Smithsonian Garden Fest 2013: Earth Matters to Smithsonian Gardens

At Garden Fest, visitors can participate in activities focused on interacting with the Earth, including creating an ephemeral land art installation with materials from Smithsonian Gardens, making seed balls to add to gardens or a flowerpot and taking an ancient expedition through petrified wood, fossils, amber and agricultural tools. The annual plant container design contest will take place during Garden Fest; the competition challenges participants to use repurposed items as plant containers. Registration is available online. Submissions will be accepted until May 6. 

Workshops and demonstrations will explore the connection between Smithsonian Gardens’ irrigation plan and the Smithsonian weather station, composting at home and how to properly plant tomatoes. Smithsonian Gardens will also host a photo shoot for its Shutter-Bug Collection on Pinterest. Entertainment will include tap dancing, Zumba, music, spoken word, drumming and drum lessons, and dancing performed through the gardens. The National Museum of African Art and the Smithsonian Castle Café will stay open until 7 p.m. to offer snacks and refreshments for sale. For the schedule and full list of activities, visit the Smithsonian Gardens website.

Garden Fest is presented by Smithsonian Gardens, which was established in 1972 to manage the grounds of the Smithsonian museums and to create interior and exterior horticultural exhibitions. Its research and educational programs promote the ongoing development of collections of living plants, garden documentation and horticultural artifacts. Garden Fest will be held in the 4.2 acre Enid A. Haupt Garden, a public rooftop garden above the interiors of the Freer and Sackler galleries and National Museum of African Art. The Haupt Garden is between the Smithsonian Castle and Independence Avenue. For more information visit: http://www.gardens.si.edu/

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