Enjoy plants, nature and history this winter at Burden Museum & Gardens

(11/17/21) BATON ROUGE, La. — From admiring beautiful flowers to getting your hands dirty in the woods to learning about historic art and lifeways, there’s something for everyone this winter at Burden Museum & Gardens.

Special holiday and winter dates to remember

It’s not Christmas in Louisiana without poinsettias from the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden. Get ready to deck the halls at the annual poinsettia show and sale Saturday, Nov. 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. More than 20 varieties of classic and “oddball” poinsettia varieties will be available. The Botanic Gardens participates in a national trial program for poinsettia varieties, and visitors will have the chance to rate the varieties on display. Admission is free and open to the public; plants will cost $12 to $40 apiece.

Get in the holiday mood on Sunday, Dec. 5, when the LSU Rural Life Museum hosts A Rural Life Christmas — a 19th century Louisiana celebration featuring musical groups, demonstration artisans and storytellers. The event will start at 10 a.m. and run till 5:30 p.m. Children ages 10 and younger will be admitted at no charge. For everyone else, the cost is $10 per person.

Start the new year off right by planting a tree at Arbor Day at Burden on Saturday, Jan. 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can pick a native tree to plant in the Burden Woods, which suffered extensive damage in Hurricane Gustav and is in the process of being reforested. GPS coordinates will be provided so families can track the growth of their trees for years to come. Other activities will include a scavenger hunt, StoryTime in the Garden, a visit from Smokey Bear and the chance to scale a tree. Admission is free and open to the public. There is a $15 fee for the tree scaling.

On Saturday, Feb. 12, and Sunday, Feb. 13, tour the beautiful camellia gardens at Burden and purchase a few plants of your own at the Baton Rouge Camellia Society Show and Sale. Members of the camellia society will be on hand to give planting and management advice. Already have a beautiful camellia? Enter it into the show to be judged. Admission is free and open to the public.

Experience the unique peace of the Byzantine era at an icon painting workshop Feb. 21 to 25. This thoughtful, meditative, five-day retreat will highlight traditional painting techniques that date back 2,000 years. No artistic experience is needed. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Registration is required, and there is an admission fee. Contact Diana Wells at dianawells1548@gmail.com for details and availability.

On Saturday, Feb. 26, stock up on flavor at the Herb Society of America Baton Rouge Unit’s herb plant sale. This outdoor event will feature herbs that are perfect for the Southern garden — and kitchen. The sale will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For information, contact hsabr.web@gmail.com.

Continuing activities include

The Birding at Burden trail system consists of six loops that wind through Burden’s formal and informal gardens, grasslands, croplands, wetlands and forest. The loops are designed for both beginners and advanced bird enthusiasts. Kiosks about the birding loops can be found at the Rural Life Museum Visitors Center and the Ione Burden Conference Center.

Trees and Trails, a 3-mile system of pedestrian, recreational and educational trails in the Burden Woods, provides opportunities for hiking and interpretive and educational activities for youth and adults. The Mosaic Boardwalk at Black Swamp guides visitors through a hardwood swamp more than 200 years old. The trail system is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day.

The Children’s Garden offers a place to learn about gardening and nutrition. This model garden also provides a location for youth-related organizations and individual families to experience the outdoors, focusing on vegetable, herb and butterfly garden plantings.

The Rose Garden is a part of the American Garden Rose Selections program, a nationwide network of approved public gardens, and the American Rose Trials for Sustainability program, maintaining an inventory of 1,100 plants representing 150 varieties. Starting each April, the Rose Garden offers an exclusive preview of the coming year’s outstanding new varieties.

Windrush Gardens comprises majestic live oaks and ancient crape myrtles to create a shady canopy over azaleas and camellias, evoking a sense of tranquility and peace. Steele Burden, who was influenced by the gardens of Europe and the surviving gardens of 19th century Louisiana plantations, designed Windrush. The winding paths are ideal for strolling and enjoying the 25 acres of landscaped spaces.

About Burden Museum & Gardens

Located at 4560 Essen Lane just off Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge, Burden Museum & Gardens is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and includes the LSU Rural Life Museum, the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and Windrush Gardens.

The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens is an expansive collection of specialty gardens, woodlands, wetlands and arboreta. Trees and Trails offers 3 miles of serene walking paths through the Burden Woods. The Rose Garden, Children’s Garden and All-America Selections Display Garden showcase the beauty of plants and flowers and provide educational experiences for gardeners of all ages. No admission is charged to tour the gardens.

The LSU Rural Life Museum focuses on the ways of life of rural Louisiana during the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum also provides educational and research resources that advance an understanding of the material and cultural heritage of the region.

Adjacent to the Rural Life Museum, the historic Windrush Gardens comprises 5 acres of semiformal gardens of the Burden family.

Admission to the Botanic Gardens and Trees and Trails is free of charge and open daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the Rural Life Museum is $10 for adults 12 to 61 and $9 for seniors and $8 for children 6 to 11. Admission to Windrush Gardens is $3 per person. Both are free for kids under 6. The LSU Rural Life Museum and Windrush Gardens are open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except major holidays.

Poinsettias in a greenhouse.

The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden will host its annual poinsettia show and sale Nov. 27. Photo by Anna Ribbeck/LSU AgCenter

Youth singing on a porch.

Get in the holiday spirit with an old-fashioned Christmas celebration Dec. 5 at the LSU Rural Life Museum. Photo provided by LSU

Visitors carrying tree planting supplies.

Families can plant trees in celebration of Arbor Day at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden Jan. 22. LSU AgCenter file photo

Camellia.

The Baton Rouge Camellia Society Show and Sale will be Feb. 12 and 13 at Burden Museum & Gardens. LSU AgCenter file photo

Icon painting.

Enjoy a relaxing week at an icon painting workshop Feb. 21 to 25 at Burden Museum & Gardens. LSU AgCenter file photo

Visitors at the herb plant sale with herbs displayed on a table.

On Feb. 26, the Herb Society of America Baton Rouge Unit will host its annual herb plant sale at Burden Museum & Gardens. LSU AgCenter file photo

11/12/2021 8:47:57 PM
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