Happy Wednesday friends of the Gardens!
Do you like Muppets, a cuddly bear in a coat, MINIONS, kids' baseball, Bugs Bunny, Michael Jordan & oh ... Oklahoma? We announced the
SONIC Summer Movie line-up for summer 2018! Of course we know you love Oklahoma, the state, the song, the movie!
Looking for a very unique date and a wonderful way to give back to the community? Tickets for
Splendor in the Gardens, our biannual fundraiser, on Thursday, May 17 on the Great Lawn, are on sale
here.
Have a great week!
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#OptOutside Oklahoma Presented by Fowler
Sunday, April 22, 12-5pm
Great Lawn and Bandshell
FREE, specific workshops are an additional cost
Get the full list of activities
here
#OptOutside Oklahoma will inspire you to get outside, breathe in some fresh air and reconnect with Mother Nature and all her splendor. The program is designed to help people reconnect with each other and with the great outdoors by featuring some of the best options for camping. Visitors will get to explore vintage trailers and airstreams near the Great Lawn on Sheridan, where outdoor life vignettes will include tents, chairs, cooking gear and bikes to bring along on your journeys. Water sports enthusiasts will enjoy the paddle boarding demonstration on the lake. Bike lessons with Spokies/Ride OKC, SUP Yoga demonstrations with This Land Yoga, compass reading techniques and a fantastic group of vendors will bring outdoor living to the center of the city.
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Family Workshop: Flower and Leaf Pressing
Friday, April 20, 2-3pm
2nd Floor Conference Room
Member $10; Nonmember $12
Best for ages 6 to 11
Register by Wednesday, April 18
Preserve your favorite leaves and flowers and turn them into art, bookmarks and cards at this creative workshop. Participants will learn how to press leaves and flowers, look at some already pressed samples and try their own hands at the art. Each child will leave with their own flower press to continue the harvesting and crafting at home.
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Little Saplings Series
Every Other Tuesday
April 24, 10–11am
Member $3; Nonmember $4
Best for ages 2-5
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.
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Sprouting Chefs: Pasta Primavera
Saturday, April 28, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
2nd Floor Conference Room
Member $11; Nonmember $14
Best for ages 7 to 11
Register by Tuesday, April 24
Kids will learn about different vegetables and how to prepare them as the class creates a fresh and flavorful pasta primavera. Participants will get to practice proper knife techniques, learn how to boil water and how to make perfectly-cooked pasta. The session will conclude with participants eating the tasty creations for a delicious and healthful learning and lunch experience.
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Jackson Pollock Seed Bomb Garden
Saturday, April 28, 1-3pm, come-and-go
Children’s Garden
Member $2; Nonmember $3
Abigail Curry, Children’s Garden Manager
Best for ages 5 to 9, but all ages welcome
Jackson Pollack was an artist whose canvases looked like color explosions. Young artists will make their own color explosion flower gardens using homemade seed bombs. We’ll make wildflower seed bombs and then we’ll toss them into a freshly dug garden bed. Later, come back to watch the ‘composition’ grow! Kids will also make a few of your own seed bombs for their home gardens.
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Introduction to Growing Plants for New Gardeners
Tuesday, April 24, 6-7pm
Crystal Bridge 2nd Floor Conference Room
Member $5; Nonmember $7
Register by Friday, April 20
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 3 will discuss perennial flowers and grasses, focusing on the best varieties for our tough climate that add color and interest each season. We’ll discuss easy maintenance tips for these great plants.
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Yoga Series in the Gardens
Sponsored by Tinker Federal Credit Union
Tuesdays, 5:45 p.m.
Late arrivals not accepted after 5:50 p.m.
Meet in the South Lobby for Check-In
Member $5; Nonmember $10
Must be 16 and older
This is a great, all-levels class led by Lisa Woodard from This Land Yoga. Class participants should bring a yoga mat and water. Class participants will meet in the south lobby for check-in each week. Drop in for a session or two, or enjoy the entire series!
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Senior Wellness Wednesday
Wednesday, April 25, 10-11:30am
Park House Event Center and Crystal Bridge
Cost $12 members, $15 nonmembers
includes activities in the Park House Event Center and admission to the Crystal Bridge
ALL SENIORS at Crystal Bridge are $2 from 9am-5pm
Best for ages 62+
“This heart has no wrinkles. If you’re happy, your soul will always be young and fresh!” Join us for a 30 minute Tai Chi exercise class with YMCA’s Danielle Mitchell, followed by an herbal tea tasting from tea’s donated by
Super Cao Nguyen and time with some furry friends, yes you heard us right, therapy dogs from
A New Leash on Life will be onsite for guests to love on. End your visit with a walk through the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory. This is the last part of our three month series focusing on betterment of Senior’s mind, body and soul.
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Gardens Walking Tour
Saturday, April 28, 10-11am
South Lobby and Garden Grounds
FREE
Walkups Welcome
Expand your Oklahoma plant knowledge and get inspiration for your garden with our educational walking tours. Each month will feature different plants from our outdoor collection that make great choices for our region – from spring color to drought tolerant and more. Self –guided plant tour handouts are also available in our South Lobby.
Recommended for adults, children and dogs welcome.
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For A Full List of May in the Gardens visit
here
.
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Dancing in the Gardens featuring the Salsa
Friday, May 4
Dance Lessons, 7-8pm
FREE Dance, 8-10pm
Seasonal Plaza
FREE, all ages welcome!
Dancing in the Gardens returns Friday, May 4, as one of the city’s favorite ways to spend an out-of-the box Friday night. On opening night, instructors from Clips n Hips will start the evening with a Salsa dance lesson at 7 p.m., followed by free dance lessons for all. At 8 p.m., D.J. Red Handed will spin Salsa tunes to really get the party started. Pitchfork in the Park will feature food and drink specials and a new addition to the festivities this year will be additional bars and booths inside the Park House Event Center and Pilar Designs outside for face painting. Park House events close at 10 p.m. but the dance party lasts until 11 p.m. Other dances are June 1 – Bollywood; July 6 – Hip Hop; and August 3 – Country Western.
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OKC Garden Fest
Saturday, May 5, 9am-4pm
Southwest corner of Hudson and Reno by the Children's Garden
FREE
30+ vendors! Get the list
here
The fourth annual
OKC Garden Fest returns to the Gardens May 5 and will feature herbs, perennials, roses, produce, pottery, jewelry, wineries, food products from more than 30 vendors. Activities for children will also be offered and there is no charge for attending.
This year will again feature an area with information for those wanting to start a butterfly garden or Monarch Waystation, an intentionally-managed garden that offers food and habitat for the Monarch butterfly population. Several vendors will offer milkweed for Monarchs along with other pollinator friendly plants.
TIP: There's going to be another freeze this weekend. We recommend that you wait to get your tomatoes, peppers, herbs etc. until
OKC Garden Fest!
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Irrigation and Water Conservation Workshop
Saturday, May 5, 10am-noon
2nd floor conference room and Garden Grounds
Member $8, Nonmember $12
Coffee and light breakfast provided
Register by Tuesday, May 1
Being a good steward of natural resources is a must these days. For the second annual Irrigation and Water Conservation Workshop you will learn the ins-and-outs of irrigating your lawn and plants so you can conserve water, time and money through smart irrigation practices. Coffee and a light breakfast provided.
10-11AM
Dr. Lou Anella, professor and Director of
The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University, will present an overview of landscape irrigation; what it is, why it’s helpful and some best practices. He’ll then discuss a revolutionary irrigation system installed at the OSU Botanic Garden, with tips for bringing the same ideas into your home garden. Finally, you’ll get hands on experience setting up a drip system together.
11AM-NOON
Robert Reaves, Water Conservation Coordinator with the
City of Oklahoma City Utilities, will provide a hands-on, practical experience as he shows each of the components in an irrigation system, explaining how they work and how to make basic repairs to any system. He’ll also cover a few DIY options for saving money.
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Splendor in the Gardens
PRESENTED BY CHICKASAW NATION
Thursday, May 17, 2018, 6-9pm
Great Lawn
Individual tickets are $150
Sponsorships are available starting at $500
The magical farm-to-table gala dinner known as Splendor in the Gardens returns for its fourth rendition on Thursday, May 17. Co-chaired by Chris Fleming and Kathy L. Williams, the biannual gala takes place on the Great Lawn of Myriad Botanical Gardens.
Limited to 400 guests, the evening begins with a reception at the Park House Event Center. As the sun sets against the backdrop of the downtown Oklahoma City skyline, guests stroll through the Gardens to the Great Lawn where they will dine al fresco on a feast inspired by the south of France.
Prepared and served by a variety of metro area chefs including Alain Buthion of La Baguette, Kamala Gamble and Barbara Mock with Kam’s Kookery, Allison Dake with Brown Egg Bakery
and bread baked by Esca Vitae in Midtown, the menu will feature the fresh foods and herbs of Provence. Wines will be provided by Joullian Vineyards & Winery.
This event sold out quickly in past years and we anticipate another sell-out in 2018. For sponsorship and ticket information contact Susan Grossman, director of development, at (405) 445-7090 or
sgrossman@myriadgardens.org
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Seeking 300 People to Donate $30 Each
In celebration of the Myriad Gardens' 30th birthday on Sunday, we're seeking 300 people to donate $30 a piece. The nearly $10,000 raised will be a positive step towards our next 30 years! Learn more and donate
here. Thank you.
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Volunteer at at the Children’s Garden Festival
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Children's Garden is Closed for Upgrades, Re-Opening Date Extended to Week of April 23
The Children's Garden at the Myriad Botanical Gardens is closed for upgrades to the playground equipment. New specially designed equipment for children with special needs is being installed thanks to the generous funding from the Thunderbird Telecom Pioneers who have graciously chosen the Gardens as a legacy project. We are looking at reopening the week of April 23. Read more
here
New Equipment
The
AbilityWhirl has changed public open spaces by making them accessible to children of all abilities, and are now used in hundreds of play areas, schools, hospices and hospitals.
The We-saw™ is a new take on the traditional seesaw. Its unique design and gentle rocking motion invites kids and families of all ages and abilities to participate in the fun.
The Arch Swing, pictured above, is a fun and accessible way to add swinging motion to your playground. The wide seating area accommodates up to five children and is constructed of durable steel with a soft rubber bumper. Children with Sensory Processing Disorder, or similar sensory issues, can lay across the center section and enjoy the calming to-and-fro motion. Children can also sit around the perimeter of the seat and enjoy swinging together.
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Pitchfork in the Park Open
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Get ready for a new season of delicious specialty popsicles!
Pitchfork in the Park is a Made in Oklahoma cafe in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City on the eastside of the Gardens where the Devon Ice Rink is in the winter.
Hours until the weather warms up are Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11am-5pm and Tuesday-Thursday, 11am-2pm. Follow their social media in case of weather closures.
Twitter ;
Instagram and
Facebook.
Get their menus:
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A Space for Spring and Summer Birthday Babes!
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The Children’s Garden Pavilion sits in a serene area of the Children’s Garden just a hop and a skip away from the playground and Thunder Fountain. A perfect place for private birthday parties, the Children’s Garden Pavilion is equipped to entertain kiddos of all ages.
Call (405) 200-1547 or email rentals@myriadgardens.org to secure your reservation for your birthday boy or girl!
Download the birthday rentals flier
here.
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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
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