Spring weather is knocking on the door and the gardening season will begin soon.
We invite local gardeners and anyone interested in plants and science to collect ideas on the website Family Gardening Day of the University of Warsaw on Saturday, May 4.
This is a free, family-friendly event that will be held on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Classes will be conducted at: Allen Centennial Garden, DC Smith Instructional Greenhouse, Steenbock Memorial Library and Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI).
Each location will feature a variety of displays and demonstrations, including hands-on activities with seeds, plants and soil. Participants can build a terrarium, learn about monarchs, try their hand at breaking flowers, ask questions about their own plants, discover books for all ages, and more. While supplies last, plants and seeds will also be available to take home for your own garden.
Children up to 13 years of age can obtain a “passport” by obtaining stamps at the University of Warsaw Family Gardening Day locations. A completed passport will get them free vanilla ice cream at the Babcock Dairy Store in nearby Babcock Hall, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Family gardening day is a great way to celebrate spring, get plants for the garden, enjoy activities as a family, and enjoy some ice cream after exploring campus,” says Isaac Zaman, horticulturist at Allen Centennial Garden. “Come enjoy new garden activities and learn from our fun student groups while enjoying the new spring growth!”
All gardening class sites are located approximately three blocks from each other on the west side of the UW–Madison campus.
The Allen Centennial Garden, Steenbock Memorial Library, and D.C. Smith Instructional Greenhouse are located at 620, 550, and 465 Babcock Drive, respectively. The Wisconsin Energy Institute is located at 1552 University Avenue, south, across Campus Drive from the Greenhouse and Babcock Hall, at 1605 Linden Drive.
Free parking is available on campus at Lot 34 at 1480 Tripp Circle; on Lot 36, west of Steenbock Library; on lot 40 behind Babcock Hall; and at Lot 41 at 1820 University Avenue near WEI. Find parking locations on campus map. You can also operate Madison B-Cycle with a convenient station just off Babcock Drive.
For more information visit https://science.wisc.edu/family-gardening-day/ or contact Johanna Oosterwyk at [email protected] or (608) 262-3844.
