June 2005

• Flower Show: Iris Show  June 4 and 5  Saturday 1– 4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  Cut irises in a rainbow of colors will be on display in the Evjue Commons.  Sponsored by the Madison Area Iris Society.  For more information call 608-825-7423.

• Children’s Workshop: Little Sprouts Gardening  June 4  Saturday   10 – 11 a.m. - Class Full
  Registration deadline: May 26
  Summer is just around the corner and that means it’s time for your little sprout to learn the basics of gardening. Join Olbrich for down-in-the-dirt fun as we work with real tools, prepare a garden bed, and plant some seeds to take home. Come prepared to get messy. Ages 2–5. Class will be canceled in inclement weather. The registration deadline is May 26. The cost is $4 for Olbrich Botanical Society members and $5 for the general public. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults attend free. For more information call 608-246-4550.
  

• Concerts in the Garden - All That Jazz: Big band swing hits  June 7   Tuesday  7 p.m.     
  Enjoy the evening with a concert on the Great Lawn of Olbrich’s outdoor gardens.  Bring a lawn chair or blanket.  Picnics are allowed in the Gardens for Tuesday concerts only.  In case of rain, concerts will be held indoors.  Concerts are Tuesdays at 7 p.m., June 7 – July 26.  Concerts are sponsored by Olbrich Botanical Society.  A $1 donation is suggested.  For more information call 608-246-4550.

• Workshop: Easy Indoor Topiaries  June 9  Thursday  6:30 – 8:30 p.m. - Class Full
  Registration deadline: June 2
  Topiaries are a fun and easy way to incorporate hands-on creativity into your home or patio. Olbrich staffers David Dewsnap, Assistant Conservatory Curator, and Beth Swanson, Events Coordinator, will combine their knowledge of horticulture and sense of flair to demonstrate how to create a whimsical potted topiary. Participants will practice pruning on sample plants and then take home two different plants for home topiary creation! Provided plants will be suitable as houseplants, but will also thrive outside during the summer months. Participants are asked to bring pruning sheers or scissors. The registration deadline is June 2. The cost is $40 for Olbrich Botanical Society members and $45 for the general public. For more information call 608-246-4550.

• Children’s Workshop: Little Sprouts Gardening  June 11  Saturday   10 – 11 a.m. - Class Full
  Registration deadline: June 2
  Summer is just around the corner and that means it’s time for your little sprout to learn the basics of gardening. Join Olbrich for down-in-the-dirt fun as we work with real tools, prepare a garden bed, and plant some seeds to take home. Come prepared to get messy. Ages 2–5. Class will be canceled in inclement weather. The registration deadline is June 2. The cost is $4 for Olbrich Botanical Society members and $5 for the general public. For more information or to register, call 608-246-4550.  

• Thai Gala Dinner   June 11  Saturday  7 p.m.
  To raise funds needed to present the Thai Festival on July 31, Sukho Thai Restaurant will host a fabulous Thai dinner on June 11. The dinner will feature Thai-style dining with dishes from every region of Thailand - North, South, Northeastern and Central Plains. Reservations required. Cost is $50 per guest. For more information, call 608-255-1313.

• Art Exhibit:  Elena Kachuro-Rosenberg’s “Organic Matter”  June 12 – September 4  Sundays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Elena Kachuro-Rosenberg’s black and white series “Organic Matter” was inspired by the New York Botanical Garden and Wave Hill.  She brings her impressive series to Madison to share with the visitors of Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Free. Gallery Sundays are made possible by a gift from William and Joyce Wartmann.

• Concerts in the Garden - Atimevu: African drum and dance ensemble  June 14   Tuesday  7 p.m.     
  Enjoy the evening with a concert on the Great Lawn of Olbrich’s outdoor gardens.  Bring a lawn chair or blanket.  Picnics are allowed in the Gardens for Tuesday concerts only.  In case of rain, concerts will be held indoors.  Concerts are Tuesdays at 7 p.m., June 7 – July 26.  Concerts are sponsored by Olbrich Botanical Society.  A $1 donation is suggested.  For more information call 608-246-4550.

• Workshop: Portable Ponds  June 15  Wednesday  6 – 8:30 p.m. - Class Full
  Registration deadline: June 8
  If you’re thinking about a water feature for your landscape and want to start simple, then water plant containers may be the perfect answer. Olbrich Horticulturist Whit Connors will guide you through creation of your own water container filled with plants, such as waterlillies and rushes, and provide maintenance instructions to help you keep your container beautiful. You will go home with a portable pond to amaze your garden visitors! The registration deadline is June 8. The cost is $48 for Olbrich Botanical Society members and $60 for the general public.  For more information or to register, call 608-246-4550.  

• Grand Opening:  Olbrich’s Rose Garden  June 19   Sunday Advanced touring from Noon  - 2 p.m., Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 2 p.m.
  Olbrich celebrates the opening of its innovative new Rose Garden.  Featuring the Midwest’s finest collection of hardy shrub roses, the garden also includes traditional garden roses, perennials, shrubs, and ornamental grasses.  Olbrich invites its members, volunteers, supporters, and the public to participate in opening this spectacular addition to the Gardens. Free.  

• Madison Rose Society Show  June 19   Sunday   12:30 – 5 p.m.
  The Madison Rose Society hosts this indoor exhibit of cut roses in all sizes and colors. Stroll through Olbrich’s brand new Rose Garden. Sponsored by the Madison Rose Society. For more information, call 608-845-6063. Free.

• Concerts in the Garden - Ladies Must Swing: 1920s swing    June 21   Tuesday  7 p.m.     
  Enjoy the evening with a concert on the Great Lawn of Olbrich’s outdoor gardens.  Bring a lawn chair or blanket.  Picnics are allowed in the Gardens for Tuesday concerts only.  In case of rain, concerts will be held indoors.  Concerts are Tuesdays at 7 p.m., June 7 – July 26.  Concerts are sponsored by Olbrich Botanical Society.  A $1 donation is suggested.  For more information call 608-246-4550.
  

• Rose Garden Walk  June 23  Thursday  5:30 – 7 p.m.
  Registration deadline: June 16
  No other flower can compete with the romance and beauty of the rose. However, roses can have cultural and maintenance issues. Join Olbrich’s rose expert Christian Harper on a stroll through Olbrich’s new Rose Garden when roses are at their peak. Harper will explain how to care for both new and old rose cultivars, and help you determine which varieties would work best for you. The registration deadline is June 16. The cost is $8 for Olbrich Botanical Society members and $10 for the general public. For more information or to register, call 608-246-4550.
  
  

• Olbrich Botanical Gardens Closed   June 25  Saturday
  Olbrich’s outdoor gardens, Bolz Conservatory, Growing Gifts shop and Visitors Center are closed all day in preparation for Rhapsody in Bloom.

• Special Event:  Rhapsody in Bloom Benefit   June 25   Saturday  4:30 – 11:30 p.m.
  Enjoy hors d’oeuvres among the flowers and an elegant dinner under white tents followed by an after-dinner stroll the gardens. This is the first opportunity to see Olbrich's New Rose Garden with night lighting. You’ll also have the chance to bid on exotic plants and dance under the stars. Olbrich Botanical Gardens will be closed to the public all day to prepare for Rhapsody in Bloom.  Tickets for Rhapsody in Bloom are $90 per person or $720 for a table of eight. Tickets go on sale to Olbrich Botanical Society members on March 1 and to the general public on April 1. For ticket information and reservations call 608-246-5616.

• Concerts in the Garden - The Dang-Its: Honky-Tonk   June 28   Tuesday  7 p.m.     
  Enjoy the evening with a concert on the Great Lawn of Olbrich’s outdoor gardens.  Bring a lawn chair or blanket.  Picnics are allowed in the Gardens for Tuesday concerts only.  In case of rain, concerts will be held indoors.  Concerts are Tuesdays at 7 p.m., June 7 – July 26.  Concerts are sponsored by Olbrich Botanical Society.  A $1 donation is suggested.  For more information call 608-246-4550.

• Art Exhibit:  Sue Gilgen Fiber Arts  Ongoing: March 13 – June 5   Sundays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Evjue Commons
  Sue Gilgen, a local fiber artist, will display her creations, inspired by Wisconsin flora and fauna, in the art exhibit “Luminations.” Instead of paints and brushes, she uses fabric and thread to sew her art together in a quilt-like fashion. Free. Gallery Sundays are made possible by a gift from William and Joyce Wartmann.

• Yoga in the Gardens  On-going, Mondays, 5 – 6:15 p.m. OR Thursdays, 7:30 - 8:45 a.m.
  This is a participative experiential class for gardeners, nature enthusiasts, and yoga students. Held in the Conservatory or outdoor gardens when possible. Comfortable, loose fitting clothing and a portable mat are recommended; feel free to bring a water bottle. Rick Comello, Monday instructor, is a bodyworker and Reiki Master with over 20 years of experience. Jonathan A. Garber RMT, Thursday instructor, is a certified Kripalu Yoga and Yoga for the Special Child Teacher. The cost is $10 per class - pay at the door.  Check with instructors concerning holiday weeks.  For more information call 608-246-4550.