Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County to Host Seven Informative & Family-Friendly Events

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - June 5, 2016 - PRLog -- Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County to Host Seven Informative & Family-Friendly Horticultural Events in July & August

* Orchid Trilogy - July 9, 16 & 23

* Summer Evening Stroll with the Director - July 13 & August 10

* Building Resiliency in the Garden - August 10

* Making a Garden Trough: The Hypertufa Process - August 25

(West Palm Beach, FL - June 3, 2016)  The Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden will be hosting seven informative and family friendly public events in July and August, including a three-part class on orchid care, and the return of the popular Summer Evening Stroll with Garden Director Allen Sistrunk.

July

Orchid Trilogy

Orchid Basics:

Six Most Common Orchids in South Florida

Saturday, July 9 - 10 am to 1 pm

Mounts Auditorium

For all three classes: $75 for members; $105 for nonmembers

Per Class:  $30 for members; $40 for nonmembers

Speaker: Sandi Jones, Broward Orchid Supply and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

Newcomers Newcomers to orchids will learn how to choose the correct orchids for their growing area and what they need to grow and flower beautifully. Jones will demonstrate basic repotting and choosing the correct container and materials.

(Note: Growing supplies will be available for purchase at the class.)

Summer Evening Stroll with the Director

Wednesday, July 13 - 6 to 7:30 pm

Meet at the Garden Entrance on Military Trail

FREE for members; $10 for nonmembers

best way to become acquainted with Mounts Botanical Garden is to take a walking tour with Garden Director Allen Sistrunk, who will share fascinating facts about the Garden's history and exciting plans for its future. Along the way, he'll stop to discuss rare and unusual specimens and to highlight plants that grow well in South Florida gardens.

Orchid Trilogy

Advanced Orchid Repotting & Mounting

Saturday, July 16 - 10 am to 1 pm

Mounts Auditorium

$30 for members; $40 for nonmembers

Speaker: Sandi Jones, Broward Orchid Supply and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

Sandi Jones will demonstrate repotting of an overgrown orchid, and mounting orchids on items such as tree tern and cork bark. She will address common questions like what type of potting media to use, what orchids are best for mounting, and when to use fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides.

Orchid Trilogy

Prevention & Diagnosis of Orchid Pest and Disease

Saturday, July 23 - 10 am to 1 pm

Mounts Exhibit Hall A

$30 for members; $40 for nonmembers

Speaker: Sandi Jones, Broward Orchid Supply and Bonnet House Museum & Gardens

As a fellow hobbyist who owns about 400 orchids, Jones understands how hard it can be to find necessary products for growing healthy, vigorous orchids. She'll discuss how to diagnose orchid pests and diseases from bacterial and fungal rots to insects, such as thrips, scale and spider mites. Attendees will learn to identify the culprits, what products get ride of them, and how to prevent them from returning.

(Note: Orchids may be brought in for diagnosis, but they must be places in plastic bags to prevent contaminating other plants.)

August

Summer Evening Stroll with the Director

Wednesday, August 10 - 6 to 7:30 pm

Meet at the Garden Entrance on Military Trail

FREE for members; $10 for nonmembers

best way to become acquainted with Mounts Botanical Garden is to take a walking tour with Garden Director Allen Sistrunk, who will share fascinating facts about the Garden's history and exciting plans for its future. Along the way, he'll stop to discuss rare and unusual specimens and to highlight plants that grow well in South Florida gardens.

Building Resiliency in the Garden

Wednesday, August 10 - 6:30 to 8 pm

Mounts Exhibit Hall A

$10 for members; $15 for nonmembers

Speaker: Laurie Albrecht, UF/IFAS Horticultural Extension Agent

This science-based and factual evening lecture will focus on salt tolerant plants for coastal and other areas and drought-tolerant plants. It will address potential changes in climate and the documented rise in sea level. Albrecht will also share tips on how to save on water bills and planning for the gardens of the future. Information will be based on what already is occurring in Palm Beach County and points south. Attendees will receive a voucher for two free three-gallon native trees or shrubs. Some restrictions apply.

Making a Garden Trough:

The Hypertufa Process

Tuesday, August 25 - 9 am to Noon

Mounts Garden Pavilion

$30 for members; $35 for nonmembers

Per Class:  $30 for members; $15 for nonmembers

Speaker: Ted Johnson, Master Gardener

Trough containers are all the rage. These functional planters resemble old stone but are lighter in weight. They're also durable and perfect for miniature gardens or small plants. Class limit is 15.

Note:

To register for any of the events and workshops at The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County, please call 561.233.1730.  Events at Mounts are accessible to people with disabilities.

About The Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County:

With a mission to inspire the public, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County's oldest and largest botanical garden, offering gorgeous displays of tropical and sub-tropical plants, plus informative classes, workshops, and other fun-filled events. The Garden contains more than 2,000 species of plants, including Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, bromeliads and more. Mounts Botanical Garden is a facility of the Palm Beach County Extension Service, which is in partnership with the University of Florida and the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden. Mounts is located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach. Mounts Botanical Garden is open everyday (except Palm Beach County recognized holidays) from 10 am to 4 pm. The suggested donation for entry to the Garden is $5 per person. For more information, please call 561.233.1757 or visit www.mounts.org.

Available for Interview:

Allen Sistrunk, Garden Director

Mounts Botanical Garden

561.233.1757

asistrun@pbcgov.org

Media Contact:

Gary Schweikhart

PR-BS, Inc.

561.756.4298

gary@pr-bs.net