+ Orchids are for Everyone Potting Workshop – July 1
+ Qi Gong – July 5, 12, 19, 26
+ Palm Beach County Residents Day – July 8
+ The Sweet Life of Honey Bees & Honey Tasting – July 8
+ Dogs’ Day in the Garden – July 9
+ Beginning Watercolor – July 10, 17, 24, 31
+ Watercolor at the Garden – July 10, 17, 24, 31
+ Garden Explorers Summer Camp – July 10-14, 17-21, 24-28
+ Orchid Trilogy – July 15, 22, 29
(West Palm Beach, FL – June 12, 2023) Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden will be hosting 19 sizzling workshops, classes, and special events throughout the month of July, plus three fun and informative sessions of Garden Explorers Summer Camp for nature and science curious youngsters ages 7 to 11.
“July is the perfect month for people of all ages to come out and enjoy many of the happy and healthy horticultural events at our beautiful 20-acre oasis, located just minutes from downtown West Palm Beach,” invites Mounts Curator-Director Rochelle Wolberg. “And be sure to check out our new life-size giraffe family of sculptures, made from recycled oil drums, wandering to different spots throughout the Garden. By the way, the baby giraffe now has a name, Zahara, which means to shine and flower—as beautiful as Mounts in full bloom and as radiant as the shining sun.”
July 1, August 5
Year of the Orchid Event:
Mounts Botanical Garden & Tropical Orchid Society Present Orchids are for Everyone Potting Workshops
With Mike Sands
Saturday, 10:00 am to 11:15 am
FREE for members of West Palm Beach Orchid Society Members with proof of membership; $10 for Mounts members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission). Classes are nonrefundable.
Registration is required; class size is limited 30 adults.
Mike Sands, president of the Tropical Orchid Society, will instruct these monthly Orchid Potting Workshops will be held in the Mounts Botanical Garden Pavilion located just inside the main gate next to the new Welcome Center, the first Saturday of every month throughout the summer. Topics will include Mounting and Dividing (June 3), Pests and Diseases (July 1), and Native orchids of Florida (August 5). Students may bring one plant from home to repot during the workshop. Potting media, plastic pots, and orchids will be available for purchase.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-7/mounts.org
July 5, 12, 19, 26
Qi Gong
with Roxanne Cumberland
Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
$10 for members; $18 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission). Classes are nonrefundable.
Registration is required; size of “inside” classes is limited to 20 adults.
Relieve stress and increase metabolism, flexibility, and strength. Qi Gong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique. The exercises include simple, slow movements (which mimic nature), meditation, and focused breathing—similar to Tai Chi but less structured.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-7/mounts.org
July 8
Palm Beach County Residents Day
Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm (last entry at 2 pm)
Palm Beach County residents receive reduced admission of $5 per person (children 17 and under FREE) on the second Saturday of each month. Visitors must show proof of residency for reduced-fee entry. The $5 admission will go directly to support children’s programming at Mounts Botanical Garden.
Note: Admission for non-residents is$15 for nonmember adults; $12 for seniors 65+, college students, and military with ID; $7 for ages 6-17.
July 8
The Sweet Life of Honey Bees and Honey Tasting
with Joanna Diamond
Saturday, 10:00 am to Noon
$25 for members; $35 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; all classes are non-refundable; class size is limited to 25 adults.
Enter the enchanting and fascinating world of honey bees, discover little known but intriguing facts about them, and learn how you can help our tiny, humble, hardworking friends to help us. Find out what challenges they face, dispel myths, and find out why beekeeping is so mesmerizing. Under the direction of Beekeeper Joanna Diamond, delve into the incredible edible world of honey and explore other magical bee products. Meet charming little Orchid Bees and enjoy an in-depth honey tasting session. Organic honey will be available for purchase after class, as well as a few orchid bee feeders.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-7/mounts.org
July 9
Dogs’ Day in the Garden
Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm (last entry at 2 pm)
FREE for MBG members and children under 6; $15 for nonmember adults; $15 for seniors 65+, college students, and military with ID; $7 for children 6-17. Ticket includes full Garden admission.
This dog-and-family-friendly monthly event is held throughout the Garden. Bring your favorite pooch and enjoy a relaxed garden stroll. There are many great spots to capture family photos for posting online with #mountsbotanicalgarden.
Guidelines:
+ Non-retractable leashes only; retractable leashes are not permitted.
+ No more than one dog per adult will be admitted.
+ Rabies vaccination must be current.
+ Visitors should bring their own water and treats for the puppies.
+ For all Dogs’ Day rules, please visit www.mounts.org/dogs-day.
July 10, 17, 24, 31
Watercolor at the Garden
With Carl Stoveland
Mondays, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
$20 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission). Classes are nonrefundable.
Registration is required; class size is limited to 15 adults.
Join artist Carl Stoveland and share the love of art and nature with fellow art enthusiasts. This class is for adults only. Bring your pencils, pens, paints sketchpad or watercolor pad, (or journal) and your favorite photographic device (i.e., cell phone camera or tablet). Some experience preferred. True newbies should consider the beginners class. Each week or two, the class will start a new painting project. Time will be split between demos by Stoveland and supervised painting time for participants. Subjects will be chosen by the instructor with assistance from the class.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-7/mounts.org
July 10, 17, 24, 31
Beginner Watercolor
with Carl Stoveland
Tuesdays, 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
$20 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission). Classes are nonrefundable.
Registration is required; class size is limited to 15 adults.
If you have always wanted to try watercolor but been overwhelmed by it then this is the class for you. Geared toward novice watercolor enthusiasts, this class will focus on the basics, focusing on a new technique and a simple painting each week. Join artist Carl Stoveland and share your love of art and nature with fellow art enthusiasts. This class is for adults only. Bring pencils, pens, paints sketchpad or watercolor pad, (or journal) and your favorite photographic device (i.e., cell phone camera or tablet). Each week or two, the class will start a new painting project. Time will be split between demos by Stoveland and supervised painting time for participants. Subjects will be chosen by the instructor with assistance from the class.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-7/mounts.org
July 10-14, 17-21, 24-28
Garden Explorers Summer Camp
Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
$250 for members; $290 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission).
(An extra $50 per camper will cover extended care, 8 to 9 am and 3 to 4 pm).
Registration is required; each session is limited to 20 campers.
Eco-conscious and green-leaning kids can register for one, two, or all three weeklong camps because each one will offer something new and different. Activities will take place both outside and indoor, so campers will have access to a cool, dry space in the event of excessive heat or rain. Fun and informative experiences will include:
- Become a junior wetlands water quality and conservation specialist by taking part in hands-on lab activities.
- Become a budding soil scientist by getting a close-up, “dirty hands” look at the properties of mud.
- Become a blooming horticulturist by discovering the wicked, dangerous, sticky, deceptive and downright incredible adaptations plants have developed to help them survive.
- Become a botanist-to-be by attending a dissection lab for an inside look at the fascinating structures of seeds and flowers.
- Become an aspiring agriculturalist by touring the edible gardens at Mounts and learning how to grow and nurture tasty fruits and vegetables.
- Become an edible gardener by making healthy garden snacks.
Notes:
+ For each session of the Garden Explorers Summer Camp, young participants should bring a refillable water bottle, a healthy lunch, a hat, sunscreen, and bug repellant.
+ For each camper, Mounts will provide materials for all activities, snacks, and water for refilling bottles.
To register, please visit:
July 15, 22, 29
Year of the Orchid Event:
Orchid Trilogy
With Sandi Jones, Broward Orchid Supply
10:30 am to 12:30 pm
+ Trilogy Series: $120 for members; $135 for nonmembers
+ Individual Class: $45 for members; $50 for nonmembers
(includes full Garden admission). Classes are nonrefundable.
Registration is required; class size is limited to 30 adults.
Designed for orchid enthusiasts, from beginners to the more experienced, this 3-part series will share best practices for growing healthy, beautiful orchids. Participants can register for the full Orchid Trilogy or for an individual class. Plants and potting supplies will be available for sale from Broward Orchid Supply before and after each class.
- July 15 – Orchid Basics
Newcomers to orchids will learn how to choose the correct plants for their growing area and what orchids need to grow and flower. The perfect start for an orchid journey.
- July 22 – Orchid Repotting & Orchid Mounting Techniques
Learn how to repot an orchid and how often it should be repotted, learn about different kinds of potting media to use, and the proper pot or basket to use. Also learn how orchids can be mounted on items such as cork, a tree fern, or a branch.
- July 29 – Training Your Eye: Orchid Pests, Diseases & Cures
Learn about pests and diseases that can affect orchids, such as bacteria, fungus, and insects. Discover how to spot them early and what to do if you find them. Learn how to identify the culprits, what products to use to get rid of them, and how to avoid them in the future. Orchids and orchid leaves can be brought in for diagnosis but must be placed inside a sealed plastic bag to prevent contamination of other plants.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-7/mounts.org
Special Exhibition at Mounts Through 2023
Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork
Tuesdays through Sundays, 9 am to 3 pm (last entry at 2 pm)
FREE for MBG members and children under 6; $15 for nonmember adults; $12 for seniors 65+, college students, and military with ID; $7 for children 6-17. Ticket includes full Garden admission.
Internationally acclaimed environmental artist Patrick Dougherty recently returned to Mounts to construct the final large-scale Stickwork installation of his illustrious art career using 30,000 pounds of live willow branches.
Mounts Botanical Garden & Bloomberg Connects
Explore Anytime, Anywhere with New Mobile Garden Guide
Visitors can now explore Mounts Botanical Garden anytime from anywhere across the globe with the new Mobile Garden Guide. Recently launched in partnership with Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the guide is designed to elevate and enrich the visitor experience by making it easy to discover more of what people love before, during, and after their visit to the Garden. Multi-media content includes maps and information on Mounts Botanical’s 25 display gardens, art in the garden, and current and upcoming exhibitions, as well as an ever-growing spectrum of new photo, audio, and video content available exclusively via the app. To learn more and download the app, visit www.mounts.org/mobile-garden-guide/ [mounts.org].
About Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County:
With a mission to inspire and educate through nature, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden. Visitors to this 20-acre tropical oasis will see an acclaimed collection of 25 unique garden areas containing more than 7,000 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, including Florida natives, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, roses, cactus, bromeliads and much more. Mounts Botanical Garden is part of the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Department, in partnership with the University of Florida and the non-profit Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden. This project is sponsored in part by The Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council, and the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. Mounts Botanical is located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.mounts.org.