Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County
Launches Two New Weekly Outdoor Series
GET BACK TO OUR SENSES
Invigorating Body Flex – Thursdays (Jan 28-Feb 25)
Guided Sensory Garden Walks – FrIdays (Jan 29-Feb 26)
(West Palm Beach, FL – January 18, 2021) “We are stardust, we are golden… And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.” The words may be by Joni Mitchell, but the harmonic concept applies perfectly to two new outdoor series starting this month and running through February at Mounts Botanical Garden. Both of the series are under the theme of GET BACK TO OUR SENSES.
Invigorating Body Flex
Thursdays, January 28 through February 25
“Come raise your energy level, work on your balance, strengthen muscles and core while having fun in our beautiful surroundings. Find joy in getting out and moving your body in a safe environment. Each week we will be in a different part of the garden for these Body Flex classes led by certified fitness/yoga instructor Hegina Rodrigues,” invites Rochelle Wolberg, Curator-Director at Mounts, Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden. “Classes are $15 each, which includes full Garden admission.”
The physical and mental benefits of Body Flex low impact aerobic exercises include:
- Safe and effective for increasing range of motion with low impact, entire body movement
- Alleviates stress and pressure on joints
- Focuses on balance and stretching while bringing awareness to breath
- Engages the brand and boosts overall energy
Held at 9 am on Thursdays, January 28 through February 25, classes will be 45-minutes in length and are designed for adults of any age and level of ability. Limited to 10 people per class, participants are encouraged to wear comfortable sneakers or good walking shoes, and bring water and bug spray. Chairs will be available. In case of rain, the class will be held in the Portico of the Hutcheson Agricultural Complex.
Instructor Hegina Rodrigues has a background in dance and has been teaching fitness and yoga for decades. While certified in several types of yoga in the United States, Brazil, Nepal, and India, she enjoys teaching a variety of styles and is not limited to one type. Her classes vary according to place and audience keeping the classes interesting, safe and fun for all abilities. Rodriguez has developed her own movement and breath combinations, creating a low impact way to raise energy, improve balance, strength and flexibility.
Guided Sensory Garden Walks
Fridays, January 29 through February 26
Led by Mounts Special Projects Manager April Krebs, these delightful sensory walks will help participants reconnect with nature and their inner selves. Each week will offer a different experience to engage the senses.
Held at noon on Fridays, January 29 through February 26, each of these guided walks are limited to 10 adults, who are encouraged to wear comfortable sneakers or good walking shoes, and bring water. The five walks include:
January 29: Guided Meditative Walk
$12 nonmembers; $5 members
We begin this series with a peaceful walk designed to quiet the mind, boost any mood and bring awareness to the environment and one’s body. As participants walk through the Garden, the guide will share prompts to help them engage their body, mind and spirit.
February 5: Inspired Listening
$12 nonmembers; $5 members
Spending too much time looking at a screen? Feeling closed in and need to disconnect from your electronics? Come walk for an hour to reconnect with nature and experience the calming beauty of the Garden. This tour focuses on taking the time to really listen and be aware of nature’s sounds. From trees and Bamboo… to water, insects and birds… participants will discover the many garden sounds that are often not heard.
February 12: An Eye for Capturing Portraits and Selfies
$24 per couple, nonmembers; $10 per couple, members
How many times have you been somewhere really beautiful, but had no one to take your photo? This special, pre-Valentine’s Day, Guided Walk for Couples will feature some fun ways to capture an engaging portrait or couples’ selfie. This walk will be led by local portrait photographer Steve Horan, who will share his creative process on how to use the landscape, Garden features and natural light to take better selfies and photos of loved ones. Participants should bring their cameras or phones.
February 19: Touch-Me-Not Cactus and Succulents
$15 nonmembers; $5 members
Join this walk in the sun to learn about cactus and succulents. These popular plants often have prickles or spines that keep people from touching them. Their spines have another important function too, which is to condense moisture. Want to know more secrets about these amazing plants? This walk will start off in the Sun Garden of Extremes and end up in the Mounts Botanical Nursery, where walkers will be able to plant their own succulent baby to take home.
February 26: Aroma Therapy and Edible Plants
$15 nonmembers; $5 members
Did you know all Lavender is not really true Lavender? What is an essential oil? Can different scents affect a mood? Let’s brush up on aromatics and learn some fascinating facts about the history of these wonderful, useful plants. During this quiet, meditative walk, participants will learn about edible aromatics, such as Rosemary, Oregano and Thyme. At the end of the walk, everyone will be able to make a small therapy charm to take home.
How to Register for these Two Outdoor Series:
To register for either the Invigorating Body Flex classes or the Guided Sensory Garden Walks, please https://www.mounts.org/events/, and then select the appropriate date(s).
Still available for viewing at Mounts Botanical Garden is the awesome and ecology-conscious exhibition Cutting Corners: A Stickwork Exhibition, a massive, willow sculpture located in the Great Lawn area.
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 14-acre tropical oasis will see an acclaimed collection of 25 unique garden areas containing more than 2,000 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, including Florida natives, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, roses, cactus, bromeliads and much more. The award-winning Windows on the Floating World: Blume Tropical Wetland, completed in 2017, is a guest favorite. 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 of Palm Beach County. Mounts Botanical is located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.mounts.org.