DATE: March 26, 2009
CONTACT:
Claiborne Linvill, 864-656-6205
linvill@clemson.edu
WRITER:
Claiborne Linvill, 864-656-6205
linvill@clemson.edu
S.C. Botanical Garden and Bob Campbell Geology Museum April classes and events
CLEMSON — These are the events planned in April at the S.C. Botanical Garden and Bob Campbell Geology Museum. For additional event information visit: www.clemson.edu/scbg. Register in advance by calling 864-656-3405 or e-mail scbg@clemson.edu.
Spring Plant Sale
The semi-annual plant sale is the S.C. Botanical Garden’s biggest fundraising effort and a wonderful opportunity to find unique, hard-to-find and hardy plants grown to thrive in Zone 7. Master Gardeners of the Foothills and S.C. Botanical Garden staff will be on hand to help you select the best perennials and shrubs for your landscape. Come early for the best selection. For more information, visit www.clemson.edu/public/scbg/events/plant_sale/.
Friday, April 24, 2:30-6 p.m.
Preview Plant Sale for Friends of the Garden only. New members may join at the gate ($35/individual or $50/family).
Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Public plant sale
Classes
Ongoing: Garden Yoga
Renee Gahan leads Vinyasa Yoga classes for every skill level. In Vinyasa yoga, students move through a series of postures focusing on the breath. Attention is paid to proper alignment and guidance is provided in how to develop poses in the body. For more information, visit Renee’s Web site: http://clemsonyoga.typepad.com/.
Time: 6-7:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m. Saturdays
Fee: $12 drop-in; $50 for five-class pass ($35 for full-time students); $60 for a monthly pass
Location: Hayden Conference Center in the S.C. Botanical Garden.
Friday, April 3
First Friday Garden Walk
Meet at the Red Caboose for a fun and informative walk with David Bradshaw or a garden staff member. Walks visit different areas of the garden each month. Wear comfortable shoes and appropriate dress for a one- to two-hour walk.
Time: 7 a.m.
Fee: Free
Location: Meet at the Red Caboose parking area at the S.C. Botanical Garden
Composting 101
Home composting diverts valuable organic materials from landfills, but more importantly provides a key ingredient of restoring a healthy soil food web. Join education staff members Lisa Wagner and Sue Watts to learn how to turn leaves, grass clippings, branches and kitchen scraps into healthy nutrient-rich soil. Learn how, why and what to compost; bin alternatives; and how to use compost. They’ll also demonstrate elements and designs of a successful worm bin, a productive way to compost kitchen waste. Time: 10 a.m.-noon
Fee: $25 ($20 for members and volunteers)
Location: Nature Learning Center in the S.C. Botanical Garden
Wednesday, April 8
Creating a drought-resistant garden
The continuing drought in the Upstate has been a significant stress for many plants, including usually tough species. Learn from Lisa Wagner how to make your garden less reliant on additional water through careful plant selection and mulching. Choosing drought-tolerant plants for different areas of a landscape and understanding the strategies they use to conserve water are keys to a successful waterwise landscape. Bring lunch, if you’d like.
Time: noon- 1 p.m.
Fee: $8 ($5 for members and volunteers)
Location: Hayden Conference Center in the S.C. Botanical Garden
Wednesday, April 8
Jewelry-Making Made Simple
The Geology Museum’s jewelry-making class will help you design and construct original, handmade jewelry featuring natural stones. You will learn the basics of closing a necklace, which string to use, how to use crimping pliers and much more. For the advanced, you will use wire, multiple strings and organza. If you’ve never made your own jewelry, or even if you are a pro, this is the class for you.
Each participant will create two pieces of jewelry.
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Fee: $28 includes materials ($25 for members)
Location: Campbell Geology Museum
You must pre-register by calling 864-656-3405.
Thursday, April 9
Spring Night Hike
Join naturalist Lisa Wagner for an evening hike in the garden. Experience the sights, sounds and sensations of a spring evening and see the rise of the full moon, if the weather permits. Please wear walking shoes and clothing appropriate for walking in the woods.
Time: 7- 9 p.m.
Fee: $7 per family (up to five) ($5 for members and volunteers)
Location: Meet at the Discovery Center Parking Area in the S.C. Botanical Garden
Friday, April 10
Jewelry Class: Wire Wrapping, Illusion & Organza Necklaces
Level: Beginner to Advanced
You must pre-register by calling 656-3405 one week before class
Wire Wrapping
You’ll learn how to make simple loops and wrapped loops, as well as a hook clasp.
Illusion and Organza Necklaces
These airy, lightweight necklaces use a scattering of beads to add interest. Experienced teachers will show how to get the beads to stay in place and how to get the beads on the ribbon. Learn to finish off with a professional closure using cones, too.
The fee includes all supplies and tools, but you may need reading glasses or a magnifying glass if you may have trouble seeing bead holes and a notebook and pen so you can remember what you learn.What to Bring to Class
The fee includes all supplies and tools, but you may need
• reading glasses or a magnifying glass if you may have trouble seeing bead holes
• notebook and pen
Time: 2-4: p.m.
Fee: $30 (members) $35 (non members), includes materials
Location: Bob Campbell Geology Museum
Tuesday, April 14
Drought-tolerant summer containers
Containers and window boxes don’t have to be ones that keep you watering twice a day. Mixing drought-tolerant annuals and perennials, herbs and hardy succulents in interesting combinations, using proper soil amendments, and making the right container choices can create attractive plantings that survive in heat and dry weather. Bring lunch along, if you’d like.
Time: noon-1 p.m.
Fee: $8 ($5 for members and volunteers)
Location: Hayden Conference Center in the S.C. Botanical Garden
Tuesday, April 14
Southern Fossil Shark-Quest
Museum curator Dave Cicimurri will present a lecture focusing on the types of sharks and rays found in the Southeast. Anyone planning to attend the Spring Shark Hunt will benefit from this hands-on experience. Cicimurri has been conducting scientific research on sharks, rays and other cartilaginous fish of prehistoric North America for 15 years.
Time: 4-6 p.m.
Fee: $10 ($8 for members and volunteers)
Location: Hayden Conference Center in the S.C. Botanical Garden
Wednesday, April 15
Nature Discovery Hike: Water Life Discovery
This walk is appropriate for all ages; however, strollers and other wheeled devices are not recommended. Inclement weather will cancel the hike.
Time: 11 a.m.-noon
Fee: $2 suggested donation
Location: Meet at the Discovery Center parking lot
Saturday, April 18
Garden Fest: Building Community, Growing Vegetables
Interested in growing your own vegetables, learning how to compost, finding out where to find locally grown food, learning how to transplant seedlings or swapping your gas mower for an electric one? Find out from from a variety of community organizations, Clemson University experts and local gardeners in this garden community event.
Time: 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Fee: Free
Location: Discovery Center parking area in the S.C. Botanical Garden
Saturday, April 18
Fossil Shark-Quest Expedition
(preregister by April 14)
Join museum curators for a trip 35 million years into the past. We’ll travel to a rich fossil locality in Georgia to collect fossilized shark teeth, turtle and crocodile bones and maybe even whale teeth or bones. This day trip will be full of history and discovery and perhaps you’ll find fossils of your own to take home. Because of the potentially dangerous nature of the site, all participants must be at least 10 years old and all children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Time: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Fee: $50 ($45 for Geology Museum members and volunteers). Lunch and transportation are provided.
Location: Meet at the Discovery Center parking lot in the S.C. Botanical Garden to travel together to Georgia.
Wednesday, April 22
Vegetable Gardening Basics
Do you want to try to grow some vegetables this year but don’t know where to start? Learn the basics of successfully growing warm-season vegetables in the Upstate in this program. Bring lunch along, if you’d like.
Time: noon-1 p.m.
Fee: $8 ($5 for garden members and volunteers)
Location: Hayden Conference Center in the S.C. Botanical Garden
Art gallery
Visit the Featured Artist Gallery in the Fran Hanson Discovery Center to see a rotating collection of artwork by artisans inspired by the materials, nature and beauty of the Upstate. Up to six artists at a time, all connected to the Upstate area, showcase their work together. At least one new artist rotates into the collection each month, so there's always something new to see. Artwork ranging from paintings to ceramics, baskets to photography, are available for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the South Carolina Botanical Garden.
The Fran Hanson Discovery Center also houses the Elizabeth Belser Fuller Gallery, permanently showcasing Fuller’s extensive collection of wildflower and nature paintings.
Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday to Saturday
Admission: Free
Location: The Fran Hanson Discovery Center in the S.C. Botanical Garden
Garden information
Be a Garden Volunteer
No matter what your background or the time you have available, there is a place for you at the S.C. Botanical Garden. Volunteer opportunities are available in grounds maintenance and gardening, education programs, special events and visitor services. Call the Garden at 864-656-3405 or e-mail scbg@clemson.edu or visit www.clemson.edu/scbg.
Special Event Planning at the Garden
Whether you’re planning a business meeting, party or wedding, the S.C. Botanical Garden offers a beautiful setting for your important day. Call Judith Gardner, garden rental manager, for more information at 864-656-3075, email scbg@clemson.edu or visit www.clemson.edu/scbg.
Garden gift shops
The Garden Gift Shop and the Campbell Geology Museum Gift Shop offer unique gifts for children and adults, including handcrafted items by local artists, gardening and geology books, T-shirts, local food items, jewelry and more. The shop is located at the Fran Hanson Discovery Center and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The Campbell Geology Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Call 864-656-3405 for more information.
Garden hours of operation
The South Carolina Botanical Garden is open from dawn until dusk 365 days a year.
The garden and geology museum are located on the Clemson University campus at the intersection of U.S. 76 and Perimeter Road. The garden encompasses 295 acres of display gardens, nature trails, woodlands and streams, and is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, free of charge. Contact Claiborne Linvill for more information at 864-656-3405 or scbg@clemson.edu.
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