This month brings the opportunity to connect with art, nature and each other at Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden.
Gardens Gone Wild, an animal art adventure featuring the works of Dan Ostermiller, is on exhibit now through October 5. The exhibit and special activities are included with regular Garden admission.
Whether you’re an art fan, an animal lover or just looking for a memorable outing with your family, a visit to Powell Gardens this summer is in order. Set in nine adventure zones representing habitats both exotic and familiar, these 26 bronze sculptures are fun to discover! Mark your calendars for one of these related programs:
Father’s Day with The Paul Mesner Puppets, June 15
Celebrate Father’s Day by taking a family adventure through the lands of Gardens Gone Wild. End your journey in the Heartland Harvest Garden (home to Priscilla, the 5-foot hen featured in the exhibit) to watch one of Kansas City’s favorite puppeteers present “Old MacDonald’s Rhyming Ranch” at 1:30 p.m.
Creatures of the Night, June 20
Experience the magical sounds of the wetlands (home to three Ostermiller sculptures for the summer) and meet other creatures of the night during this twilight adventure for families. See all of the bronze animal sculptures of Gardens Gone Wild, tour the Island Garden and meet a variety of nocturnal animals in an exhibit by Animal Wonders. Your ticket also includes a stop for s’mores. Purchase tickets online at www.powellgardens.org/creatures or call 816-697-2600 x209.
BUZZ! A Celebration of Pollinators in the Garden, June 21
Karma the elephant joins wildlife photographer Felicia Flash in a StoneLion Puppets story that illustrates why pollinators and other bugs are so important in a backyard sanctuary. This 10:30 a.m. performance kicks off a day-long look at why pollinators, including honeybees, butterflies, birds, moths, bats and other creatures, are so essential to the food supply. Throughout the day, visitors can meet beekeepers, see an observation hive, try on beekeeping suits, get recipes and learn ways to support pollinators in their own gardens.
Members of the Midwestern Beekeepers Association will give informal talks at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. From 2 to 4 p.m., visitors can partake in a mead tasting with 7 C’s Winery and Meadery of Walnut Grove, Mo. 7C’s is one of a few Missouri producers of mead, an alcoholic beverage made of fermented honey and water. Sampling tickets will be available for those 21 and older (five samples for $5.).
Art in the Gardens Discovery Station: June 28-29
This discovery station will show visitors how to literally make art from the garden with plant prints and flower pounding. Using leaves in every shape and size and flowers in every color of the rainbow, experiment with shapes and colors to create a beautiful botanical masterpiece. The station will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Let Powell Gardens know what you enjoy most during your adventure in the Gardens by sharing photos and comments with the hashtag #GardensGone Wild.
