Vol. XXVII No. 1 • SPRING 2014
Tulips, Fairies & Friends
Activities and Games among 56,000 tulips // pg. 5
Blooms, Brews & Bloody Marys
Vote for Wichita’s Best Bloody Mary // pg. 14
2014 Board of Trustees Officers Justus Fugate, President Linda Kizzire, Treasurer
Trustees Matt Cortez Steve English DeeAnne Fahnestock John Firsching Roarke R. Gordon Jay Hsu Deril Hosford
Mark Jolliffe Melissa Mangan Karl Miller Elton Parsons Kathi Stark Beverly Thornton
Ex-Officio Trustees Bryan Frye, President, Board of Park Commissioners Cathy Holdeman, Assistant City Manager, City of Wichita Papaver orientale ‘Brilliant’: Oriental Poppy
In this issue 1 2-3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10-12 13 14 15 16-17 18-19 20 21
Letter From The Director In Bloom Mother’s Day and Tulips Tulips, Fairies and Friends Downing Children’s Garden Mascot Competition Fairy House Competition Lunchtime Lectures Birding, Art and Riverfest March - April - May Calendars Volunteers Blooms, Brews and Bloody Marys Butterfly Festival Education Eco-Awareness Day and Tribute List In The Gardens Crossword
Doug Kupper, Director of Park & Recreation, City of Wichita Janet Miller, City Council, City of Wichita Mayor’s Appointee
Check us out on facebook at www.facebook.com/ BotanicaWichita Cultivate is the member magazine for Botanica, Inc. For more information about Botanica's programs, events or Gardens, please call 316-264-0448 or visit our website at www.botanica.org. While on our website, be sure to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter. You can also connect with us through facebook and twitter pages linked on our website.
Cultivate © 2014, Botanica, Inc. Vol. XXVII. No. 1 • March - April - May 2014
Cover: Tulips in the Monster Woods, 2012
FROM THE
Director
More events, beautiful spaces The Polar Vortex has kept us huddled next to our heaters … and now that it is coming to an end, let the warming sun of spring bring you to Botanica to experience the Midwest’s most beautiful tulip display. We are fortunate to live in a changing climate. The garden reinvents itself every year, creating a whole new look. As a non-profit organziation, Botanica continues to evlove and expand as well, yet remains a a special place where families come to experience nature and learn how to be good stewards of the environment. It’s a a place where memories are made – birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated and life is enjoyed. From the beginning of life to the end, Botanica is the special place where many families find comfort and well-being. Botanica is no longer just a garden; it is a community attraction surrounded by a beautiful garden. The new event center is scheduled for completion in April, with the Chinese Garden of Friendship, located on the east side of the event center, to open in fall. The impact of these two projects is yet to be measured. However, it is our hope that the Chinese Garden of Friendship will play a role in the Mayor’s business plan to attract more customers from China. Sharing the Chinese Garden of Friendship with our Chinese visitors and clients will show how Wichita has honored the Chinese culture and will further strengthen our relationship. The Chinese Garden of Friendship will also provide a connection to the local Chinese community and Wichita’s Sister City, Kaifeng. Botanica board of trustees’ member, Jay Hsu, MD and Renfeng Ma co-chair a 20-member Chinese Garden of Friendship committee, which contains 11 members with direct
connections to the local Chinese community. The committee worked diligently during 2013 to design and develop a garden that will truly reflect the culture of China and Kaifeng. The growth that Botanica has experienced is the direct result from our partnership with the City of Wichita, the community and the generosity of Botanica’s financial supporters. One of the outcomes from the physical growth has been an increase in total attendance of 61% over a five year period. In 2009, 97,390 guests visited Botanica, and 157,202 guests visited Botanica in 2013. Many of those guests came from all parts of the world. Be our guest this spring and enjoy Botanica’s beautiful display of 56,000 tulips. Watch for the new and improved events including “Tuesdays on the Terrace” and the return of special spring events such as “Tulips, Fairies and Friends” and “Blooms, Brews and Bloody Marys” as well as our ever-changing and expanding flower displays. Be a part of the growing number of families who come to the Downing Children’s Garden to experience adventure and exploration. All of us at Botanica thank you for your continued support through memberships, donations and volunteering. The wonderful support from our community helps Botanica remain a premier attraction. See you in the gardens,
Tulips near the Margie Button Memorial Fountain & Garden
March • April • May 2014
| Page 1
In Bloom Greetings from the gardens and welcome to spring. March, April and May return spring to us like a long lost friend. Even if it is cold outside today, you anxiously await the warm weather and the bright splashes of color that will be here soon. I was fortunate to attend the Western Trade Show in Kansas City on Jan. 5-6. This is a large trade show where 175-200 nurseries from all over the country show off their goods. Our old friends from Bluebird Nursery, Greenleaf Nursery and Sedan Floral had booths there. I collected information on new plants that each nursery was offering and of course each of their catalogs. Janet Gordon and the other gardeners have been going through the catalogs with me to find new cultivars for Botanica. To keep this article within my pages, I am going to list 3-5 cultivars of each type of plant we would like to add to Botanica this spring or next fall. TREES: Emperor I Japanese Maple, Weeping Extraordinaire Double Flowering Cherry, G. Okumo Japanese Cryptomeria, and a Perkins Pink Yellowwood. SHRUBS: Bailey Select Purpleleaf American Hazelnut, multiple new reblooming and more cold-tolerant evergreen azaleas, Wine Spritzer Beautyberry, Orangee Flame Oregon Grape Holly, and multiple new althea in bold new colors. PERENNIALS: Yumi Beauty Itoh Peony, a bold yellow peony, Raspberry Shortcake Dwarf Thornless Raspberry and multiple new heucheras, hostas, astilbies and echinacea. I know it would have been great to give a brief description of each of these but we have not located or booked all of them yet so we may not be able to get them all. Janet Gordon does a lunchtime lecture every October on new plants in the garden; if we can get them and you do not
Page 2 | www.botanica.org
WITH PATRICK MCKERNAN
find them in the Garden over the growing season, Janet will show you where they are during her presentation. Our first spring color will come from our masses of minor spring bulbs interplanted with our 120,000 blossoms of daffodils. These bulbs are all planted in with the trees, shrubs and perennials so they can be left for years to multiply and naturalize these areas. February Gold usually lives up to its name and is the first daffodil to bloom each spring. In the winter issue of Cultivate I wrote quite a bit about our 2014 tulip display and our visitors’ favorite six summer annuals. So I plan to spend less time on those in this article and hope you still have the winter issue to review. In November we planted 56,000 tulips made up of 80 varieties with 23 of these never grown at Botanica before. I would first like to say thank you to Gial and Marge Kaegi, Vera Luening Challis and Fidelity Bank Foundation for financing our 2014 tulip display. It will be a spectacular mass of bright spring color and hopefully the right weather conditions so it can last awhile.
BELOW (left to right): Yumi Beauty Itoh Peony, Weeping Extraordinaire Double Flowering Cherry tree and Orangee Flame Oregon Grape Holly are a few of the new plants that may be coming to Botanica in 2014.
new varieties and diversity to it. Wow! I cannot thank them enough for what they do for Botanica’s aquatic collection.
Our 12,000 pansies planted last fall have suffered extensive leaf burn this winter due to extreme cold without sufficient snow cover. The center crowns are still green as of now, so in early March we will start pouring the liquid fertilizer on them to push them back into bloom. These are incredibly durable plants and it amazes me how most of them will bounce back and bloom. By mid April early May we will be installing the 25,000 summer annuals throughout the gardens. Annuals have helped Botanica carve our niche in the garden world. They allow us to offer large displays of color throughout the growing seasons. Annuals come in a wide range of bloom color and leaf variegation. In one season our annuals range from groundcovers to plants 12-15 feet tall. This allows us to divide our spaces and create a wow effect around every corner.
I want to recognize and thank two more highly important groups that make Botanica continue to grow. The garden volunteers and staff; without their endless hours of dedication and hard work Botanica would not exist. That said, it was suggested that we offer volunteer opportunities on Saturdays. This year we will have two paid gardeners here each Saturday so anyone can volunteer in the gardens from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday. We are also developing Cultivate Saturday on the third Saturday of each month April-October into an organized planting or work day in the gardens in hopes of reaching more people. If there are individuals interested in possibly working Saturday mornings or Tuesday or Thursday evenings when the gardens are open late, please call our volunteer director, Jodi McArthur, and we will start a list and find a staff gardener to stay and lead this group. We hope these changes make gardening easier for you to attend and more rewarding while you are here. Please let us know if you have any suggestions on improving your volunteer experience, as we are interested in making your volunteer time at Botanica a win-win experience for everyone. While I bring this article to a close, I invite each of our readers to bring a friend and visit the garden weekly the next three months. We will have 12,000 pansies, 120,000 daffodils, 56,000 tulips, 4,000 minor bulbs, 85 varieties of peonies and countless iris blooms all reaching peak bloom by the end of May, all with a backdrop of blossoms on our trees and shrubs throughout the gardens. Every visit you make will introduce you to new varieties and plants, so visit often. Thank you.
Last year I wrote of the heavy losses of pine in our Pinetum and how we were considering changing the garden’s name. The Firsching family requested the original plaque stay and another be added to it, so a new boulder has been set and two plaques now reside in the new John Firsching Pinetum and Evergreen Collections. Many of the new evergreens are thriving and more will be added this spring. The Kansas Pond Society will again spend Saturday morning, April 5 dividing Botanica’s water lily collection. This is a huge undertaking and the garden crew greatly appreciates the help. It is a huge, messy, heavy project that the club has done for years. They use it as a demonstration on how to divide, repot and replace the lilies in the pond. Club members and the public are invited to attend and observe or even help if they like. Botanica reaps the benefit of getting our entire collection done in one morning, and they are a great group to work with. We thank the Kansas Pond Society for their many years of great service to Botanica’s pond. This spring they extended their generosity and voted to donate cash and plants to Botanica’s collections to add
ABOVE LEFT: Tulips fill the garden near the Margie Button Memorial Fountain in a 2004 display. This year, 56,000 tulips will bloom throughout the gardens. ABOVE RIGHT: Daffodils bloom in masses around the gardens, totaling more than 120,000 daffodils.
March • April • May 2014
| Page 3
Tulip “Marianne”
Tulip “Cash”
New Tulip Varieties
Akebono Albert Heijn Avignon Cash Camargue Charming Beauty Dallas Daytona Double You Fostery King Exotic Emperor King’s Orange
Marianne Mascotte Orange Queen Red Cully Roi du Midi Salmon Pearl Sanne Sun Lover Synaeda Blue Topkapi Wallflower Wilja
Mother’s Day Mother’s Day in May seems an ideal combination in so many ways. Most years, you couldn’t ask for better weather or more beautiful flowers blooming in the garden. This year we hope will be no exception. Sunday, May 11 Botanica will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 and all moms and grandmas get in free. Members are also free. There are several ways for you to celebrate mom with us at Botanica. In addition to the gardens, moms can participate in any of our additional events: Decorate a silk scarf for $10, have tea on the terrace from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $5 or buy a “Cheers to my Sweet Mom” mimosa and chocolate pairing, $10. For the mom who has everything, give the gift that gives back all year with a membership to Botanica. Buy your membership by May 3 and save $5. Call Kathy Osler at
Page 4 | www.botanica.org
Tulip “Sun Lover”
Mother’s Day May 11 11 am - 5 pm
Gial and Marge Kaegi Vera Luening Challis Tulips, Fairies & Friends will fill the gardens with a host of new performers, activities and crafts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday from March 22-April 19. This year also marks the 2nd annual Fairy House Competition and the introduction of the new Downing Children’s Garden mascot. Download the Fairy House Competition form at botanica.org, fill it out on pg. 7 or pick up a copy at Botanica. Admission is free with membership or general admission.
Every Saturday • • • • • •
Meet the new Downing Children’s Garden mascot At least 2 craft projects; crafts vary each Saturday Life size fairies will be visiting the garden Live performers, games, find your fairy name, gnome scavenger hunt and move and groove with the fairies and gnomes Papa Murphy’s will be selling pizza by the slice Vote for your favorite fairy house
March 22 • • •
Tiny Tea – Join us for a children’s tea with mini cupcakes from WOW Cakes (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) Unveiling the Downing Children’s Garden mascot Cast your vote to name the Downing Children’s Garden mascot
March 29 •
Cast your vote to name the Downing Children’s Garden mascot
April 5 •
Cast your vote to name the Downing Children’s Garden mascot
April 12 • • • •
Fairy house competition entry is due Announce the name of the new mascot at Noon Auditions held for the Voice of the Children’s Garden mascot. 3:30 -5 p.m. Hands on projects with Wichita Center for the Arts
April 19 • • • •
Egg hunt and Easter Bunny visit (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) Announce the voice of the mascot, Noon Announce the winner of the fairy house competition, 2 p.m. Songs from Frozen the movie performed by the Studio Singers, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
March • April • May 2014
| Page 5
Downing Children’s Garden comes to life with new Mascot Cast your vote to name the mascot and audition to become the voice of the mascot. Inspired by the Downing Children’s Garden logo, Botanica has developed a colorful and whimsical caricature that represents the creative nature of the Children’s Garden. Designed by Mary Corbett, the butterfly pictured to the right will represent the Downing Children’s Garden. The mascot will also be used to represent other childthemed events and possible future garden promotions. The mascot costume is in production now and will be introduced to the public on March 22 during the Tulips, Fairies and Friends event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cast your vote for the mascot’s name! But a mascot without a name is just a costume, and that’s where you come in! Kids age 14 and under can cast their vote using the entry form below and submit it by 5 p.m. April 11. Votes can be submitted in person or mailed to Botanica via the address below.
Be the voice of the Downing Children’s Garden mascot! In addition, Botanica is looking for a child to become the voice of the mascot. We’re looking for an articulate, young and enthusiastic voice. The competition is open to anyone 14 and under. The voice would be used for promotional and advertising purposes including but not limited to radio and TV. Auditions will take place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on April 12 at Botanica. Any questions or concerns can be addressed the day of the auditions. We look forward to seeing you at the auditions and receiving your ideas for the name of the new mascot. Winners of both contests will receive a family membership to Botanica, including renewing members.
----------------------------------------------MASCOT NAME ENTRY FORM---------------------------------------------Child’s Name: ______________________________________Phone: ___________________________________ Mascot Name (one name only): _______________________________________________________ I want my child’s name to remain anonymous to everyone but the judges.
Mail to Botanica, Inc. Attn: Neva Thiessen, 701 Amidon, Wichita, Kansas 67203. Must be received by April 11.
Page 6 | www.botanica.org
Fairy House Competition Sponsored by:
A fairy house, or gnome home, is a small structure built in the woods, usually found at the base of a tree or in lower branches alongside a mossy tree stump, or driftwood on a beach. Building materials include natural things found in the woods.
Construction Requirements: •
Must be made of only elements found in nature (Examples: Twigs, bark, grass, pinecones, etc.)
•
Dimensions must be no bigger than 3’x 2’
•
All houses must be mounted on a flat base that is NOT required to be natural material.
•
All entries must be submitted by 5 p.m., April 12
Enter to Win Participants must bring their completed fairy homes,
Judging is based on these requirements.
registration form and $5 entry fee payable by cash or check to Botanica March 22 – April 12. All fairy homes will be on display during the Tulips, Fairies & Friends event. • •
1st Place winner will receive a $50 gift certificate from Johnson’s Garden Centers and a 1-year Botanica membership. 2nd Place winner will receive (1) Family pass to Botanica’s BOOtanica fall festival.
Winners will be announced on April 19 at 2 p.m. at the Downing Children’s Garden Amphitheater. Fairy homes must be picked up by 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. For questions on competition rules email Neva Thiessen at nthiessen@botanica.org.
--------------------------------------------------REGISTRATION FORM------------------------------------------------Name: _________________________________________________________ Age: 0-5 years
6-12 years
13+ years
Address: ________________________________________________________ City: ___________________________________
State: ________ Zip code: _______________________
Phone Number: ____________________________________
March • April • May 2014
| Page 7
Lunchtime
LECTURES
Every Wednesday • 12:15 to 1 p.m. Lectures are included with membership or admission
Planting in Unusual Pots and Containers
Symphony in the Flint Hills
Join horticultural therapist Katie Nance as she selects and plants unique flowers in unusual containers.
April 16 • 12:15-1 p.m.
March 5 • 12:15-1 p.m.
The Symphony in the Flint Hills is an adventure where nature and the symphony come together for a magical experience of a lifetime. Join Christy Davis, Executive Director of the Symphony in the Flint Hills, as she talks about this year’s June performance.
Drift Roses
April 23 • 12:15-1 p.m.
Dan Suderman with the Wichita Rose Society will talk on drift roses. These low maintenance plants will be featured for this year’s rose sale.
A Fairy World
Tarragon, Herb of the Year 2014
Join Karen Hull from Johnson’s Garden Center as she tells how to construct a fairy garden or fairy house. You may get some ideas for Botanica’s upcoming Fairy House Competition.
Kay Neff of Neff Family Farm will present information on growing and using tarragon. As always, Kay will have free samples and recipes.
March 12 • 12:15-1 p.m.
2014 New Plants of Arnold’s Greenhouse
April 30 • 12:15-1 p.m.
Let’s Talk Habitat May 7 • 12:15-1 p.m.
Join Ardath Lawson, biologist with Pheasants Forever, and discuss what we can do to improve habitat by planting native grasses and wildflowers for quail, pheasant, prairie chicken and other native Kansas wildlife. This presentation was cancelled in February due to snow.
March 19 • 12:15-1 p.m.
See some of the new roses, shrubs and perennials from Arnold’s Greenhouse. Rita Arnold will present this program.
Many Uses of Gourds
New Plant Selections of Kaw Valley Greenhouse
May 14 • 12:15-1 p.m.
March 26 • 12:15-1 p.m.
Planting time is upon us. Dan Parcel with Kaw Valley Greenhouse will share some of its exciting new selections.
Join the ladies from the Kansas Sunflower Gourd Group as they talk about growing and decorating gourds for their many uses. The ladies will have some of their gourds for sale.
Planting Perennials for Year Round Color
Hostas Are True Three Season Perennials
Lynn Behnke will tell you how to select perennials for year round color. Lynn is a Master Gardener and grew up in a family-owned greenhouse business.
Karl Miller of the Wichita Hosta Society will present this lecture on the three seasons of hostas. The Wichita Hosta Society will have hostas for sale.
Container Gardens and New Plants for 2014
Creating Natural Landscapes
May 21 • 12:15-1 p.m.
April 2 • 12:15-1 p.m.
May 28 • 12:15-1 p.m.
April 9 • 12:15-1 p.m.
Ron Marcum of Dutch’s Greenhouse will show how to use a variety of plants, including new plants for 2014, to create the perfect container. Ron will have some of the new plant selections for sale.
Lunchtime Lecture Caterers: March: Sweet Basil
April: Truffles
Page 8 | www.botanica.org
May: Syl’s
Master Gardener Cynthia Abbott will talk on native plants, which are particularly useful in south central Kansas for landscaping and restoring habitat.
Lunchtime Lectures sponsored by:
Birding 18 March
at Botanica 9 a.m.
15 April 20 May free with admission or membership
Art at Botanica Ausherman March: Kayann mixed media
April: May:
Kansas Association of Oil Painters Brad Schelton Photography
Lobby Art Sponsored by:
$3 Thursdays is now running
June July August open until 8 pm. March • April • May 2014
| Page 9
Page 10 | www.botanica.org MONDAY
23 30
Meeting, 1 p.m.
16 •Orchid Society
•Daylight Savings Time Begins
9
2
31
Daylily Club Mtg, 7 p.m.
24 •Prairie Winds
•Organic Garden 25 Club Meeting, 7 p.m.
•Spring Break Crafts in the Downing Children’s Garden, free to members, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
18 •Birding, 9 a.m.
17•Happy St. Patrick’s
Day! •Iris Club Meeting, 7 p.m.
Squirrel Tales, 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. (reservations required) •Rose Society and Bonsai Club Meetings, 7 p.m.
11 •Garden Sprouts:
10•Suburban Garden
Club Meeting, 9:30 a.m. •Daylily Club Meeting, 7 p.m.
4•Weed & Feed, 8 a.m.
TUESDAY
3
• Emprise Bank Lobby Gallery: Kayann Ausherman mixed media • Sweet Basil will serve lunch from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for $7
SUNDAY
March 2014 5
6
THURSDAY
“New Plant Selections of Kaw Valley Greenhouses,” 12:15 p.m. •Botanica Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
26 •Lunchtime Lecture
•Spring Break Crafts in the Downing Children’s Garden, free to members, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. •Lunchtime Lecture “2014 New Plants of Arnold’s Greenhouse,” 12:15 p.m.
19 •Garden Guide Meeting, 9 a.m.
Meeting, 9 a.m. •Volunteer Social/Game Day, 10 a.m. •Lunchtime Lecture “A Fairy World,” 12:15 p.m.
Dinner, 5:30 p.m.
27 •Volunteer Kick-Off
in the Downing Children’s Garden, free to members, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. •Herb and Hosta Society Meetings, 6 p.m. •Spring Begins
7
28
Meeting, 1 p.m.
14
•Home Grown Education: Birding, 1 p.m. (reservations required)
FRIDAY
Friends, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
29 •Tulips, Fairies &
Friends, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
15
8
1
SATURDAY
20 •Spring Break Crafts 21 •African Violet Club 22 •Tulips, Fairies &
12 •Friends of Botanica 13
•Home Grown •Lunchtime Lecture Birding, 1 p.m. “Symphony in the Flint Hills,” Education: (reservations required) 12:15 p.m. •Garden Council Meeting, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
March • April • May 2014
| Page 11
MONDAY
21 •Iris Club Meeting,
20 •Easter
27•Iris Show, 1 p.m.
1
•Organic Garden Club Meeting, 7 p.m.
2
3
THURSDAY
“Tarragon, Herb of the Year 2014,” 12:15 p.m.
“Drift Roses” 12:15 p.m. •Botanica Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Meeting, 9 a.m. •Lunchtime Lecture “Planting in Unusual Pots and Containers,” 12:15 p.m.
16 •Garden Guide
9
•Friends of Botanica Meeting, 9 a.m. •Volunteer Coffee, 10 a.m. •Lunchtime Lecture “Container Gardens and New Plants for 2014” 12:15 p.m.
17
10
•Home Grown •Lunchtime Lecture Fungi, 1 p.m. “Planting Perennials for Year Education: (reservations required) Round Color,” 12:15 p.m. •Garden Council Meeting, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
4
FRIDAY
18
•Tulip Sales Begin •Planting Day, 8 a.m. •African Violet Club Meeting, 1 p.m.
11
•Home Grown Education: Fungi, 1 p.m. (reservations required)
22 •Planting Day, 8 a.m. 23 •Lunchtime Lecture 24 •Planting Day, 8 a.m. 25
•Hosta and Herb Society Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
15 •Birding, 9 a.m.
8
•Garden Sprouts: Spring Alphabet Safari (reservations required) •Rose Society and Bonsai Club Meetings, 7 p.m.
•Weed & Feed, 8 a.m. •Summer Hours Begin
TUESDAY
28•Prairie Winds Daylily 29 •Planting Day, 8 a.m. 30 •Lunchtime Lecture
Club Meeting, 7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Club Meeting, 9:30 a.m. •Daylily Club Meeting, 7 p.m.
14•Suburban Garden
13 •Daffodil Show,
1 p.m.
7
6
• Emprise Bank Lobby Gallery: Kansas Association of Oil Painters • Truffles Catering will serve lunch from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for $7
SUNDAY
April 2014 5
and Seed Bombing, 11 a.m.
26•Eco-Awareness Day
•Cultivate Saturday, 8 a.m.
Friends, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
19 •Tulips, Fairies &
•Tulips, Fairies & Friends Voice of the Mascot Auditions, 3:30 p.m.
12
•Tulips, Fairies & Friends, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
•Tulips, Fairies & Friends, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. •Girl Scouts: Spring has Sprung, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (reservations required)
SATURDAY
Page 12 | www.botanica.org MONDAY
19 •Iris Club Meeting,
26
18 •Orchid Society
25
Meeting, 1 p.m.
•Memorial Day •Prairie Winds Daylily Club Meeting, 7 p.m.
7 p.m.
•Suburban Garden Club Meeting, 9:30 a.m. •Iris Club and Rose Society •Daylily Club Meeting, Shows, Prairie Winds Daylily 7 p.m. Society Sale 11 a.m.
12
5
11 •Mother’s Day, 11 a.m.
•Prairie Winds Daylily Sale, 1 p.m.
4
• Emprise Bank Lobby Gallery: Brad Schelton Photography • Syl’s will serve lunch from 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for $7
SUNDAY
TUESDAY
7
Meeting, 7 p.m.
8
“Creating Natural Landscapes,” 12:15 p.m. •Botanica Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Riverfest Button
29•$3 admission with
22•Blooms, Brews &
Bloody Marys, 6:30 p.m. •Lunchtime Lecture “Hostas (reservations required) are True Three-Season Perennials,” 12:15 p.m.
21 •Garden Guide Meeting, 9 a.m.
Meeting., 9 a.m. •Volunteer Social/Game Day, 10 a.m. •Lunchtime Lecture “Many Uses of Gourds,” 12:15 p.m.
1
THURSDAY •Planting Day, 8 a.m. •Home Grown Education: Pollinators, 1 p.m. (reservations required)
14 •Friends of Botanica 15
•Lunchtime Lecture “Let’s Talk Habitat,” 12:15 p.m. •Garden Council Meeting, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
27•Organic Garden Club 28•Lunchtime Lecture
•Hosta and Herb Society Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
20 •Birding, 9 a.m.
Going Batty, 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. (reservations required) •Rose Society and Bonsai Club Meetings 7 p.m.
13 •Garden Sprouts:
•Planting Day, 8 a.m. •Weed & Feed, 8 a.m.
6
May 2014 2
Riverfest Button
30•$3 admission with
23
Meeting, 1 p.m. •Moonlight Meadow Campout, 5:30 p.m. (reservations required)
Riverfest Button
31•$3 admission with
24
8 a.m. •Girl Scouts: Juniors Flower Badge Workshop Workshop, 10 a.m. (reservations required)
Daisy Badge Workshop, 10 a.m. (reservations required)
10 •Girl Scouts: Clover
3
SATURDAY
16 •African Violet Club 17 •Cultivate Saturday,
9
•Home Grown Education: Pollinators, 1 p.m. (reservations required)
FRIDAY
Volunteers
Call Jodi McArthur
at 316.264.0448 ext. 103 or visit botanica.org to sign up or for more information!
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Spring Kick-off Dinner Wear your favorite sports attire and come “kick-off” the new season with our spring event at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 27. Whether a veteran volunteer or just starting, you won’t want to miss this fun evening. Meet new people and learn about the activities and plans scheduled for 2014. Main dish will be provided by our sponsor, The Regent. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share and RSVP by Friday, March 21. Guests and potential volunteers are welcome.
Tulips, Fairies and Friends Boys and girls alike will love the spring activities and crafts we have planned each Saturday, March 22 through April 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Your help is needed in facilitating the fun for any of the dates.
Butterfly Festival In conjunction with The Wichita River Festival, Botanica will host a Butterfly Festival on June 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. with the seasonal re-opening of our Butterfly House. Volunteers will be needed to welcome and assist guests in this special event.
Garden Guide Meetings If you love sharing nature with others, please consider becoming a garden guide. Learn more about this opportunity at monthly meetings held the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
Volunteer Coffees & Social/Game Days These fun bi-monthly meetings and socials are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month. In April, attend our Volunteer Coffee where we will discuss upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. For March and May, bring a game or snack to share and enjoy the interaction with others at our Social/ Game Days open to volunteers and members. Both activities are sponsored by The Regent Retirement Living and The Spice Merchant.
Volunteer Coffee: Bi-monthly Wednesday, April 9: 10 a.m.
Volunteer Social/Game Day Wednesdays, 10 a.m. March 12 & May 14
Coffee and other fine gifts also provided by The Spice Merchant
Volunteer Spring Kick-Off Dinner Thursday, March 27, 5:30 p.m.
Garden Guide Meetings
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. March 19, April 16 & May 21
Weed & Feeds: 1st Tuesday of each month 8 a.m. to Noon March 4, April 1 & May 6
Cultivate Saturday: 3rd Saturday of each month 8 a.m. to Noon April 19 & May 17
Summer Annual Planting Days 8 a.m. to Noon April 18, 22, 24, 29 & May 1, 6
Special Events:
Tulips, Fairies & Friends: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays: March 22, 29 & April 5, 12, 19 Butterfly Festival 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, June 1
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS! March • April • May 2014
| Page 13
Page 14 | www.botanica.org
Butterfly Festival June 1 Botanica is teaming up with the Wichita Riverfest to host a Butterfly Festival on June 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. The festival marks the seasonal re-opening of the Butterfly House. Admission is $3 with Riverfest Button. Regular admission or membership applies. The First 100 Children Can Release a Butterfly Inside the Butterfly House
Butterfly Tattoos
Free Snow Cones
Dress Up as a Butterfly
Butterfly Games
(with any purchase)
Butterfly Education
March • April • May 2014
| Page 15
Education Home Grown Education
Garden Sprouts
Bring your budding botanists to Botanica for an incredible learning experience! Topics will be related to plant and animal life in the garden. Each class will include: instructional teaching, hands-on learning projects, and (weather permitting) activities in the gardens. Lessons are designed for early elementary (K-5th) and follow curriculum guidelines.
Come to the garden with your preschool aged child (3-5) for an opportunity to explore nature together. Each month we focus on a theme from the garden using children’s literature, games, eco-art and a scrumptious snack.
Classes are Thursdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. only
Tuesday, March 11: Squirrel Tales
Cost: $7, $21 cap per family
Get silly with squirrel stories and snacks
$5 for Botanica members; $15 cap per family Class limit 15 per session
Thursday, March 6th & 7th: Birding Enjoy a bird walking tour
Thursday, April 3rd & 4th: Fungi Calling all spore hunters!
Thursday, May 1st & 2nd: Pollinators See the garden as a food factory
Junior Gardener Classes are every 2nd Sunday from 2-4 p.m. April-October Gardeners grades 3rd-5th will meet in the Downing Children’s Garden where they will tend their own raised garden bed through the seasons. Each session involves hands on projects that teach the basics of gardening. $49, $35 Botanica members Class size is limited to 15 gardeners, therefore requires all classes be paid in advance. There will be no refund for missed classes. All Junior Gardeners will receive a Children’s Garden T-shirt. Extension activity book for further studies is available for order upon request.
Planting seeds Growing Minds Page 16 | www.botanica.org
Classes are at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. $9, $6 for Botanica members
Tuesday, April 8: Spring Alphabet Safari An ABC exploration of the garden
Tuesday, May 13: Going Batty
Discover these funny faced creatures Programs are limited to 15 children per session and pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Registration and payment must be made by 5 p.m. the Friday before the class. Fees are $9/$6 members. One adult is included with each child. Children under 6 must accompany an adult. Additional non-member adults must pay regular admission. Refunds will be made for cancellations made 24 hours before the class. We are not able to issue refunds after that deadline.
Reservation Contact For reservations, please contact Karla Jahn at (316) 264-0448 ext. 115.
Spring Break Crafts in the Downing Children’s Garden! March 18-20 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular admission or membership applies
Young Women as Leaders: Girl Scout Classes Botanica invites Girl Scouts of all levels to visit our garden to learn about plants, garden creatures and environmental stewardship. Programs help Scouts earn badges.
Saturday, April 5: Spring has Sprung, 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Brownies and Daisies will take a trip through the seasons by exploring the presence of wind, water and the sun. You will assemble your own backyard weather observation kit.
Saturday, May 10: Clover Daisy Badge Workshop, 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17: Juniors Flower Badge Workshop, 10 a.m. To register for any of these classes, please visit www.kansasgirlscouts.org/events and select the class title. For program questions, please contact Kate Sheppard at (316) 264-0448 ext. 113.
Moonlight Meadow Campout: Friday, May 16, 5:30 p.m. to Saturday, May 17, 7 a.m. Children ages 3-12: $12, $10 for Botanica members Adults: $15, $13 for Botanica members Back by popular demand! Join the Education staff from dusk till dawn to explore the gardens like never before. Pack your tent and sleeping bags for a night under the stars. Enjoy a series of night hikes to explore nocturnal plants and creatures. Devour mouthwatering S’mores while being entertained around the campfire by The KBA Treblemakers. Dinner and breakfast are provided. For reservations, please contact Karla Jahn at (316) 264-0448 ext. 115.
The KBA Treblemakers will perform during the Moonlight Meadow Campout on Friday, May 16.
Enhance your experience with an eco-explorer bag filled with items to make your nature discoveries even more exciting!
Daisy Girl Scouts earn badges at Botanica through workshops in the garden. Photo by Janie Lang
Check out an eco-explorer bag next time you’re at Botanica. (details at front desk) March • April • May 2014
| Page 17
Supporting Memberships
TRIBUTES
Donations received Nov. 2013 - Jan. 2014
In Memory
John Coultis Richard Smith & Sondra Langel Dick Weidenbach Robert ‘Bob’ Hay Del & Jacque Gegen Jerry Gegen Dr. Douglas Horbelt Associates in Women’s Health, P.A. M. Louise Beren Joe & Sandee Francel Jim Harris & Patricia Wyatt-Harris Jerry Howell Joan Loehr Dixie Madden Bradley & Carolyn Post Richard Smith & Sondra Langel Gary & Janis Snow Gene & Kristen Stohs University of Kansas- School of Medicine Darren & Emily Webb Dick Weidenbach Geneva Wheeler Richard & Margaret Wieland Dana & Mary Ann Winkler June Updegrove Susan Castle Mary Cline Rebecca Cole Linda Domingo Tom Gardner Dwight & Vicki Hemmerling Patricia Hendrickson Sarah Hendrixson Andrea Henne Arliss & Evelyn Henricks Mrs. William Hutchinson Al & Jan Lindwall Donald & Del Jeane Nash Patty Robertson Homer & Esther Smith
Bill & Velda Updegrove Ken & Glenda Vogel Violet Wilson Linda, Andrea, Kelly Clough Blake & Lynn Roberts Brook Roberts Gene & Janice Sharp Dale Zogleman
Additional memorials for: Maybelle Bales Ed Quick
Engraved Bricks & Pavers Mike Kandt GMLV Architecture
Kathryn Molamphy David Molamphy & family Lee Crawford Dolores F. Schonberg Jennifer Lynn Wilson Paulette Mattingly Wesley & Edith Williams Walter & Robbie Williams Wes Williams Lloyd & Verlene Williams Dick Weidenbach Dee Hartman Junior League Gardeners Glennis Turney Rothhammer Family Edgar Yvette Tasha Penner
Brick & Paver Order
Seed: Carl & Diane Caton Vivian Casteel Dr. & Mrs. Shaker Dakhil Will & Courtney Darrah Charles & Jenette Drake Sara Dunne Wes & Angie Etheredge Jim & Diane Felt Ivan & Rose Anne Frey Ken Gable James & Karen Graves Jim & Barbara Hoppins Wanda Maxton Mr. & Mrs. Bill McCabe Janet Miller June Moore Ronald & Pat Myers Mr. & Mrs. Innes Phillips Jim & Deneen Pope Scott & Diane Post Linda Reazin Mark & Blair Rogers John & Monica Schlegel Peter & Cathy Schrepferman Jay & Debbie Smith Jason Stucky Ray & Carolyn Waller Sprout: Scott & Kathy Bagwell Bud: Martin & Terri Dondlinger Bloom: Jay Hsu
Recent Gifts: Roy & Ann Baker Bank of the West Winnette Berger Capitol Federal Foundation Mrs. Charles Q. Chandler III Dr. & Mrs. Gregory Duick Fahnestock Justus Fugate Jeannette Fuller James Garvey Family Charitable Trust Garvey Kansas Foundation Bud & Toni Gates Great Plains Communications James & Shari Hand House of Schwan Rex Johnston Estate Mike & Linda Kizzire
John & Ruth Krueger Lattner Family Foundation, Inc. Legend Senior Living, LLC Vera Luening Challis Lusk Family Foundation Meg Mathewson Mrs. Jayne Milburn Janet Miller Joe & Trudy Miller Bob & Evelyn Neier Kevin & Kelsey Nichols A Scott Ritchie Trust Stone Family Foundation Don Strong TCK The Trust Company of Kansas Paula Varner Mr. & Mrs. Byrne Vickers Velma Wallace Estate Westar Energy Matthew & Janice Wunderlich Barbara Yarnell Chamberlin
Annual Appeal:
SOWER: Dean & Ann Becker Drs. Duane & Norma Benton Berry Foundation Beverly Bolton Mary Ann Chitwood Helen Cole John Edmundson Jack Focht & Gloria Farha Flentje Dave & Deb Girrens Ms. Jeananne Hampel William & Marlene Hayes William & Nancy Hercher Gwendolyn Jager James Jantz Mr. Moe Johnson Anne Jones Gary & Marilyn Jones Samuel & Kay Jones Richard & Diane Klingman Derry & Kay Larson Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Liby Mrs. Diane Martin Mark & Barbara Martin Leonard & Betty McGinty Polly McGreevy Margaret McKinney Dr. Barry & Jane Murphy Philip & Cherri Murray Judy Naylor Ed & Carol Nazar Duane & Dixie Petersen Christine Phillips Nona Ponder
Custom Bricks and Pavers are a great way to honor a loved one. Bricks and Pavers are available in specific gardens and orders are made four times a year. The deadlines are March 31, June 30, Sept. 30 and Dec. 31. For questions or to place an order, please contact Kathy Osler at kosler@botanica.org or (316) 264-0448 ext. 107. The form can also be downloaded at botanica.org. • Engraved brick on the Button Fountain Tribute Pathway ($100) • Engraved brick on the Downing Children's Garden Rainbow Trail ($250) • One 12"x12" paver in the Downing Children's Garden ($500) • Four 12"x12" pavers in the Downing Children's Garden ($1,750 for four)
Page 18 | www.botanica.org
John Rigby Carey Donald Sbarra Charitable Foundation Mr. & Mrs. James Taylor Bill & Barbara Thompson Michael & Victoria Whitworth Patsy Wisdom Mr. Gary Wood Steven & Kitchel Woods Robert Xidis Jeanne Yeung PLANTER: Zach & Leilah Farha Charitable Foundation Inc. Tom Kirk PROPAGATOR: The Galichia Foundation, Inc. Steve & Janet Hamous Fern Kleinsorge Dr. Richard & Susan Skibba CULTIVATOR: James Garvey Family Charitable Trust Simpson Construction Services, Inc. M. Elizabeth Stables
Annual Appeal in Memory or Tribute To: SOWER: Janice Tener Don Tener
PROPAGATOR: Elaine Tischhauser Aleta Gile CULTIVATOR: Kathleen Anderson Thornton Anderson Mary Ann Harrison Roy & Ann Baker
In Kind: ABC Discount Wine & Liquor Atomic Billboard Clear Channel Billboard Entercom Radio Justus Fugate Global Wine & Spirits Johnson’s Legacy Landscapes JT’s Liquor Kake TV KMUW KSAS TV KSN TV McClelland Sound, Inc. Office Aide Donna Robuck The Spice Merchant
Eco-Art Day Seed Bombing & Guerilla Gardening
In cooperation with an Eco-Art project created by Elizabeth Stevenson of Fisch Haus and Jamie Tabor of The Non-Toxic Beauty Shop, both located in the Commerce Street Art District, Botanica is hosting a seed bombing on April 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free with membership or general admission. The goal is to create a green art corridor along Commerce Street, collaborating with the neighborhood and community as a whole, to raise awareness about this type of gardening in Wichita.
The preparation component of the Eco-Art project will kick-off at Botanica at a fun, kid-friendly afternoon of seed bomb creation. Materials will be provided along with instruction on how to assemble and plant seed bombs. Kids can make one to take home as well as one for the Eco-Art project. For details on seed bombs visit http://m.wikihow. com/Make-a-Seed-Bomb. Special attention will be paid to the type of seeds that are being included in each bomb. A map of Commerce Street will be provided, with potential gardening plots identified. Participants are encouraged to envision the entire street like a canvas. The seed bombs will be planted along Commerce Street shortly after the event. A plant “painting” contest will take place prior to
Eco-Art Day. Artists are encouraged to create a “painting” using plants. Photos of artwork by renowed Kansan earthwork artist Stan Herd will be available for reference, as well as other contemporary/ green wall/surface artwork. The winning image will be planted in the garden of The Non-Toxic Beauty Shop. For details on the contest, please email info@fischhaus.com. This type of “guerilla gardening” movement is gaining traction in North America and throughout Europe. The Commerce Street Art Distict and Botanica are excited to propel the concept forward here in Wichita.
Donor Spotlight A true supporter
Colby B. Sandlian has been in the commercial investment real estate business in Wichita for over 50 years and is one of the city’s most accomplished real estate professionals. In addition to the many awards, accolades and successes he has enjoyed, Sandlian is a devout giver to our community. His name is frequently found on projects throughout the community; a sponsor for special events of the arts and a supporter of different programs, all which make Wichita a better place to
live and raise a family. Sandlian has acquired a reputation for honesty and integrity in his career as well as in his personal life. Many of the non-profit organizations in our community would not be successful without his generosity. Botanica is no stranger to Sandlian’s generosity. He has always supported Botanica’s appeals and special programming. One of his favorite ways to assist Botanica is being a major donor for Illuminations, our holiday light show. His backing for Illuminations has transformed the Downing Children’s Garden with
lights and music. There are not many individuals who contribute to so many different things. Mr. Sandlian is one of those people who knows the benefits of making Wichita great by making sure our museums, gardens, cultural centers and neighborhoods are the best for our city. Thanks Colby for all you have done for us!
March • April • May 2014
| Page 19
In The Gardens
Above from left to right: Children make crafts during Botanica’s Family Fun Fair on Feb. 1. The word Botanica is spelled out in the Downing Children’s Garden during Illuminations, which had more than 34,000 visitors this year. Santa reads to children during Spaghetti with Santa on Dec. 9. Volunteers, pictured to the right, are the driving force behind the Family Fun Fair.
Page 20 | www.botanica.org
at Botanica
Save The Date
Saturdays, March 22- April 19: Tulips, Fairies & Friends. Every Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular admission or membership applies. Sunday, May 11: Mother’s Day. Moms in FREE. Everyone else is $5. Thursday, May 22: Blooms, Brews & Bloody Marys, $40, $30 members and YPW members, 6:30 p.m. Reservations required. Sunday, June 1: Butterfly Festival in conjunction with the Wichita Riverfest. Admission is $3 with Riverfest button. Regular admission or membership applies. Sunday, June 15: Father’s Day. Dads in FREE. Everyone else is $5.
ACROSS 1. Family nickname 4. Blocks 8. Head for the hills 12. Parking place 13. Touch on 14. Croquet area 15. Capt.’s prediction 16. In ___ (as found) 17. Regarded guardedly 18. Relinquished 20. Wonderland drink 22. Schnozzola 23. Discoverer of New Zealand 27. Divvy up 29. Boeing 747, e.g. 30. Australian bird 31. Even 32. Rotter 33. Token taker 34. Downs’ opposite 35. Driving danger 36. Prepares food 37. Trojan War figure 39. “Well done!” 40. Female lobster 41. Funny business 44. 1973 Supreme Court decision name 47. Train sound 49. Cry at a circus 50. Hoot 51. Slime 52. Afternoon hour in Italy 53. Pool site, maybe 54. Oktoberfest serving 55. Stitch up
DOWN 1. Lot 2. Speck 3. ___ steel 4. Most ignoble 5. Tolerate 6. Groove 7. Job for a speech coach 8. Boxer’s bane 9. Nonclerical 10. Merino mother 11. Conclude 19. Empty 21. Fast no more 24. Tuneful 25. Every which way 26. Wacko 27. Overpower 28. Water carrier 29. Wine container 32. Maize core 33. Lampblack 35. Antagonist 36. Eel 38. Eighth Greek letter 39. Wound dressing 42. Traffic director 43. Program 44. Like some smiles 45. Aspiration 46. Med school grad 48. Ground breaker
Puzzle answers from December 2013 - January - February 2014 issue.
GO GREEN! sign up to receive your cultivate online only VISIT
www.botanica.org/cultivate 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
27
29
31
44
45
25
26
42
43
36
38
39
40
41
46
24
33
35
37
11
30
32
34
10
21
23
28
9
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
© Lovatts Puzzles To purchase more puzzles visit our website www.lovattspuzzles.com
March • April • May 2014
| Page 21
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED 701 Amidon • Wichita, Kansas • 67203
Best People Photo, “Tori’s Enjoyment,” by LaVeta Doble Marty Miller Executive Director
Jodi McArthur Director of Volunteers
Alicia Shankle Education Specialist
Patrick McKernan Landscape Supervisor
Karla Jahn Tour Coordinator & Registrar
Kyle Christensen Administrative Assistant
Kathy Sweeney Director of Special Events
Garden Staff:
Kate Sheppard Director of Education
Janet Gordon
Neva Thiessen Downing Children’s Garden Daily Activities Coordinator
Kim Matthews
Jamee Ross Director of Development Kathy Osler Director of Membership Paula Englert Director of Finance Kristin Marlett Director of Marketing & Communications Linda Keller Private & Corporate Events Manager
Laurel Nichols Education Specialist
Connie Bell Andrew Jahn Laura Pham Albert Tack Shannon Vierthaler
Hours of Operation November-March Open Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
General Information 316.264.0448 The Gift Garden: ext. 106 Class Registration ext. 115 Available Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Hours of Operation April-October Open Monday - Saturday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Open Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday & Thursday through September
Donations & Planned Giving ext. 105 Event Information ext. 110 Facilities Rentals ext. 104 Membership ext. 107 Memorial Gifts ext. 107 Volunteer Services ext. 103
Botanica is maintained by Botanica, Inc. in cooporation with the City of Wichita Department of Parks & Recreation.
Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, shall be a significant horticultural display garden for the enjoyment and education of the community that sets the standard of excellence for botanical gardens in the Midwest.