Wednesday, May 4
Take guided walks through the gardens at the Arboretum. Jesse Dahl, Arboretum horticulturist, will lead you on a guided walk highlighting plants of particular interest at the time of each tour. Tours start at the Arboretum Visitor Center and last one hour and start at 11 a.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month (May 4 and 18; and June 1 and 15). Groups of five or more must preregister by calling (859) 257-6955. In May, the tours will feature roses and irises and in June flowering shrubs and long-lived perennials will be spotlighted.
Thursday, May 5
Wild Ones Plant Exchange and Fundraiser at St. Michael’s Church parking lot on 2025 Bellefonte Drive at 7 pm. The plant exchange fundraiser will feature seeds, perennials, grasses, sedges, shrubs, trees, and vines all native to the eastern United States. If you don’t have a plant to exchange, you’re encouraged to bring finger food, beer, wine, or other food or drink.
Friday, May 6
There will be a EPA lead paint removal RRP refresher course Friday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Home Builders Association of Lexington office at 3146 Custer Drive.
Is it time for your refresher? Did you take your initial training in 2011? If so, you will need to take your refresher in 2016. EPA is encouraging students to apply for retraining six months early to make sure there is no lapse in training and certifying.
Saturday, May 7
The Arboretum will host the Friends Plant Exchange Saturday, May 7. Plants and garden items are to be delivered at 9 a.m. The exchange begins promptly at 10 a.m.
Sunday, May 8
Wilson’s Nurseries will be hosting a Mothers’ Day Tea May 8 all day. The event will be held all day at its center at 3690 East-West Connector Rte 676 in Frankfort. For more information, call 502.223.1488
Thursday, May 12
Growing Great Tomatoes at the Fayette County Extension Service on 1140 Red Mile Place at 6:30 pm. The class focuses on summer vegetables, covering everything from technique to disease prevention. Each class member will take home a hybrid tomato and an open pollinated heirloom for his or her own mini trial.
Tuesday, May 17
Stormwater Education Workshops
Thanks to support for Lexington/Fayette Urban County Government Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works, The Arboretum will conduct a free stormwater education workshop Tuesday, May 17, 5 p.m. at the Community Gardens.
Thursday, May 19
Perennial Hibiscus at the Fayette County Extension Service at 10 am. Often called “dinner plate” hibiscus because of its giant flowers, perennial hibiscus have been around for a long time. Only in recent years have breeders turned their attention to making better varieties, with improvements including shorter plants, unique dark foliage, and new colors that bloom for longer. Participants will receive a nice assortment of easy-to-grow varieties to take home.
Saturday, May 21
Art in Bloom Weekend includes Gala at Apiary on 218 Jefferson Street at 7 pm. This year’s Gala honors famous Lexingtonians Jon Carloftis and Dale Fisher, known throughout the Bluegrass and beyond for their fine gardens. The Art in Bloom GALA helps to support a diverse program of exhibitions, lectures, workshops, family programs, and the Free Admission policy. It features a sit down dinner, auction, entertainment, and recognition of individuals who have made a significant contribution to the UK Art Museum and the arts ecology of our region and beyond.. For ticket information, email anelson@uky.edu.
The Arboretum will host Addie’s Day on Saturday, May 21, featuring free admission to the Kentucky Children’s Garden from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy this day for the whole family with pony rides, games, refreshments and more in memory of Adelaide Kennedy McReynolds.
Kitchen Tours of the Bluegrass will be May 21-22. The annual self-guided kitchen tour will highlight unique kitchens in Lexington homes. The tour will benefit the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass.
Sunday, May 22
This year, The Arboretum will celebrate its 25th anniversary. The Arboretum will also honor those they call the Founders with a special event Sunday, May 22 from 2 until 4 p.m.
Each year, The Arboretum hosts the Founders Lecture series. The organization recently held a Founders Valentine Tea and there will be a Founders Day event in May. So, who and what are Founders?
A document on file at The Visitor Center proclaims, “those individuals, clubs, organizations, or businesses who made a generous donation to the Friends of The Arboretum from 1992 to December 31, 1994 are to be named Founders.”
Many of the Founders have served as leaders of The Arboretum, Friends Board and Advisory Board members, Bur Oak Society honorees, and energetic volunteers.
Over 25 years, the organization has lost some Founders, but they are a sturdy crew, with close to 60 individual and organization members now, and many of them attended the Founders Valentine Tea.
Founder Virginia Long, who became the first President of the Friends in 1992, recalls approaching Dr. Dewayne Ingram, then chair of the Department of Horticulture at the University of Kentucky, in search of a way to raise funds to support the recently opened Arboretum.
The result was the establishment of a generous group of Friends, like Ruth and Bob Straus, with their spirit of giving and volunteering to support The Arboretum.
This article also appears on page 15 of the April 2016 printed issue of Ace.
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