Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County to Host 28 Horticultural Classes and Events During December Including Garden Explorers Youth Winter Camp
+ Mat Pilates – December 1, 8, 15
+ Grapevine Wreath Workshop – December 2
+ Orchids are for Everyone Potting Workshop – December 2
+ Awakening Hearts with Casa Rituals – December 3, 17
+ Gentle Yoga & Body Balance – December 5, 12, 19
+ Watercolor at the Garden – December 5, 12, 19
+ Beginning Watercolor – December 5, 12, 19
+ Qi Gong – December 6, 13, 20, 27
+ Forest Bathing: Nature Therapy Walks & Tea Ceremony
– December 8, 16, 17
+ Orchid Companions:
Pairing Outdoor Orchids with Tree-Loving Tropicals – December 9
+ Dogs’ Day in the Garden – December 10
+ New Moon Cacao Ceremony with Casa Rituals – December 10
+ Garden Explorers Youth Winter Camp – December 27-29
+ Sound & Cacao Serenity:
Letting Go Ceremony for 2023 – December 31
(West Palm Beach, FL – November 10, 2023) Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden will cap off this year by hosting 28 fun and informative workshops, classes, and special events throughout the month of December, including the popular Garden Explorers Youth Winter Camp.
“As we revel in slightly cooler weather, December 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.
December 1, 8, 15
Mat Pilates in the Pavilion
with Stephanie Pierce
Fridays, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
$20 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission). Classes are nonrefundable.
Registration is required; size is limited to 30 adults.
This mat Pilates class focuses on building strength, increasing flexibility, and reducing stress. The class incorporates contemporary Pilates repertoire with whole-person framework modalities. The exercises are low impact and excellent for enhancing mind-body connection. All levels are welcome, and modifications will be offered to ensure a pain-free experience. Class Supplies: yoga mat and water, exercise bands (optional), yoga block (optional), and hand/ankle weights (optional).
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-12/mounts.org
December 2
Grapevine Wreath Workshop with Succulents & Origami Figures
with Michael Spencer
Saturday, 8:30 am to 12 noon
$35 for members; $45 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission).
Registration is required; class size is limited to 20 adults; classes are nonrefundable.
In honor of the upcoming monumental exhibit, Origami in the Garden, Michael Spencer will lead a journey into Japanese culture, teaching participants how to fold three simple origami animals to decorate a holiday wreath. In this “make and take workshop,” attendees will arrange their folded creations and beautiful live succulents on a grapevine wreath to bring home. Come have fun, learn something new, and create a unique wreath design to celebrate the holiday season and kick off the Origami in the Garden exhibit on display in the Garden, January 7 through May 12, 2024.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-12/mounts.org
December 2
Mounts Botanical Garden & Tropical Orchid Society Present
Orchids are for Everyone Potting Workshop
“Building Your Orchid Toolkit: Tips & Tricks for the Home Lobbyist”
Saturday, 10:00 am to 11:15 am
$10 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission). FREE for members of the West Palm Beach Orchid Society (with proof of membership)
Registration is required; class size is limited to 30 adults; classes are nonrefundable.
Come learn about the “must have” supplies and growing tips for the home hobbyist. This workshop will be conducted by Donna Tobey and Maria Trenor, members of the board of the Tropical Orchid Society and orchid growers for over 30 years. The second half of the workshop will include hands-on demonstrations of repotting or mounting. Participants are encouraged to bring potting media, pot, and one orchid to re-pot.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-12/mounts.org
December 3, 17
Awakening Hearts:
A Cacao Ceremony & Sound Immersion Experience
with Casa Rituals
Sunday, 10:00 am to 11:30 am
$25 for members; $35 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission).
Registration is required; class size is limited to 30 adults; classes are nonrefundable.
Under the guidance of instructors Marit Tuisk and David Lepp, participants will receive a ceremonial smudging and blessing upon arrival to release the burdens of day-to-day life and will be given a cup of the highest quality, Ceremonial Cacao to take part in a sacred heart-opening Cacao Ceremony. This will be followed by a Yoga Nidra mediation and deep sound healing during which everyone will be immersed in the healing energies of the Gong, Crystal singing bowls and other high-frequency instruments.
Note: Please bring a yoga mat or blanket, and do not drink alcohol on the day of the ceremony or consume caffeine three hours before and after the event.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-12/mounts.org
December 5, 12, 19
Gentle Yoga & Body Balance
with Hegina Rodrigues
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
$20 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission).
Registration is required; class size is limited to 30 adults; classes are nonrefundable.
Come join in this body movement class designed for all abilities. Gentle yoga stretches combined with body balance movements will Increase your energy, improve stamina, stretch and strengthen muscles. This unique class will help you to stay motivated, refreshed, and relaxed. Yoga mat is optional. Chairs will be available for those who choose to not use a mat.
Classes are led by certified fitness/yoga instructor Hegina Rodrigues. The class will be held in the Pavilion near the entrance of the Garden. Class Supplies: yoga mat (optional), water, yoga block (optional).
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-12/mounts.org
December 5, 12, 19
Watercolor at the Garden
with Carl Stoveland
Tuesdays, 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/2023-12/mounts.org
December 5, 12, 19
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.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-12/mounts.org
December 6, 13, 20, 27
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/2023-12/mounts.org
December 8, 16, 17
Forest Bathing:
Nature Therapy Walks and Tea Ceremony
with Kathy Andio
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
$25 for members; $35 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission).
Registration is required; class size is limited to 15 adults; classes are nonrefundable.
Forest Bathing—also known as Nature Therapy—is an immersive experience in nature that gives participants an opportunity to reset their outlook on life and have an encounter with nature in a way that they have never before experienced. It is a sensory practice away from phones, computers, and social media and back to what the body yearns for—a connection with nature, a sense of peace, a sense of relaxation, and a sense of being in the present moment. It provides the perfect time to become a human “be-ing” instead of a human “do-ing”. During a Forest Bathing experience, attendees will be invited to slow down and reconnect with nature’s perfect balance using their senses to see the sunlight playing through the leaves, smell the flowers, and feel and hear the gentle wind whispering to return to one’s native roots and discover a deeper self. The nature encounter concludes with a tea ceremony to connect with other like-minded nature lovers. Forest Bathing has been scientifically proven to boost immune strength, lift depression, reduce stress, and improve sleep. But beyond these physiological changes, this contemplative experience demonstrates how important it is for well-being to take time in nature on a daily basis.
Note: Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before start time and bring a chair or yoga mat.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/
December 9
Orchid Companions:
Pairing Outdoor Orchids with Tree-Loving Tropicals
with Palmer Crippen
Saturday, 10:00 am to 11:30 am
$15 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission). Classes are nonrefundable.
Registration is required; size of “inside” classes is limited to 25 adults.
Orchids are prized in many South Florida yards for their beauty, uniqueness, and resilience, but often they are the only epiphytes growing on a tree or in a wooden basket. Through pairing and arranging other fascinating plants with your orchids, one can unlock the hidden potential of a tropical landscape. Mounts Botanical Garden Horticulturist Palmer Crippen will share the best companion plants for orchids and how to make a vertical garden thrive.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-12/mounts.org
December 10
Dogs’ Day in the Garden
Sunday, 9:00 am to 3:00 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.
Note: Dogs are FREE for Mounts members and $5 for nonmembers.
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 details, please visit:
December 10
New Moon Cacao Ceremony & Sound Immersion Experience
with Casa Rituals
Sunday, 10 am to 11:30 am
$25 Members $35 Nonmembers
Registration is required; class size is limited to 30 adults; classes are nonrefundable.
Come be inspired in the Herb Garden of Well-Being and explore the healing power of the cacao under the shade of the Garden’s cacao tree. Upon arrival, a ceremonial smudging and blessing will be offered, creating a space to release one’s daily burdens that weigh. Participants will then be presented with a cup of the finest ceremonial cacao, taking part in the sacred heart-opening cacao ceremony while aligning with the new moon’s energies to set an intention for the heart to receive. The cacao serves to relax, unlock the heart chakra and make one more receptive to the forthcoming healing experience. Finally, attendees will gently transition to a yoga nidra meditation and a deep sound healing session. During this time, they will be fully immersed in the soothing and restorative energies of the gong, crystal singing bowls, and other high-frequency instruments.
Notes: Please bring a yoga mat and blanket. Please no alcohol on the day of the ceremony and no caffeine three hours before and after the event.
December 27-29 (must register for all three days)
Garden Explorers Winter Youth Camp
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
$175 for members; $200 for nonmembers ($15 for optional extended care—8:00 to 9:00 am, and 3:00 to 4:00 pm).
Registration is required; class size is limited to 20 participants; camp is nonrefundable.
For ages 7-11, explore the amazing and science-based wonders of Mounts Botanical Garden. The theme of this year’s fun and informative Winter Youth Camp is Physics at Work in Nature. Camp activities include:
- Build a yacht and discover the properties of water displacement
- Dye carnations to see how plants use the physics of water transpiration and cohesion
- Excavate fossils
- Create rain in a jar
- Design a racetrack for a solar car
- Plus become an edible gardener by making healthy garden snacks, including buffalo cauliflower, zucchini pizza, and pretzel bites.
Camp activities take place both outside and indoors. Campers will have access to cool, safe, inside space when needed due to excessive heat or in the event of rain.
Notes:
+ Campers should bring refillable water bottle, healthy lunch, hat, sunscreen, and bug repellant.
+ Mounts will provide materials for all activities, snacks, and water for refilling bottles.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/event/garden-explorers-youth-winter-camp/2023-12-27/.
December 31
Sound & Cacao Serenity: Letting Go Ceremony 2023
with Casa Rituals
Sunday, 10 am to 12:00 noon
$35 Members $45 Nonmembers (includes full Garden admission).
Registration is required; class size is limited to 30 adults; classes are nonrefundable.
Upon arrival, a ceremonial smudging and blessing will be offered, creating a space to shed one’s daily burdens. Participants will then be offered a cup of the finest ceremonial cacao, taking part in the sacred heart-opening cacao ceremony. The cacao serves to relax, unlock the heart chakra and make one more receptive to the forthcoming healing experience. Finally, attendees will proceed to the 2023 Release Ritual guiding them into letting go of what no longer serves them, all done with intention and grace. To conclude, they will ease into yoga nidra meditation, immersing in the soothing vibrations of gongs, crystal singing bowls, and other high-frequency instruments, allowing the healing elements to envelop each participant.
Notes: Please bring a yoga mat and blanket. Please no alcohol on the day of the ceremony and no caffeine three hours before and after the event.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/2023-12/mounts.org
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.