What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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APRIL 17-23, 2022 WHAT'S UP! 37 Love Your Mother Botanical Garden celebrates Earth Day MONICA HOOPER NWA Democrat-Gazette O nly one event could bring together goats, reptiles, worms, a free tree giveaway, nature games and information about recycling, big cat conservation, composting, native plants, gardening and much more. The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks celebrates Earth Day from 1 to 5 p.m. April 24 with a low-waste afternoon that will include activities for adults and children with an eye toward good stewardship of the Earth. "Greedy Goats will be there with live goats to pet and feed," begins Roslyn Imrie, education director for the garden. "Ozark Natural Science Center will bring out live reptiles. The 'Worm Woman' will have live red wigglers. The city of Fayetteville will be giving away native tree saplings to the first 100 people who arrive at their booth. "There will be booths showcasing Arkansas animals, big cats, butterflies and plants," she enumerates. "Some booths will have activities like making seed bombs, fish painting, and making bee finger puppets. There will be a spring scavenger hunt, litter corn hole toss, and other nature games for kids to play as well." Liz Atwell, communications coordinator for BGO, says the participating organizations are in line with BGO's mission. "The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks is a member- supported public garden dedicated to education and environmental awareness and serves as a community destination for unique nature experiences," Atwell shares. "One of the main components of our mission is education, and then to serve as just a gathering space for community events and outdoor experiences." This is the second year for this particular event, Atwell shares. "We put on quite a few events throughout the year. And our goal is to always make them as low waste as possible." She said that Food Loops, a composting organization based in Rogers, will be on site to help handle food waste. "We are encouraging folks to bring their own water bottle of some kind, no glass but some sort of water bottle or water jug," she adds. "We will have water stations provided where they can refill their bottles, but we're not going to provide the actual containers. People are welcome to bring in their own food if they want to have a picnic or something like that, but we just ask that they pack in and pack out," which means take out what you take in. "We're hoping that this event, in particular attracts a lot of people who may not have come out here very often," Atwell says. She hopes that people "get inspired to care about the environment" not just on a global level, but in their own back yard. "This is such a beautiful space, and it's really meant for the community. We have our members, which is great, but we want the general public to know about us, to come out here to experience what we have." She adds that the "12 themed gardens" are "an example of what you can do in your own back yard, showing you the types of plants that grow well here in this climate." Butterflies of all shapes and sizes — perhaps including caterpillars like the one created by Avery Hyman — promise to abound at the April 24 Earth Day Festival at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville. (File Photos) FAQ Earth Day Festival WHEN — 1-5 p.m. April 24 WHERE — Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, 4703 N. Crossover Road in Fayetteville COST — $5-$10; free admission for garden members INFO — Register at bgozarks.org/earth-day-festival FYI — Guests are encouraged to bring refillable, nonbreakable water bottles to fill at water stations around the garden. FAYETTEVILLE