February Events at Mounts Garden

Orchid Expert Mike Sands – February 8
Credit: Mounts Botanical Garden

(Press Release) (West Palm Beach, FL – January 10, 2025) Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden will offer 30 healthy and horticultural classes and events throughout February, including the always popular Plant-a-Palooza Winter Plant Sale and our delightfully frog-tastic RIBBIT THE EXHIBIT II, featuring 18 larger-than-life frog sculptures at work and play.
 
“We are inviting friends and families to maximize the year’s shortest month with an eco-friendly flourish at Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest public garden—Mounts Botanical Garden, a beautiful, tranquil, 20-acre oasis located just minutes from the hustle-and-bustle of downtown West Palm,” says Mounts Executive Director James E. May, touting the Garden’s numerous and informative horticultural presentations and workshops in February 2025.
 
Mounts Botanical Garden is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm (with last entry at 3 pm). Admission is $20 for adults; $18 for seniors, college students and military with IDs; $13 for ages 6 to 17; and free for children under age 6, Mounts members, and RAP (reciprocal program) members.
 

---

February 1
Orchids are for Everyone Potting Workshop
Saturday, 10:00 am to 11:15 am 
$10 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Free for Tropical Orchid Society Members with proof of Tropical Orchid Society Membership (shown on the day of class) – please register at www.mounts.org to save your spot.
Registration is required; classes are nonrefundable. Class size is limited 35 Adults
Join us for an interactive workshop conducted by members of the board of the Tropical Orchid Society.  Each workshop will begin with a brief introduction followed by specific growing advice for the month followed by repotting demonstrations and Q & A. Attendees may bring one orchid to repot and the media and pot or mount they prefer to use. Orchid Potting Workshops are held in the Mounts Botanical Garden Pavilion inside the main gate next to the new Welcome Center, on the first Saturday of every month.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 1
Special Event:
Kirsten Hines Wild Florida Presentation & Book Signing
Saturday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm 
$5 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
This presentation is designed for audiences aged 9 and older; FREE for youth 9-17.
Registration is required; event is nonrefundable; presentation is limited to 150.
Florida is widely known for its alligators, panthers, pythons, and pesky mosquitoes, but did you know it also has crocodiles, bears, scarlet-striped snakes, and more species of fireflies than any other state? How about a tiny lizard that swims through Central Florida’s ancient sand dunes, a red widow spider that hides in palmettos, or that wild flamingos, common two centuries ago, are reappearing? Join author, wildlife photographer, and conservationist Kirsten Hines for a visual and descriptive journey from the temperate Panhandle through the state’s myriad habitats to the tropical islands of Dry Tortugas National Park, deep into Florida’s wilds to explore its impressive array of animals as captured in her multiple gold-medal winning book Wild Florida: An Animal Odyssey.
Books available for signing:

• Birds of Florida (2024)
• Wild Florida: An Animal Odyssey (2023)
• Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens (2014)

Kirsten Hines is an award-winning author, wildlife photographer, and conservationist with a master’s degree in biology and background as an environmental educator. Her writing and photography have appeared in various publications, including her eight books on Florida’s nature and history, and her images have been featured in photography showcases, public art programs, and exhibitions.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 1, 8, 15, 2
Tai Chi at Mounts Botanical Garden
Saturdays, 9:15 am to 11:15 am
$20 for members; $30 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission).
Registration is required; class size is limited to 15 adults; classes are nonrefundable. 

• Class 1: Tai Chi Intermediate Class

9:15 am to 10:15 am
This class is for those who have learned the basic Sun Style Tai Chi Forms and wish to pursue advanced Sun Style Forms. Lessons will be multi-faceted, addressing not only the external execution of the Forms, but more importantly, deepening the internal dimensions of the Forms, such as: magnifying the Qi (Life Energy) and incorporating the Internal Principles of Tai Chi: Song (loosening), Jing (mental quietude), Chen (sinking of dan-tien), and Huo (agility) which are vital to one's well-being and healing.
In addition, we will explore another Tai Chi Form, the Yang Style.
Note: Wear sneakers or closed comfortable shoes and a loose top and pants. Please bring a towel and water.

• Class 2: Tai Chi Beginner Class

10:15 am to 11:15 am
This class is designed for those new to Tai Chi or those curious about Tai Chi. You will learn basic Tai Chi principles and moves, called Forms. The primary goal is to improve your overall health and well-being, the use of mindfulness and balance through the Forms are thought to open the doors to Health and Serenity. Tai Chi is excellent for those who want a gentle, but effective exercise.
Note: Wear sneakers or closed comfortable shoes and a loose top and pants. Please bring a towel and water.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 2
Garden Cacao Ceremony & Sound Immersion Experience
with Casa Rituals
Sundays, 10 am to 11:30 am 
$30 for members; $40 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission) 
Registration is required; class size is limited to 30 adults; classes are nonrefundable. 
Upon arrival you will receive a ceremonial smudging and blessing, helping to release any burdens from your day-to-day life. Then you will be given a cup of the highest quality, Ceremonial Cacao to take part in our sacred heart-opening Cacao Ceremony. The Cacao works to relax you, open your heart chakra, and help you to be receptive to the healing you will experience. Finally, you'll relax into Yoga Nidra mediation and deep sound healing during which you will be immersed in the healing energies of the Gong, Crystal singing bowls, and other high-frequency instruments. 
Note: Please bring your yoga mat and blanket. Please no alcohol on the day of the ceremony and caffeine 3 hours before and after the event.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 4, 11, 18, 25
Watercolor at the Garden
with Carl Stoveland  
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
$20 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission). Classes are nonrefundable.
Registration is required; class size is limited to 15 adults.
Join artist Carl Stoveland and share the love of art and nature with fellow art enthusiasts. This class is for adults only. Bring your pencils, pens, paints. Sketchpad, watercolor pad, or journal, and your favorite photographic device (i.e., cell phone camera or tablet). Some experience preferred. True newbies should consider the beginner’s class. Each week or two, the class will start a new painting project. Time will be split between demos by Stoveland and supervised painting time for participants. Subjects will be chosen by instructor with assistance from class.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 4, 11, 18, 25
Beginner Watercolor
with Carl Stoveland
Tuesdays, 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
$20 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission). Classes are nonrefundable.
Registration is required; class size is limited to 15 adults. 
If you have always wanted to try watercolor but been overwhelmed by it then this is the class for you. Geared toward novice watercolor enthusiasts, this class will focus on the basics, including a new technique and a simple painting each week. Join artist Carl Stoveland and share your love of art and nature with fellow art enthusiasts. This class is for adults only. Bring pencils, pens, paints, sketchpad, watercolor pad, or journal, and your favorite photographic device (i.e., cell phone camera or tablet). Each week or two, the class will start a new painting project. Time will be split between demos by Stoveland and supervised painting time for participants. 
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 5
Palm Beach County Residents Day
Sunday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (last entry at 3 pm)
Palm Beach County residents receive FREE admission to the Garden on the first Wednesday of every month. Visitors must show proof of residency for entry. Admission for non-residents: $20 for adults; $18 for seniors, college students, and military with ID; $13 for ages 6-17; free for children under age 6.
 
February 8-9
Plant-a-Palooza Winter Plant Sale
This popular annual event features the finest plant growers, artisans, and experts from across the State of Florida. Visitors can fully engage in the world of plants and learn new gardening techniques, discover what’s trending in floral design, and enjoy Mounts Botanical’s tranquil tropical oasis all at the same time.

• 50+ highly sought-after top growers and artisan vendors.
• Shop a wide variety of rare, exotic, and hard-to-find orchids, plants, trees, herbs, ornamentals, succulents, cactus, bonsai, butterfly/native plants, shrubs, and fruit trees, as well as garden accessories, baskets, fine crafts, and more.
• Learn about South Florida’s plant culture by speaking directly with growers.
• Fun and informative presentations by speakers and authors who are experts in their respective fields.
• Plus, additional horticultural ‘must-haves’ and unique treasures for your home and garden are also available in the Garden’s Gift Shop, Nursery, and Vintage Garden Thrift Shop.
• Food and dessert trucks will also be at the Garden throughout both days.

 

• Plant-a-Palooza Winter Plant Sale 2025 there will be four Special Presentations:
• The Fascinating World of Frogs & Their Habitats

with Dr. Steve Johnson
Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 am
FREE with Plant Sale Admission
No registration required, but space is limited to first-come basis.
A distinguished researcher and expert in amphibian ecology and conservation, Dr. Steve Johnson will share insights into the fascinating world of frogs and their habitats. His presentation will feature live and preserved specimens for an engaging show-and-tell experience. Attendees will also learn about the PVC pipe method for capturing invasive Cuban tree frogs, a practical demonstration that highlights his commitment to managing invasive species. Dr. Johnson will provide educational literature to deepen your understanding of these remarkable creatures and their environments. He is a tenured faculty member in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Before joining the University of Florida, he worked as the State Sea Turtle Program Coordinator in North Carolina, and as a research wildlife biologist with the US Geological Survey (USGS).
 

• Chemical Care for Your Orchids

with Mike Sands
Saturday, 1:00 pm
FREE with Plant Sale Admission
No registration required, but space is limited to first-come basis.
The owner of Tangled Roots Orchid Nursery and a certified horticulturist and Master Naturalist who works for the City of Wellington, Mike Sands will cover essential chemical care for orchids, addressing common challenges such as pests and fungal issues. He’ll discuss the use of both organic and synthetic chemicals, as well as best practices for fertilization, highlighting important dos and don’ts. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced orchid enthusiast, his expertise will help you nurture healthy, thriving plants.
 

• Beyond Landscaping:

Transforming Landscapes for a Sustainable Future
with CJ McCartney
Sunday, 1:00 pm
FREE with Plant Sale Admission
No registration required, but space is limited to first-come basis.
In this presentation, Environmental Steward and Master Gardener CJ McCartney will focus on how to create sustainable native landscapes with Florida Keystone native plants. There is a special focus on endangered and threatened plants and how they will create wildflower and pollinator welcoming habitats. She currently works with Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management vouchering plants and leading outreach activities and is the Master Gardner in Residence at Ann Norton Sculpture Garden.
 
For information about Plant-a-Palooza Winter Plant Sale and to purchase tickets in advance visit:
https://www.mounts.org/event/plant-a-palooza-winter-plant-sale-rain-or-shine/2025-02-08/
 
February 15
Palm Beach Plein Air Painters:
Paint-Out in the Garden
Saturday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Free with admission to the Garden
Plen Air Palm Beach Painters will be in the Garden all day painting Garden scenes, creating a lovey atmosphere for our guests to view art and artists at work. The Plen Air Painters are happy to answer questions about Plein Air Painting or their techniques, and they may have an original painting or two to sell to anyone in the market for some beautiful art.
 
February 15
Get GardenFit
with Madeline deVries Hooper
Saturday, 9:30 am to 10:30 am
$30 for members; $40 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; class size is limited to 20 adults; classes are nonrefundable.
Join Madeline Hooper, GardenFit creator, executive producer, and host of GardenFit, the hit national public television series, for a lively session at Mounts Botanical Garden. Madeline will demonstrate simple, practical movements that will have you feeling your best as you dig, plant, and prune. GardenFit proves that gardening should be a joyful, pain-free experience. Don’t miss this chance to get inspired, get moving, and get GardenFit. Additional Upcoming GardenFit dates: March 16, April 5

• GardenFit, the hit national public television series, offers a new approach to gardening, based on the premise that gardening should be a joy and not painful. It’s a first-of-its-kind fusion of garden tours and self-care, teaching viewers how to take care of their body while taking care of their garden. The show brings together themes of nature, sustainability, and wellness in a delightfully engaging format.

To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 15
Horticulture Special:
Aroids and Tropical Plants
with Palmer Crippen
Saturday, 11:00 am to 1:30 pm
Free for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; class size is limited to 45 adults; classes are nonrefundable.
Mounts Horticulturist Palmer Crippen will explore the immense variety of aroids found throughout the world’s tropical regions. This presentation will focus on the distinctive forms and unique roles this family of plants holds in rainforest ecosystems. Photos and information will be shown on most of the major genera.
To register, please visit
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 15
Breaking the Barriers to Orchid Growing:
Cultivating Dendrobiums
Saturday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
$10 members; $25 nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Free for Members of The Orchid Society of the Palm Beaches (proof of membership is shown on the day of the class).
Registration is required; class size is limited to 35 adults; classes are nonrefundable. 
Mounts Botanical Garden and The Orchid Society of the Palm Beaches present Potting Workshops the third Saturday of each month. Orchid Potting Workshops will be held in the Mounts Botanical Garden Pavilion just inside the main gate next to the new Welcome Center. We cordially invite you to participate in our engaging and interactive workshops, led by esteemed members of the Board of The Orchid Society of the Palm Beaches. The workshop will begin with an insightful discussion about the topic, followed by hands-on potting demonstrations, facilitated by our knowledgeable board members. Attendees are encouraged to bring potting and sanitizing materials, and up to two orchids to repot. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to enhance your potting skills and techniques. The potting sessions will wrap up with a friendly Q&A, to deepen your knowledge and ask questions.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 16, 22, 23
Forest Bathing: Nature Therapy Immersion & Tea Ceremony
with Certified Nature Therapy Guide Kathy Andio
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
$25 for members; $35 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; class size is limited to 15 adults; classes are nonrefundable.
Forest Bathing, also known as “Nature Therapy,” is an immersive experience in nature that gives you an opportunity to reset your outlook on life and have an encounter with the nature in a way that you have never experienced before. It is a sensory practice that takes you away from your phone, computer, and social media and back to what your body yearns for…..a connection with nature.  A sense of peace. A sense of relaxation. A sense of being in the present moment. It provides the perfect time to become a human “be”-ing instead of a human “do”-ing! During a Forest Bathing experience, you will be invited to slow down and reconnect with nature’s perfect balance using your senses to see the sunlight playing through the leaves, smell the flowers, and feel and hear the gentle wind whispering to you to return to your native roots and discover your deeper self. Your nature encounter concludes with a tea ceremony to connect with other like-minded nature lovers. Forest Bathing has been scientifically proven to boost immune strength, lift depression, reduce stress, and improve sleep. But beyond these physiological changes, this contemplative experience will show you how important it is for your well-being to take time in nature daily.
Note: Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the start time. Bring a chair or yoga mat.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 22
Horticulture Special:
Edible Perennials
with UF IFAS Agents Emily Marois & Kara Krueger
Saturday, 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Free for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission). 
Registration is required; class size is limited to 25 adults; classes are nonrefundable. 
In this engaging presentation on planting edible perennials in South Florida, discover how these resilient plants can enhance your garden while providing fresh, nutritious food year-round, year after year. Learn tips for selecting, caring for, and incorporating these delicious additions into your landscape. Kara Krueger is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Environmental Horticulture Extension Agent for Palm Beach County, who works with residents, homeowner associations, and landscape professionals to provide education and programs on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, landscape best management practices, and general horticultural issues. The goal is to connect landscape professionals, homeowners, and other residents to the importance of environmental stewardship through our landscapes.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 22
Story Time in the Garden
This program is free with Garden admission, but registration is required at least 5 days before each session, so be sure to secure your spot early!
Join us for a magical morning at Mounts Botanical Garden with Story Time in the Garden, presented in partnership with the Junior League of the Palm Beaches. Held every fourth Saturday of the month through April 2025, this enchanting program is perfect for children under 7 years old. Enjoy a delightful book reading surrounded by blooming flowers and lush greenery, followed by a fun craft activity to spark creativity. It’s the perfect way to introduce young minds to the wonders of nature and stories.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
February 23
Heart Opening Cacao Ceremony with Flower Mandala & Sound Immersion
with Casa Rituals
Sunday, 10 am to 12:00 pm 
$35 for members; $45 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission) 
Registration is required; class size is limited to 30 adults; classes are nonrefundable. 
Experience the magic of cacao, sound, and connection beneath the Garden’s cacao tree. Step into a sanctuary of peace and inspiration as we gather in the lush Herb Garden to explore the ancient, healing powers of ceremonial cacao. This two-hour journey invites you to release, reconnect, and rejuvenate through a blend of heart-centered rituals and sensory immersion. Begin with a ceremonial smudging and blessing to cleanse your energy and set the tone for our sacred gathering. Sip on the finest ceremonial cacao, a sacred elixir designed to open your heart, soothe your mind, and awaken your spirit. Engage in a guided flower mandala creation – a meditative art of beauty and intention. Relax into a deeply restorative Yoga Nidra meditation, followed by an immersive sound healing session with gongs, crystal singing bowls, and high-frequency instruments. Share your reflections and connect in our closing circle before sealing the sacred space. This ceremony is your invitation to embrace the post-eclipse energies and open yourself to receiving. Through cacao, meditation, and sound healing, you’ll experience profound relaxation, heart opening, and energetic alignment.
Note: Bring a yoga mat and blanket for your comfort. Avoid alcohol on the day of the ceremony and caffeine 3 hours before and after the event.
To register, please visit:
https://www.mounts.org/events/month/2025-02/
 
RIBBIT THE EXHIBIT II
Back by popular demand is this collection of 18 larger-than-life, whimsical frog sculptures on exhibit throughout the Garden, offering a playful and imaginative exploration of amphibians. These fun and quirky sculptures also create opportunities for engaging programming about real frogs and their essential role in our environment. Each piece is handcrafted and colored with natural patina by artist Andy Cobb, and almost all the super-sized sculptures are new to Mounts and were not part of the original exhibition in early 2020.”
 
Mounts Botanical Garden & Bloomberg Connects
Explore Anytime, Anywhere with New Mobile Garden Guide
Visitors can now explore Mounts Botanical Garden anytime from anywhere across the globe with the new Mobile Garden Guide. Launched in partnership with Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the guide is designed to elevate and enrich the visitor experience by making it easy to discover more of what people love before, during, and after their visit to the Garden. Multi-media content includes maps and information on Mounts Botanical’s 25 display gardens, art in the garden, and current and upcoming exhibitions, as well as an ever-growing spectrum of new photo, audio, and video content available exclusively via the app. To learn more and download the app, visit www.mounts.org/mobile-garden-guide/ [mounts.org].