Good afternoon from your Myriad Gardens' team! We have a variety of events and programs during the next two weeks. Here's a list, more details are included below. Saturday, February 10 Hot Chocolate Valentine class for kids Saturday, February 10 Plant Propagation Made Simple (just 2 spaces left) Tuesday, February 13 Little Saplings for kids ages 2-5 Wednesday, February 14 "Painting in the Gardens "Valentine's" Thursday, February 15 Orchid & Poetry Show preview Thursday, February 15 Artist's reception: ‘Jardim do Amor/Garden of Love’ Works by Skip Hill Friday, February 16 Lunar New Year, Year of the Dog We have announced the schedule for the annual Oklahoma Gardening School on Saturday, March 10 at Devon Auditorium. Get all the details here. Thank you for taking the time to check out what's happening in the Gardens. Have a great week!

Hot Chocolate Valentine Saturday, February 10, 2–3:30pm Terrace Room Member $12; Nonmember $15 Best for ages 6-10 Register by Thursday, February 8 REGISTER HERE Learn about the fascinating process that turns chocolate fruit into the tasty wintertime cocoa drink we all love. We’ll start with a hunt through our conservatory to find the fruit growing on the tree, do a hot chocolate tasting and then create two treat packages with cocoa mixes and cards to give away to our valentines.

Plant Propagation Made Simple Saturday, February 10, 10–11:30am Terrace Room Member $14; Nonmember $18 Bill Farris, Owner, Prairie Wind Nursery Register by Thursday, February 8 REGISTER HERE Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants from seeds, cuttings or other plant parts and it is the ultimate way to save money on plants as one plant can become 10 for free. Nurseryman Bill Farris will discuss and demonstrate the various methods for propagating plants, from division to cuttings. He’ll then guide each participant through making your own propagated cutting to take home and will go over care tips for your propagules.

Little Sapling Series February 13 & 27 Every Other Tuesday through March Children’s Garden Members $3; Nonmembers $4 Best for ages 2-5 Register by Friday, February 9 for the February 13 class Register by Friday, February 23 for the February 27 class REGISTER HERE Join us in the Children’s Garden for an hour of songs, games, and interactive nature fun. Toddlers (and parents!) will get to learn about the exciting world of gardens in an engaging and educational way. Experience activities such as making mud pies, watching caterpillars grow, making bird seed ornaments, or potting up seeds. Every Little Saplings event will include a sensory bin, a song, and a game.

Painting in the Gardens with Wine & Palette: “Valentines” Wednesday, February 14, 6:30-9:30pm Terrace Room Members $30, register by calling (405) 227-0230 Nonmembers $35, register online at wineandpalette.com Couples Paint Night at the Gardens! Want to do something unique with your Valentine this year? Pick your choice of teal love or monochrome rose to create a unique piece of art on a 16"×20" canvas. The Gardens will also furnish wine and chocolates as an evening snack for participants.

The Orchid & Poetry Show Preview & Reception Thursday, February 15, 2-7pm (same night as the Skip Hill artist's reception) Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory & South Lobby FREE for members, $8 for nonmembers Orchid show runs through March 24 Join us for a first look at this year’s Orchid Show as we celebrates the long history of poetry inspired by plants and flowers. Our horticulture team will be bringing poetry to life in the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory using tropical flowers, orchids and other props in displays inspired by famous poems. Local poets will also be sharing original works during our poetry reading. Feel free to bring a copy of your favorite poem as attendees will be able to participate in our poetry reading as well. Appetizers will be provided along with a cash bar.

Jardim do Amor/Garden of Love: Works by Skip Hill Artist's reception Thursday, February 15, 5-7pm (same night and time as the Orchid & Poetry Show opening) FREE for members; Nonmembers pay Crystal Bridge admission $8 South Lobby of the Crystal Bridge Exhibit runs through end of March Skip Hill creates color - rich and lyrical art exuding moods of epicurean delights in a mélange of sensual and sensory experience. Some of the most captivating parts of his mixed-media drawings are in their peripheral details – Tattoo expressive patterning, looping graphic lines, kinetic scribbling, Kanji calligraphy and African motifs. Like a shaman, Hill communicates freely between two worlds, between dream and reality, and manages to artfully coordinate his fantasy with his hand. To learn more about Skip Hill, visit his website.

Lunar New Year at the Gardens: Year of the Dog Friday, February 16, 4-8pm Water Stage, Crystal Bridge and Park House Event Center $15 per Year of the Dog T-Shirt (design pictured above) $2 per food ticket to be redeemed with our onsite vendors Crystal Bridge South Lobby $2 suggested donation for crafts PREORDER THE T-SHIRT We are partnering up with our friends from Super Cao Nguyen in the OKC Asian District to celebrate the Lunar New Year! Join us for an evening of music, face painting and fun for the entire family. The Gardens will have lion dancers from cultural presentations on the Water Stage, festive décor, crafts for the kids, cultural presentations, calligraphers to write your name in Chinese, food vendors/Boba Tea—in the Park House Event Center and t-shirts for sale. Cultural Presentations at the Water Stage as follows:   6pm: Redline Jiu-Jitsu Academy demo 6:25pm: Little Miss Asia Oklahoma Performance 6:30pm: Lion Dance performance by St. Andrew Dung Lac Lion Dance Association 7pm: Confucius Institute at the University of Oklahoma - OUCI performance We've also added these two classes listed below:

Chinese Brushwork with Beverly Herndon at Lunar New Year Event Terrace Room—lower level of the Crystal Bridge Member: $15 and Nonmember: $20 REGISTER HERE Join Beverly Herndon in an hour and a half workshop on Chinese Brushwork. Each participant will paint their own Chinese Dragon to take home! This class has been added to the Lunar New Year at the Gardens: Year of the Dog celebration from 4-8pm.

Lunar New Year Wreath Making during Lunar New Year Celebration Terrace Room—lower level of the Crystal Bridge Member: $30; Nonmember: $35 REGISTER HERE Join Kenton Peters to create a Lunar New Year Wreath for your front door during the Lunar New Year at the Gardens: Year of the Dog from 4-8pm.

Classes for Kids

Reading Wednesday Wednesdays,10-11am Crystal Bridge South Lobby FREE Best for ages 2-5 Bring your youngster for story time each Wednesday at 10am. Books are nature-themed and selected based on the season. We’ll begin with an interactive song and children will enjoy creating a small craft after the story. For groups of 10 or more please call Kodi Clifford at (405) 835-6789.

Sprouting Chefs: Fun and Fresh Lunches Saturday, February 17, 11am-12:30pm Member $15; Nonmember $20 Best for ages 7-11 Register by February 13 REGISTER ONLINE Start the Lunar New Year off right with a healthy cooking class for kids. We’ll learn the basics of making healthy, easy dishes that your little ones will love. Families will work together to create a few nutritious lunch options and leave with the skills and inspiration to continue the fun at home.  Supplies for this class generously donated by Whole Foods Market

Strictly for the Birds Saturday, February 24, 11–11:45am Children’s Garden Porch Abigail Curry, Children’s Garden Manager Member $3; Nonmember $5 Best for ages 5-9 Register by Tuesday, February 20 REGISTER ONLINE Join us for a morning of bird-brained education and craft making. Learn how to make your backyard a bird-friendly habitat with plants and make a bird feeder to further welcome birds to your yard.

Reading Wednesday with the Metropolitan Downtown Library Wednesday, January 31, 10am Crystal Bridge South Lobby FREE Best for ages 2-5 On the last Wednesday of every month, we’re excited to welcome the Downtown Library to Reading Wednesdays! Library staff will be onsite with their pop-up library where you can sign your family up for library cards, or will be  working with Gardens staff to provide the reading and a fun craft.

Dr. Seuss Day in the Gardens: Special Guest, The Cat in the Hat Friday, March 2, 10am-Noon Crystal Bridge South Lobby Members $2; Nonmembers $4 Best for ages 2-7 Walkups welcome REGISTER HERE Come celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and his wonderful books. We’ll have everyone’s favorite character, Cat in the Hat, here to read stories and tell fun Dr. Seuss facts. Between story times, kids can make Dr. Seuss inspired crafts and take photos with our quirky cat visitor.

Sprouting Chefs: Spring Break Cooking Camp Package rate (includes all 4 days): M $100; NM $140 (call to register to receive package rate) Or Per Day rate: M $30 per day; NM $40 per day Best for ages 8-12 REGISTER HERE   In this fun, hands-on cooking camp, young chefs will learn and practice essential kitchen skills while creating delicious dishes using fresh ingredients. We’ll start off each day by learning the basics of the day’s theme then jump right in and get cookin’ to end with a tasty lunch freshly made by the class. Monday: Bread Baking with Whole Foods Tuesday: Fun with Fruit with Wheeze the Juice Wednesday: Marvelous Mexican with Food for Thought Thursday: Sweet as Honey with My Raggedy Herbs

Adult Classes

Myriad Kitchen: An Intro to Healthy Cooking Water Plaza Room Member $20; Nonmember $27 Register by February 13 REGISTER HERE Enjoy a delicious lunch that will taste so good you’ll have trouble believing it’s healthy. Instructed by Kamala Gamble and Barbara Mock from Kam's Kookery, the program includes an overview of: eating well and using in-season fresh fruits and vegetables; adding flavor with fresh and dried herbs; and best methods for healthy cooking.

SOLD OUT! Designing a Butterfly Garden Saturday, February 24, 11am-12:30pm Terrace Room Member $8; Nonmember $12 Marilyn Stewart, Wild Things Nursery Butterfly gardens are beautiful and buzzing with life. They are crucial to help butterflies and other pollinators and insects find sustenance to survive and thrive. Join butterfly guru Marilyn Stewart to learn how to design and select plants for creating your own butterfly garden this spring.

Gardens Walking Tour February 24, 10-11am Last Saturday of Every Month, 10am South Lobby and Garden Grounds FREE Walkups Welcome Expand your Oklahoma plant knowledge and get inspiration for your garden with our educational walking tours. For our February walk we’ll discuss plants for color. Self-guided plant tour handouts are also available in our South Lobby.

Introduction to Growing Plants for New Gardeners Tuesday, February 27, 6-7pm Crystal Bridge 2nd Floor Conference Room Members $5; Nonmembers $7 Register by Friday, February 23 REGISTER HERE This three-part series serves as an introduction to the basics of growing ornamental garden plants including trees, shrubs and perennial flowers and grasses. Each class includes handouts on plant lists and maintenance guidelines. Part 1 in February will cover trees and discuss the best trees to grow in OKC and how to plant and maintain them.

Senior Wellness Wednesday Wednesday, February 28, 9–10:30am Park House Event Center and Crystal Bridge Member: $12, Nonmember: $15 Activities in the Park House Event Center and admission to the Crystal Bridge ALL SENIORS Crystal Bridge admission is $2 from 9am-5pm Best for ages 62+ REGISTER HERE Join us for a 30-minute heart healthy exercise class with instructor Robyn Pendleton from the YMCA, followed by a heart healthy cooking /wine demo tasting of smoked salmon, fresh greens and roasted veggies from Kam’s Kookery. End your visit with a walk through the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory. This is the first part of a three-month series focusing on the betterment of mind, body and soul for seniors.

Yoga in the Gardens Sponsored by Tinker Federal Credit Union Tuesdays, 5:45pm Late arrivals not accepted after 5:50pm Check in at the South Lobby of the Crystal Bridge upon arrival Member $5; Nonmember $10 Must be 16 and older This is an all-levels class led by Lisa Woodard from This Land Yoga. Class participants should bring a yoga mat and water. Meet in the south lobby for check-in each week. Drop in for a session or two or enjoy the entire series.

Seeking Event Volunteers

Volunteer at Events Want to volunteer at fun events in the Gardens? Check out our current event list and sign up for a spot. Make it a group outing for schools, corporate groups, families and more! Volunteer opportunities are updated regularly, so bookmark this page for year-round access. Sign-up online

Updates

Oklahoma Gardening School presented by Devon Energy & Meinders Foundation Saturday, March 10, 9am-4pm, Devon Auditorium The Gardens’ annual Oklahoma Gardening School is the state’s premier annual horticultural symposium designed for home gardeners and professional horticulturists, garden designers and landscape architects. This year's theme is "Garden Designs to Nurture Nature & Ourselves." Get all the details & register.

February Gardening Tips Let's Talk Winter Irrigation As the state has remained especially dry throughout January, it is important to consider the irrigation needs of your landscape. Although the majority of your vegetation may be dormant, your landscape may be in need of some supplemental water.  Get the rest of February Gardening Tips here.

Request for Proposals: Indoor / Outdoor Cafe Venue at Scissortail Park The Café at Scissortail Park in downtown Oklahoma City will serve as the primary food and beverage location in the park and will also serve as one of the main entrances into Scissortail Park along the new Oklahoma City Boulevard. Read the entire RFP here

Coming Up in March!

Syrup Sunday Sunday, March 4, 11am–1pm Park House Event Center $12 per child ages 12 and under, Infants who don’t eat solid foods FREE Adult cost: Member-$25; Nonmember-$30  ALL AGES WELCOME! GET MORE DETAILS

Go Green, St. Patrick’s Day Saturday, March 17, 12–4pm Great Lawn and Band shell, Sheridan Lawn Music is FREE $5 wristband, best for ages 4-10 GET MORE DETAILS

Easter Egg Fun in the Gardens & Eggstravaganza Saturday, March 31,  Doggy Easter Egg Hunt, 12:30pm Children's Events. 2:30pm Great Lawn Best for ages 0-8 Wristband: Members $8; Nonmembers $10 Adults FREE GET MORE DETAILS HERE

Thank you!

The Myriad Gardens Foundation wishes to thank our sustaining partners,  leaders in providing major ongoing annual support:  BancFirst The Chickasaw Nation Continental Resources Devon Energy Corporation Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings Herman and LaDonna Meinders Jean and David McLaughlin Robert H. Meinders  Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort OGE Energy Corp. The Oklahoman Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust  The City of Oklahoma City  Avis Scaramucci