members and children 10 or under, $3 for adults
Co-sponsored by The Junior League of the Palm Beaches and the Garden Club of Palm Beach
Highlights of the annual Fall Family Festival at Mounts include an educational booth on butterflies & ladybugs, games, hands-on activities, music, refreshments and prizes for everyone. Favorite activities include pony rides, face painting, tomato seedling giveaways, rock climbing wall, bounce house, kiddie train rides and more. With Halloween just around the corner, children are encouraged to come in costume. Some activities are free; others have a nominal charge.

More than a… Fall Plant Sale
+ Saturday, November 2 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
+ Sunday, November 3 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Throughout the Garden
FREE for members, $10 for non-members
This annual plant sale features more than 80 vendors from all over the state showcasing an amazing assortment of quality plants and goods. Come early and enjoy a rare opportunity to learn about the plants that grow in South Florida and to speak directly with the growers.
(NOTE: Mounts members can take advantage of early shopping and continental breakfast on Saturday from 8 to 9 a.m. 
The breakfast and preview is an exciting membership perk.)

Sunrise Digital Photography Workshop
+ Saturday, November 10 – 5:30 to 7:30  a.m.
Meet at Garden entrance on North Military Trail
$25 per person.
Join nature photographer John J. Lopinot for a rare opportunity to photograph sunrise inside Mounts Botanical Garden Participants will be inside the garden before the sun rises at 6:36 a.m. and will learn new techniques for using golden light at sunrise, using back lighting, side lighting and front lighting. They’ll discover how to compose photographs using the sun as the center of interest, and will take home new ideas and strategies for making better photos using natural light. Register now, space fills quickly.
(NOTE: Deadline for registration is November 2. All proceeds go to Mounts Botanical Garden. This event is accessible to people with disabilities.)

To Register:
For advance registration for any of these fall events at Mounts Botanical Garden, please call 561.233.1757.

About Mounts Botanical Garden:
Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County's oldest and largest public garden.  Mounts displays tropical and subtropical plants from around the world, including plants native to Florida, exotic trees, tropical fruit, herbs, citrus, palms and more. As a component of the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service, and through its affiliation with the University of Florida IFAS, Mounts is the place to connect with Extension Horticulturists, Master Gardeners, the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program, and professional horticultural advisors. Mounts also offers a variety of horticultural classes, and garden-related events and workshops.

Located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach, Mounts Botanical Garden is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The suggested donation for entry to the Garden is $5 per person. For more information, please call 561.233.1757 or visit www.mounts.org.

Available for Interview:
Allen Sistrunk, Garden Director
561.233.1757
asistrun@pbcgov.org

Media Contact:
Gary Schweikhart
PR-BS, Inc.
561.756.4298
gary@pr-bs.net