Story and photos provided by TBG at OSU
As the heat of summer winds down, events at The Botanic Garden (TBG) are heating up. September is packed with activities for the entire family. We kick this month off with a few additional Open House dates to accommodate our football and gardening fans. The garden is an enchanting place to stroll through with family and friends before heading to your favorite tailgate party. And if you’re a gardening fan, come out and enjoy the peace and serenity of the garden while others are enjoying the ambiance of an OSU game day in Stillwater.
Open House dates are Saturdays: September 3, 10, and 17, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm and TBG Ambassadors will be in the garden to welcome you and answer your gardening questions. The West Virginia Avenue entrance will be open for additional parking and handicap access.
If music is your interest, then load the picnic basket with a nice dinner, grab your blanket or lawn chair and nestle yourself under the beautiful sycamore allée to enjoy an evening with the OSU Jazz Combo on Friday, September 9, starting at 5:45pm. This laid back atmosphere is a great way to start the weekend.
TBG’s first kid’s concert, “Lil’ Tots and Tunes” will be held on Saturday, September 17, 10:00am – 12:00pm on the TBG Event Lawn. Bring the kids out for breakfast in the garden and a fun, enjoyable concert with Andrew & Polly. This dynamic duo has developed a new brand of thoughtful, imaginative, and playful music based on their experiences with children and families. In 2012, ASCAP members Andrew Barkan and Polly Hall were honored with the ASCAP Foundation Joe Raposo Children’s Music Award. Joe Raposo was one of the creators of Sesame Street and its first and longtime musical director.
The concerts at TBG are sponsored by OSU Office of the President, Hideaway Pizza, Kicker, Arts and Humanities Council of Stillwater, Daddy O’s Music Company, and Flourishes Flowers Decor and More. Because of the generosity of our sponsors, we are given the opportunity to offer our concerts free to the public.
On the second Tuesday of each month the Payne County Master Gardeners host a Gardening series in the Educational Center at TBG. September’s topic is Tree Selection with OSU Professor, Dr. Mike Schenelle and Transplanting Perennials and Dividing Daylilies with the Payne County Master Gardeners taking the lead. This lecture series starts at 6:00pm and is free to the public.
The grand finale of the September events at TBG is the annual GardenFest and famous Mum Sale. This year’s theme for GardenFest is Urban Horticulture. We will have educational presentations on raising goats, chickens and plasticulture, along with music and food. Oklahoma Gardening host, Casey Hentges will also lead guided tours through the garden. Our famous mum sale will begin promptly at 10:00 am. So save the date, Saturday, September 24, 10:00am – 2:00pm.
For information about these and other events please contact: Laura Payne, OSU Extension Associate/TBG Events Coordinator at laura.payne@okstate.edu or visit our website botanicgarden.okstate.edu or facebook page.