January Events at Mounts Garden

Sean Kenney’s Nature POP! – LEGO® Dragonfly
(January–May 1)

(PRESS RELEASE)_(West Palm Beach, FL – December 13, 2021) To kick off 2022 with a horticultural flourish, Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden will be hosting 24 family-friendly open-air events in January, including the opening of the Garden’s next major exhibit, the fabulous, family-friendly and LEGO®-licious Sean Kenney’s Nature POP!
 
“Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden is inviting garden enthusiasts, plant lovers, and proud ‘green-thumbers’ of all ages to come out and enjoy some of our many safe, informative and happy horticultural activities in January,” says Curator-Director Rochelle Wolberg. “And everybody making a ‘get healthier’ resolution for the New Year will find a series of events to nurture both the body and soul.”
 
January 8—May 1
Sean Kenney’s Nature POP!
Tuesday-Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm (last entry at 3 p.m.)
$15 adults; $12 seniors, college students and military with ID; $7 ages 6-17; FREE for MBG members and children under 6. Ticket includes full Garden admission.
Tickets available for purchase at www.mounts.org or by calling 561-233-1757
Reconnect with your Inner Child. This new exhibition from acclaimed artist Sean Kenney features over 40 sculptures made from more than 800,000 LEGO® pieces and explores the beauty of nature through highly stylized, colorful displays that stand in striking contrast with their surroundings. Produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Nature POP! blends art, science, and innovation in the display of these sculptures. Known for his ability to make striking works of art using simple LEGO® toys, Kenney pushes the boundaries of the medium in this new exhibition through his use of vibrant colors and a bold, graphical style. Inspired by the Pop art movement, Kenney’s work on Nature POP! plays on that movement’s principles by blurring the boundaries between austere and the everyday, and draws from a belief that everything is interconnected.

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January 9
Dogs’ Day in the Garden
Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm (last entry at 3 pm)
FREE for members and children 5 and under; $12 for nonmember adults; $10 for seniors, active military, and college students with ID; $5 for children 6-1. Ticket includes full Garden admission.
This dog-and-family-friendly monthly event is held throughout the Garden. Bring your beloved pooch to enjoy a relaxed garden stroll. There are many great spots to capture family photos for posting online with #mountsbotanicalgarden.
Guidelines:
+ Non-retractable leashes only; retractable leashes are not permitted.
+ No more than one dog per adult will be admitted.
+ Rabies vaccination must be current.
+ Visitors should bring their own and water treats for the puppies.
+  For all Dogs' Day rules, please visit www.mounts.org/dogs-day.
 
January 11, 18, 25
Watercolor at the Garden
Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
$20 for members; $25 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; class size is limited to 15 adults.
Share your love of art and nature with fellow art enthusiasts. Each class begins with an instructor-led Nature Walk for inspiration and to capture reference photos to use in class. The group will then move indoors, where Carl Stoveland will start with a quick demo topic then assist participants in choosing a subject and getting started on a watercolor. Bring pencils, pens, paints sketchpad or watercolor pad, (or journal) and your favorite photographic device (i.e., cell phone camera or tablet). Classes are open to adults only at all levels, from novice to experienced artist, and will be tailored to each student.
To register, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/
 
January 12, 19, 26
Qi Gong
Wednesdays, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
$10 for members; $15 for nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; class size is limited to 20 adults.
Relieve stress and increase your metabolism, flexibility, and strength. Qi Gong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese exercise and healing technique. The exercises include simple, slow movements (which mimic nature), meditation, and focused breathing—similar to Tai Chi. Classes will be inside, led by Roxanne Cumberland. 
To register, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/
 
January 12, 19, 26
Stretch, Walk and Talk
Wednesdays, 8:30 am to 9:30 am
$5 for Members; $15 for Nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; tour size is limited to 15 adults
Come early to enjoy the quietness of the morning while reconnecting and recharging with nature. Walk for fitness and for fun, stopping along the way to admire plants and for a stretch or two. Experience the beauty of the Garden and note the changes each week. Led by April Krebs.
To register, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/.
 
Wednesday, January 12 & Thursday, January 25
Kids ‘N Color Tour
11:30 am to 1:00 pm
$7 for MBG member youth (ages 6-17); $10 for nonmember youth (ages 6-17); free for children ages 0-5. (includes full Garden admission)
Adults accompanying youth can receive up to 2 free tickets.
Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.
All attendees are required to register. Tour size is limited to 20.
Join us for this fun, guided tour of Sean Kenney’s Nature POP! exhibit, featuring 40+ sculptures made with 800,000 LEGO® bricks. Learn how animals use color in their everyday lives and how color affects humans too. Create a colorful art project to take home.
For tickets, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/.
 
January 13, 20, 27
Gentle Body Movement
Thursdays, 9:30 am to 10:30 am
$14 for Members; $20 for Nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; tour size is limited to 20 adults
Raise your energy level, work on balance, strength, and mental relaxation, while having fun in the Garden’s beautiful surroundings. All movement is done fully supported using a chair or a bar. Find joy in moving your body in a safe environment, followed by a short, guided meditation, all led by certified fitness/yoga instructor Hegina Rodrigues. The class will be held outdoors, or indoors in case of rain or heat.
To register, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/.
 
January 14, 28
Moai at Mounts:
Awe & Wonder Lecture and Tour
Fridays, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
FREE for Mounts members; $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, college students and military with ID.
Registration is required; tour size is limited to 20 adults
Artist Dennis MacDonald will lead participants on a fascinating journey explaining how Moai at Mounts came to be. Learn about the process and materials used to create these statues as an artistic tribute to the Rapa Nui (Easter Island) culture.
To register, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/.
 
January 15
Using Crotons and Cordylines in Landscaping
Saturday, 10 am to Noon
$30 Members; $45 Nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Adult Class Held in the Mounts Auditorium
Registration is required; lecture is limited to 40 adults
Come learn about the care, culture and landscape use of the croton – one of South Florida’s best and most versatile woody perennial shrubs that will add color, texture, and interest to your garden, year-round. Discover the history of the croton’s fascinating global migration from Malaysia and the Pacific islands to the western hemisphere and its integration to South Florida gardens. Classed will be led by croton & cordyline expert and grower Mark Peters and will include a demonstration of air layering for propagation. Weather permitting, He will lead the class out for a short tour of the Garden’s crotons and cordylines. A variety of croton and cordyline plants will be available for sale during and after class.
For tickets, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/.
 
January 16
Nature Journaling
Sunday, 1 pm to 2:30 pm
$14 for Members; $20 for Nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; class size is limited to 20 Adults
Nature Journaling is the act of recording your experiences on this planet: your observations, perceptions, questions, facts, and phenomena. It is citizen science, it is art, it is creative, therapeutic, and fun. This workshop will be led by Autumn Kioti. Materials are provided, participants should feel free to bring their own journal and media. 
For tickets, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/
 
January 16
Kids ‘N Nature Tour
Sunday, 10 am to 11:30 am
$7 for MBG member youth (ages 6-17); $10 for nonmember youth (ages 6-17); free for children ages 0-5 (includes full Garden admission)
Adults accompanying youth can receive up to 2 free tickets.
Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.
All attendees are required to register. Tour size is limited to 20.
Treat your kids to a Creative Nature Tour with Professor Screech. As the world’s most "Official Expert," the Professor will take us on a special journey through the natural world inside the Garden, inspired by Sean Kenney’s Nature POP! exhibit, featuring 40+ sculptures made with 800,000 LEGO® bricks. Learn fun facts about the Garden’s insects, animals and plants, and create your own nature sculpture using natural and repurposed materials. This tour is designed for youth ages 8 to 13, but all ages are welcome.
 
January 22
Friends Garden Tour
FREE for Members; $12 (adults); $10 (seniors 65+, college students & military with ID)
Saturday, 10:00 am to 11:30 am
All attendees are required to register. Tour size is limited to 20 adults.
Bring your best friend, your tennis buddy, your favorite coworker, or perhaps that new neighbor you’ve been wanting to get to know. As we explore the gardens together, we’ll talk about some of the rare, tropical plants collected from all over the world. Highlights include the Butterfly Garden and the incredible, new Moai exhibit inspired by the mystical monoliths of Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island). Knowledgeable docent Nada Vergili will be your guide.
For tickets, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/
 
January 27
Wellness Walk: Set Your Fruitful Intentions
Thursday, 10 am to 11:30 am
$12.60 for Members; $18 for Nonmembers. (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; tour size is limited to 15 adults.
Learn techniques to honor health and wellbeing. Led by Garden expert Nada Vergili, this Wellness Walk explores some of the ways plants have overcome significant environmental pressures and the similarities in all living beings.
For tickets, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/
 
January 29
Yoga Nidra
Saturday 10 am to 11 am
Adults all levels welcome; Held in the Exhibit Hall
$14 for Members; $20 for Nonmembers (includes full Garden admission)
Registration is required; class size is limited to 20 adults.
Yoga Nidra (also known as yogic sleep) is a powerful healing, relaxation practice of self-care for mind, body, and spirit. Practicing Yoga Nidra can improve sleep, reduce anxiety, release tension, and deepen awareness; allowing one to connect with their authentic self. It is a deeply centering experience and a perfect way to start a busy day. This class will be held inside of the Exhibit Hall, no physical yoga or meditation experience is necessary. Certified Yoga and Meditation Teacher Heather Berg will instruct.
For tickets, please visit https://www.mounts.org/events/.
 
Also available to visit in January 2022:
Moai at Mounts Botanical Garden
Located in the Tropical Forest Garden
Bringing the awe and wonder of Easter Island to West Palm Beach is this new permanent installation of three imposing moai statues, replicas of the iconic monolithic, human figures located on Rapa Nui, Chile. Designed by artist Dennis MacDonald with great attention to authenticity and detail, each of the statues is made of solid, reinforced, poured concrete and has been stained to create a weathered appearance. The larger moai stands 20 feet tall and wears a “hat” known as pukao, two additional pukao rest on the ground.
 
The Moai at Mounts Botanical Garden installation is included with regular Garden admission:
+ FREE for Mounts members and children 5 and under; $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, college students and military with ID; $5 for ages 6-17
+ Tickets available for purchase at the gate.
Garden hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm.
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