Look what has landed at Botanica

Great Blue Heron by Dennis P. Anderson has landed at Botanica. This magnificent, stately bird will now permanently grace the northern bank of the Boeing Pond. Donated by the family and friends of Jim Bean, this sculpture radiates the beauty of flight and looks as if it is taking off to fly between the established trees surrounding the pond. Come take a look at our newest sculpture, as well as the waterlilies and other aquatic plants that are blooming on the pond now!

Peepholes In The Fence

Check out this blog from our friends at Simpson & Associates. It's completely dedicated to following the construction of our newest project, the Downing Children's Garden. See images from their perspective and words from their experiences here:

http://botanicachildrensgarden.blogspot.com/

Happy hour meets horticulture every Tuesday

Tuesdays on the Terrace has started the season off with two great performances by Amanda Lind and The Flatland String Band. Don't miss live music from 5:30-7:30pm, a cash bar with a featured drink each week and, of course, the beautiful gardens of Botanica. Happy hour meets horticulture every Tuesday night from June-September. Your garden admission or membership is your cover.

Upcoming performances include:

• June 15: Begonias and Blue Moon, live music by RKO Blues
• June 22: Moonflowers and Margaritas, live music by Bruce Huss
• June 29: Daisies and Dreamin' Caribbeans, live music by Samba Groove
• July 6: Cosmos and Cosmopolitans, live music by Mead Street Blues Reunion
• July 13: Wildflowers and Whiskey Sours, live music by the Irish Jam Band

Pack a picnic and join the crowd!

Memorial Day Fun

We had a great time on Memorial Day at Botanica. The Gardens were packed with guests, ready to see the Butterfly House, the irises, roses, peonies and more! The Wichita Community Concert Band played a great show, featuring American March music, and Hiland Dairy provided free ice cream! Thanks go to Downing & Lahey and to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, who sponsored the festive event for the community.

Check out our new ride

BIG THANKS go to Foley Equipment Company, who donated a Walker mower to Botanica. As we expand and take on additional acreage, a second mower will come in quite handy! Thanks to Foley for their in-kind contribution and their support of the Gardens.

Two new garden sculptures

Art and nature go hand in hand. At Botanica, the outdoor sculpture and other artistic features nestle in to complement the plant material and enhance the aesthetics of the Gardens and the visitor experience. We have two new sculptures being added to our permanent art collection.

Ceres: Goddess of Agriculture was the keeper of the harvest and was credited with teaching humans how to grow, preserve, and prepare grain and corn. This bronze rendering of Ceres was donated by the Parriott family in honor of Martha Parriott. The sculpture graced the courtyard of their family home for years and now has a home among the foliage in the Parriott Terrace Garden.

Great Blue Heron is a magnificent, stately bird that will permanently grace the northern bank of the Boeing Pond. Donated by the family and friends of Jim Bean, this sculpture radiates the beauty of flight.

Take the time on your next visit to look at these great new additions, as well as our complete outdoor sculpture collection and take in the beauty that occurs when art gracefully combines with nature.

Downing Children's Garden Groundbreaking

April 29 was an exciting day for Botanica, as well as for the Wichita area. With the help of our donors, volunteers, architects, contractors, community advocates, City representatives, staff and other friends, we officially broke ground on the Downing Children's Garden. You could see the excitement and anticipation on the faces of the sixty students from TOPS and The Independent School, who took great delight in moving soil with their small trowels (and on the faces of the big kids too!). Watch the area frequently for progress, as the face of the acreage will change quickly, creating a beautiful and flourishing garden that will provide opportunities for young minds to learn and explore nature.

Plant-A-Palooza

What a great time we had at our first Plant-A-Palooza preview party and rare plant auction on April 22. Despite rainy weather, our friends and garden enthusiasts had a blast in the Gardens- dining on our gourmet picnic fare, enjoying refreshing cocktails, shopping our plant sale and bidding/outbidding each other on a plethora of silent auction items. Thanks go to McCurdy Auction Services for an outstanding and humorous live auction, with some unique plants going to wonderful homes. This event was sponsored by Kaw Valley Greenhouses, The LDF Companies, McCurdy Auction, Justus Fugate, Law Offices of Henry & Mathewson, P.A. and Elton Parsons.