The Arboretum’s Party for the Planet is ‘Rooted’ in Earth Month
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 5, 2019) — It’s Earth Month, a time to celebrate and honor the planet that sustains billions and billions of humans, animals and plants. Party for the Planet, The Arboretum’s annual rite of spring, will be “Spreading Roots” during a month of events that offers special workshops and activities focused on environmental topics for adults and children.
As in past years, Kentucky Utilities returns as the presenting sponsor, and Kentucky American Water is the hickory sponsor of the popular event.
The party kicks off Saturday, April 6, with Spectacular Spring. Bring the kids to the Kentucky Children’s Garden from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to make seasonal crafts and explore exhibits from local organizations. Participants will take home a spring-flowering plant, while supplies last. Regular children’s garden admission of $3 per person or $10 per family applies. Members are admitted free.
In the coming weeks, three Spreading Roots workshops all occur from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Preregistration is required, with a suggested donation of $3 per person or $5 per family. Each session is limited to 20 people, with the exception of the April 24 workshop, which is limited to 75 participants. Sessions include:
- April 11: Guest Dave Leonard will lead Tracing Roots, during which he will wield his air knife to gently expose tree roots and explain how they grow and communicate with each other.
- April 18: Arboretum curator Emily Ellingson will lead Discovering Roots. Ellingson will help participants uncover original plant collection maps, solve curatorial mysteries and learn about some of the historic trees in The Arboretum woods.
- April 24: Rooted in Nature brings the series to a conclusion in a big way in the Kentucky Children’s Garden. Adina Cox, a nature play and learning expert from the University of Kentucky Department of Landscape Architecture, will lead a session on the benefits for young children when they connect with nature. Families will learn tips to use at home or during visits to the children’s garden.
Party for the Planet wraps up with Arbor Day at The Arboretum from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 27. The ceremony will include Lexington’s Arbor Day Proclamation with Mayor Linda Gorton, the Arbor Day Tree Planting, tree giveaways, exhibitor tents and tours of the Bluegrass Region of the Walk Across Kentucky.
Call 859-257-6955 or email Arboretum@uky.edu to reserve a space in one of the workshops. More information about Party for the Planet and other Arboretum activities are online at http://arboretum.ca.uky.edu/calendar.
Other sponsors include Big Beaver Tree Service, Lexmark International, Lexington Tree Board, Blue Grass Energy, Lexington Environmental Commission, Fayette County Local Emergency Planning Committee and Dave Leonard Tree Specialists.
The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, began in 1991 as a joint effort between UK and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Housed in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, it is located at 500 Alumni Drive and offers more than 100 acres of native and horticultural plant collections, gardens, trails, waterways, a children’s garden and seasonal exhibits.