All the Dirt on Gardening

Gardens and spring combine make unbeatable attractions for plant lovers and travelers. As your spring and summer travel plans come up, consult this list and other internet resources and add one or more gardens, zoos and festivals to your itinerary. Most events are more than walks through beautiful gardens – though that alone would be worth the stop for many of us. Regional, school, city and community events include plant sales, fun-runs, car shows, food vendors, family activities, parades and concerts. Clip and save the list so you can call ahead or click through to the websites to find out more. Have an event we should know about? Email mollyday1@gmail.com Feb 28-Apr12   Dallas TX Dallas Blooms Dallas Arboretum www.dallasarboretum.org 214.515.6615 March 13-14 Semmes AL Annual Mary G. Montgomery High School Azalea Festival http://semmeschamber.org/azaleafestival.php 251.649.1200 Mar 16 – 20 Muskogee OK Jr. Master Gardener Day at Papilion, Honor ...

This weekend there are butterfly festivals in Kansas City MO and Dallas TX. And there is a possibility that in the years ahead, there will be a butterfly festival in Muskogee at Honor Heights Park. Friends of Honor Heights Park has set a goal of creating a teaching garden and butterfly house in the park. The designer provided an animated tour of the proposed garden that you can watch at http://www.friendsofhhp.com/Friends/Our_Goals.html . Friends received a foundation challenge grant and now needs the support of the community. In order to receive the grant funds, Friends of HHP has to raise $200,000 through memberships, grants and donations. You can help by joining or by making a contribution by credit card at www.friendsofhhp.com, or, by mailing a contribution to Friends of Honor Heights Park, 4211 High Oaks, Muskogee OK 74401. The educational and recreational benefits of such an addition to Honor Heights Park will be limited only by the imagination of teachers, families, plant enthu...

We visited Powell Gardens , this past weekend. The reason for the trip was their Butterfly Festival but we love going there. It's a beautiful space. The volunteer coordinator told me they have over 200 volunteers they can count on for events. Half price membership? Hold me back. We joined. The normal entry was blocked in favor of having everyone pass through the butterfly breezeway. All the butterflies in the breezeway are locals, mostly swallowtails. But everyone was in awe nonetheless. Butterflies are irresistible. There were lots of displays, activities for children, book signing and plant sale for the grown ups. Outside, the Big Bug art was worth seeing. The artist, David Rogers lives in NY where he also does large branch art.