(08/05/19) BATON ROUGE, La. — The cooling temperatures of fall create an ideal time to visit Burden Museum & Gardens, located at 4560 Essen Lane, just off Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge.

Special events for fall

StoryTime in the Garden at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens on Sept. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon. Children ages 3 to 8 can enjoy storybook readings and imagination-themed activities every half hour. The last reading begins at 11:30. All children participating must be accompanied by an adult. StoryTime is sponsored by the Junior League of Baton Rouge. Registration is not required, and admission is free.

StoryWalk in the Garden will introduce a new book, “Gilly and Bloo” written by local author Mary Ann Sternberg and illustrated by Elma Sue McCallum, in the Botanic Gardens on Sept. 7. Visitors can stroll through StoryWalk, enjoy nature and read the pages of the book posted along the path. StoryWalk is open during regular hours.

A new fall exhibit, Good Mourning, opens at the LSU Rural Life Museum on Sept. 21. This examination of burial and mourning customs and culture will feature the museum’s more notable funery objects, including the obelisk for the murdered ONeil brothers, hearse carriages and jewelry made from the deceaseds’ hair.Entrance to the exhibition is included with regular museum admission.

Harvest Days at the LSU Rural Life Museum on Sept. 28 and 29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Living history demonstrations will interpret activities that took place on Louisiana farms and plantations during harvesttime in the 1800s. Artisans will demonstrate skills related to daily chores, hunting, metal working and other 19th century skills. Activities will include cooking, soap making wood working, blacksmithing, and other hands-on activities for the family.New animals and demonstrations are coming this year, and don’t forget the free wagon rides. Food will be available for purchase.Regular museum admission applies.

Corn Maze at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens on Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Visitors will wander through the corn maze, visit a farm animal petting zoo, decorate a pumpkin, climb a hay mountain, travel a kids zip line and take a hayride. With plenty of concessions to enjoy, visitors may purchase hamburgers, popcorn, corn dogs and other snacks and drinks from local vendors. Admission is $10 per person; children 3 and under are admitted free.

StoryTime in the Garden at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens on Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. during Corn Maze. Children ages 3 to 8 can enjoy storybook readings and imagination-themed activities. All children must be accompanied by an adult. StoryTime is sponsored by the Junior League of Baton Rouge. Corn Maze admission of $10 per person is required; children 3 and under are admitted free.

Wine and Roses in the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens on Oct. 16. Enjoy an elegant evening of dining under the stars and among 1,500 roses. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and music by the John Gray Jazz Trio on the front lawn. Dinner will follow at 7 p.m. in the Rose Garden. Admission is $150 per person or $125 for members of the Friends of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden. Seating is limited, and reservations may be made by calling 225-763-3990, option 6.

The Night Maze and Bonfire at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens on Oct. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. A family fun Halloween-themed evening, children and adults are encouraged to costume and enjoy games, live music and roasting s’mores at the bonfire. Admission is $10 per person; children 3 and under are admitted free.

Haints, Haunts & Halloween at the LSU Rural Life Museum on Oct. 27 from 3 to 6 p.m. Enjoy the sights, sounds and activities of an old-fashioned country fair. While on the museum grounds, children can enjoy and participate in storytelling, face painting, wagon rides, historic games and trick-or-treating. Refreshments for sale include popcorn balls, ginger cookies and other delicacies. Recommended for children 2 to 9 years old. Admission is $5 per person. Children 2 and under free. Halloween costumes are optional.

Red Rooster Bash at the LSU Rural Life Museum on Nov. 7 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a cocktail hour including the famous “Red Rooster” cocktail and chances to win premium wines and spirits. A barbecue dinner and live auction will follow. Proceeds will help support the Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum. Tickets are $50 per person, $95 per couple or $500 for groups of eight people registering together. For tickets and other information, call 225-765-2437 or email rlm@lsu.edu.

StoryTime in the Garden at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens on Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. Children ages 3 to 8 can enjoy storybook readings and imagination-themed activities every half hour. The last reading begins at 11:30. All children must be accompanied by an adult. StoryTime is sponsored by the Junior League of Baton Rouge. Registration is not required, and admission is free.

StoryWalk in the Garden will introduce a new book, “Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf” by Lois Ehlert, in the Botanic Gardens on Nov. 16. Visitors can stroll through StoryWalk, enjoy nature and read the pages of the book posted along the path. StoryWalk is open during regular hours.

Continuing activities include

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 5 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.

The LSU Rural Life Museum is featuring the rebuilding of the grist mill and the continuing fall exhibit Good Mourning. In addition, artisans occasionally are on hand to practice their crafts.

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 5 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 5 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.

For more information, visit www.discoverburden.com or call 225-763-3990.