What’s Happening at the Botanical Conservatory in June
Fort Wayne, Ind. –The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory at 1100 South Calhoun Street presents the following events and programs this month.
Featuring:
National Pollinator Week
Tuesday – Saturday, June 17 – 22, public hours
Join us as we celebrate National Pollinator Week at the Botanical Conservatory! Get a thrill out of the Conservatory’s Live Butterfly Exhibit and Observation Bee Hive both having returned for another season. In addition, explore the amazing world of pollinators and learn too the importance of pollinators in our world. Regular admission rates apply.
Father’s Day in the Garden
Saturday, June 14, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 15, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Treat Dad, Granddad and Father Figures to a special outing at the Botanical Conservatory where they get in free on Father’s Day weekend. Make it a family outing with live butterflies and beautiful garden displays. The first 300 Fathers to visit receive a free plant! For an extra special treat on Sunday from 12:00-3:00 p.m., enjoy live music from the G-Money Band and lawn games, too. Also enjoy tasty brews and delectables for purchase from Hop River Brewing Company & The Spicy Bird. Sponsored by 96.3 XKE.
Something Blue
June 28 – November 16, public hours
Something old, something new, something borrowed… and Something Blue! Bask in the romance of summer and autumn at the Botanical Conservatory where dramatic plantings, a grand fountain and enchanting scenes await nearlyweds bustling for ‘something blue.’ You cannot help but notice the fairytale of blue beauty in full bloom. This formal landscape is a lovely backdrop for your heartfelt memories, old or new, this year. Sponsored by the Fort Wayne Park Foundation, English Bonter Mitchell Foundation and Majic 95.1.
Joni Walker: Nature Walk/A Collection of Watercolor Paintings
June 28 – November 16, public hours
Joni began to draw as soon as she could hold a pencil. A lifelong resident of rural Indiana, she immersed herself in the beauty of the outdoors, spending countless hours sketching, coloring and letting her imagination roam free. Today, the birds and blossoms that live and bloom in her backyard inspire her watercolor paintings. “Painting has led me to create habitats that attract birds, butterflies, bees and other creatures,” says the Columbia City artist. “I love knowing that my paintings might be the only chance someone may have to see a nuthatch or warbler up close or the detail in the petals of a flower.” Joni also works as a children’s author/ illustrator and professional photographer. She was selected as an Indiana Artisan in 2023.
Summer Artisan Market
Sunday, June 29, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Celebrate all things summer at the Botanical Conservatory’s Summer Artisan Market. On the last Sunday in June, discover your new favorite artisan where local artists, crafters and unique vendors will be featured in the outdoor Terrace Garden. Also find great gifts available for purchase, no special occasion required! Bring your outing to the next level when taking time to visit the gardens including the … Something Blue showcase exhibit as a picturesque landscape in full summer blu-oom. All this and more included with regular admission. Presented by the Conservatory Shop.
Also Happening:
Color in Motion: Live Butterfly Exhibit!
Until June 22, public hours
Live butterflies have landed at the Botanical Conservatory bringing with them an array of natural beauty and wonder. Watch in awe, their wings in flight, as they flash with color pigments and refracted light. Observe exotic butterflies emerging from their chrysalides right before your eyes! An epic display of multicolored flowers and foliage elevates this annual spring exhibit. Sponsored by: the English Bonter Mitchell Foundation, Fort Wayne Park Foundation, “In memory of Jo Ann and William Wyatt,” 21Alive and 97.3 WMEE.
Grace Yencer: Gentle Turning
Until June 22
Grace Yencer has been creating art for as long as she can remember, inspired by a childhood dream of becoming an artist or art teacher. Yencer’s love for snail mail sparked an early career in greeting cards, but she soon shifted focus to art as self-expression. With roots in the Midwest, her style reflects both a sense of nostalgia and a playful exploration of the world around her, making her pieces as heartfelt as they are visually engaging. Her work invites you to pause, look closer and maybe catch a hint of sorrow in the details. “To create one’s world takes courage,” Georgia O’Keeffe.
