Heather DuPlooy, the Garden's Education coordinator, reports to us about what's been happening during summer camp. Here's what she had to say recently.

Walking around the classroom at the Naples Botanical Garden Summer Camp, I am distracted by delicate, colorful art pieces that look like stained glass. Camp counselor, Shannon Guidry, who is showing me around before my presentation to the campers, tells me that the work is inspired by the amazing hand blown glass art of Dale Chihuly.

 The vibrant artwork is part of an activity presented by Jessica Wozniak from the Naples Museum of Art. While I admire their work, the students are carefully weaving multicolored strands of yarn through garden pots which will later be planted with seeds from the garden. This gives Shannon a couple minutes to talk to me about what the kids have been up to this week. A lot!

We’re having a great time at the Naples Botanical Garden summer camp. Campers are flying kites, getting to know the ‘Stinky Plants’ Curator Brett Adams brings in, learning to weave, building rainbow tacos with Julie from Whole Foods and exploring the colorful residents of the wildflower meadow.

That is only a small taste of the Garden summer camp activities happening all week every week this summer in the Garden. Every day our campers are getting their hands on new art activities, exploring in the Garden and meeting speakers who come from many organizations, from Rookery Bay to the Naples Museum of Art and walks of life, from solar engineers to printmakers.

With access to the plants, butterflies, gardens and staff, the Naples Botanical Garden makes it easy for the counselors, all CCPS teachers, to keep everyone entertained. Our Camp Coordinator, Laura Foht agrees.

“The Garden is the perfect place for curious minds to wander and explore,” said Laura. At least one camper agrees. “This is the best camp ever!  I wish I could go to the Garden all year!,” enthused Trevor. 

On Saturday, April 7th the Garden hosted its annual Egg Hunt which was a huge success!

Between 9am-12:30pm we had 1,178 visitors came out to the Smith Children's Garden to celebrate the spring holiday weekend.

If you were not able to attend here's what you missed...

Many beautiful migratory birds are still with us in Southwest Florida, but the January Second Saturday Migration Celebration has flown away to make room for another migration -- the Gnomes, who will be returning to the Children’s Garden February 11, 2012!

On Wednesday, February 1^st the Garden launched a kick-off party for a group of community members to learn about our new mobile app and website. In addition to learning about our Live Map integration into the free Mobile App, guests were even able to view their mobile posts go LIVE on our site!

We are kicking off the month of February with pointed red caps, full beards and a smile. That's right, we are celebrating the Gnomes returning to the Smith Children's Garden and they are expected to arrive on February 11, 2012.

 For a limited time!

You will notice lots of weird and wonderful ornaments hanging from the trees on the Wild Florida Loop in the Smith Children’s Garden right now.

This is why....

As the growing season is upon us, the Garden is really bursting into bloom! Here are some fantastic plants that have new growth and stunning blossoms now:

Alas, the cool days of winter and early spring here in Southwest Florida are gone, but soon the afternoon showers of summer will be providing us with some cool agua that we all will appreciate, especially our plants!

Mr. Thomas Dryden and Joellen Bates tied the knot tonight here at the garden. They put so much detail into every aspect of the wedding, from lemonade and cookies in the Brazilian Garden cocktail party to a beautifully decorated Windstar Garden Room for the reception. I can't wait to post the pictures soon! What a great night in the garden.