SPECIAL EVENTS
7th Annual Tomato Festival August 11, 1:00- 4:00 p.m.
The Arboretum’s 7th annual Tomato Festival will feature tasting of many varieties—all locally grown. This year’s event will be bigger and better with more children's games, lectures, and prizes.Smashing Tomatoes, Whole Foods, and the Sullivan University Culinary program have signed on as guest chefs and will be giving demonstrations and free samples. Speakers John Strang, UK Extension Horticulture Professor; Roger Postley, Lexington's own Mr. Tomato; and Dr. Norm Strobel, BCTC Biology Professor, will discuss the culture, variety, diseases, and uses of tomatoes.Whether you’re a tomato fan or not, there’s plenty to do for the entire family. Activities will include children's tomato art, face painting, Master Gardener's information booth, tours of the Demonstration Vegetable Garden, a presentation on food preservation by Family & Consumer Science Agent Sara Talbot and much more.
Admission: $2-adult; $1-ages 12-3; free-age 2 and under.
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“Here We Grow Again”
Gala in the Garden
September 15, 2013
4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
The Friends of The Arboretum will host the 9th annual Gala in the Garden on Sunday, September 15, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Proceeds from the 2013 Gala will go toward expansion of the Dorotha Smith Oatts Visitor Center to provide much needed office and meeting space, a resource room, a gift shop, and a real kitchen!
Gala attendees can look forward to delicious food and drink, lively music, and great company! The Silent Auction offers opportunities to bid on amazing items including trips to exciting destinations: South Africa; London, England. You can even win a Fighter Pilot Experience.
If you have suggestions for sponsors, silent auction possibilities, new invitees, or want to help with the Gala, please let us hear from you! Please contact Dabney Parker: dabney@windstream.net
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Save the date:
October 23, 7 p.m.
Fall Gardeners’ Lecture Series Presents: Katy Moss Warner
President Emeritus of American Horticultural Society and Judge with America in Bloom.
Lecture will be at UK HealthCare Pavilion
Arboretum Friends/Master Gardeners $10
General Public $12/Students with I.D. $5
Programs meet at the Visitor Center
unless otherwise noted.
Bluegrass Area Woodturners: “Returned to The Arboretum”
June 15 - July 15, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekdays
Original wood turned items reclaimed from The Arboretum will be on display and available for bidding throughout the four weeks
*Riparian Zone Field Trip
June 20, 10 a.m. - Noon
Instructor: Amanda Gumbert,
Agriculture Extension Specialist Water Quality
Riparian buffers offer a number of ecosystem benefits related to water quality, stream bank stabilization, and habitat. During this class we will tour riparian buffers at the Kentucky Horse Park at various stages of restoration. We will discuss the main concepts behind the benefits of riparian buffers , selection of native plants, and planting and maintenance. Meet at The Arboretum at 10 a.m. FREE
“Returned to The Arboretum” Demonstration and Reception
June 22, 10 a.m. - noon
Enjoy a demonstration by a representative of Bluegrass Area Woodturners. FREE
Volunteer Appreciation Potluck
June 29, 5:30 p.m.
All volunteers FREE. Friends and family members, Cost $5. Bring a dish. Remember to RSVP.
Central Kentucky Concert Band
June 29 , 7 p.m.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and come ready to relax and enjoy popular and patriotic music with the Central Kentucky Concert Band. This will be their 20th annual performance at The Arboretum. FREE and opened to the public.
*Trees and Water Quality
July 16, 10 a.m.
Instructor: Todd Rounsaville
What are the benefits of trees in reducing sedimentation, stream erosion, and water quality? Find answers to these questions and learn what the best species are and how they should be planted and maintained. FREE
*Rain Garden Tour
July 24, 10 a.m.
Instructor: Jesse Dahl
In past classes we have looked at design, installation, and planting of rain gardens. Now it’s summer and the rain gardens are starting to bloom and grow. Jesse Dahl, Horticulturist at The Arboretum, will take the class on a tour of the various rain gardens at The Arboretum including the Mississippi Embayment area. On the tour we will talk about the plants in these gardens: which plants work well and which do not, and how to manage and maintain them as they grow. A few lucky attendees will take home a plant for their own garden. FREE
*Funding for this FREE workshop is provided by Lexington’s Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works and is offered in collaboration with the UK College of Agriculture.
The KCG is open
Wednesday-Saturday 9:30a-4:30p and Sunday 1p-5p. Visit the KCG page for more information.
*Vegetable Gardening Tour and Rx
August 6, 4 p.m.
Instructor: Jesse Dahl
Through the winter and spring we have talked about planning and preparation. Now that it’s summer we can taste the fruits of our labor. Arboretum Horticulturist Jesse Dahl will take the class to look at the vegetable gardens in the Home Demonstration Garden. We will look at successful plantings and some that weren’t so successful. We will also cover pest issues, summer maintenance, harvesting, and have a question and answer session. Attendees will get to take home some of the unique tomatoes, peppers, and other produce that we grow at The Arboretum to try in their own kitchens. FREE
7th Annual Tomato Festival
August 11, 1 - 4 p.m.
Don’t miss this popular and tasty event for the whole family. Cost $2/adult and $1.00/12 and under. Visitors to the Tomato Festival will receive $1.00 off regular admission ($3) to the Kentucky Children’s Garden by redeeming their Tomato Festival tickets at the KCG ticket booth. Visitors to the KCG will receive $1.00 off the admission to the Tomato Festival.
Arboretum Friends Annual Meeting
Sunday, August 25, 2 - 4 p.m.
Insect Safari at The Arboretum: Moonlit Edition
Friday, August 30, 7 - 10 p.m.
UK Department of Entomology
A program for the whole family. (See details on Ky Children's Garden Page)
Cost $1 per-person
Gala in the Garden
September 15, 4 - 7 p.m.
See details under special events.
Composting at Home
September 24, 6 p.m.
Instructor: Esther Moberly, LFUCG Waste Management
Esther will present a workshop on how to manage a home composting system including: how to build or install one, how to maintain it, how it works, the items that can and can’t be placed in a compost pile, and ways to use the end product. Those who pre-register will get a free kitchen compost bin (Grubby). FREE
