Mounts Botanical Garden to Host 6 Fun & Informative Public Events in Dec & Jan

Nov. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Mounts Botanical Garden to Host Six Fun Public Events During December & January

+  Stories in the Garden / Trees – December 14
+ The Art of Close-Up Photography – January 6, 13 & 20
+  Stories in the Garden / Veggies – January 11
+ Florida Arbor Day / For the Love of Trees – January 18
+ Urban Farming: Vegetable & Fruit Growing – January 19
+ 57th Annual Tropical Short Course – January 29-30

(West Palm Beach, FL – November 26, 2012)  The Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden will be hosting a variety of fun and horticulturally informative public events during the months of December and January:
   
Stories in the Garden – Trees  
Friday, December 14 – 10 to 11 a.m.
Mounts Pavilion
FREE for both members and non-members
Co-hosted by the Palm Beach County Library Services and the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden, this free program is targeted for children, ages 2 to 6, and includes interactive stories and songs followed by an activity in the Garden.  This event is perfect for young nature lovers and their guardians. Rain or shine. Reservations are required for parties of six children or more and can be made by calling 561.233.1757.

The Art of Close-Up Photography
+ Sunday, January 6, 13 & 20 – Times Vary
Garden – Conference Room
$100 for members; $125 for nonmembers  
Join noted nature photographer John J. Lopinot for a three-day close-up photography workshop to teach participants how to shoot close-up photos in the garden. Learn how to get incredibly close to a subject and learn how to use an electronic flash to get amazing images in the course of this workshop consisting of presentations, assignments, a field trip and a critique. Participants will leave the workshop with more self-confidence about their camera, flash and techniques for macro photography. This event is accessible to people with disabilities.

Stories in the Garden – Veggies  
Friday, January 11 – 10 to 11 a.m.
Mounts Pavilion
FREE for both members and non-members
Co-hosted by the Palm Beach County Library Services and the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden, this free program is targeted for children, ages 2 to 6, and includes interactive stories and songs followed by an activity in the Garden.  This event is perfect for young nature lovers and their guardians. Rain or shine. Reservations are required for parties of six children or more and can be made by calling 561.233.1757.

Florida Arbor Day – For the Love of Trees
Friday, January 18 – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Throughout the Garden
FREE for members and Suggested Donation of $5 for non-members
For the sixth year in a row, Mounts will salute trees with a ceremonial tree planting, guided tours of the Garden, and a special Tree Trek for children. Vendors will on site selling trees suitable to south Florida yards. Educational material on growing and maintaining trees will be available at the Pavilion near the Garden Shop.

Urban Farming: Vegetables & Fruit Growing
Saturday, January 19 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mounts Exhibit Hall A & Throughout the Garden
$30 for members; $40 for nonmembers  
Hosted by Mike Page, Mounts Horticulturalist, and Charlotte Gomes, GMG Tropical Fruits, PB Rare Fruit Council, this informative workshop will teach how to grow healthy food, nature’s way – even on a small lot or in containers. In this hands-on workshop for homeowners, participants will gain the knowledge they need to raise vegetables from seed to harvest. They’ll also learn the basics of backyard fruit growing, and get the scoop on soil preparation, fertilizers, growing organically – and they’ll even take home a seedling to help get started.

Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Inc., District X
Tropical View – 57th Annual Tropical Short Course
Saturday, January 29 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, January 30 – 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Throughout the Garden
Come and enjoy the experts' views on horticulture, the environment, and flower design. View the gardens as while strolling with old and new gardening friends. Vendors will provide a variety of plants and related items for sale.
Note:  Registration open to all garden club members, friends and family. Contact Barbara Hadsell, District X Director at barbarahadsell@cs.com, 561-635-8809.
For more information and a registration form, please go to:
www.districtx.org.

To Register for Mounts Events other than the Tropical Short Course:
For advance registration, 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