Friends Of The Mounts Botanical Garden Inc

Education:as a cornerstone to its mission, mbg is known as a teaching and learning garden, providing a wide array of educational learning opportunities for all ages designed to cultivate wonder and appreciation for the natural world. Over 230 public programs, classes, workshops, and guided tours took place this past year, attracting nearly 3,000 adult participants in classes and more than 1,000 tour participants. The garden's wide array of programming includes horticulture, gardening, art and culture, and health and wellness. In addition to adult programming, mbg offers a robust spectrum of youth programming which served 5,700 students and children at the garden and reached a total of 17,000 students, including outreach in schools and the community. Children's experiences with nature from wilderness backpacking, to plants in a preschool, to a wetland lesson are proven to promote learning. For the 2024/2025 school year, mbg was selected to be the official field trip provider for all palm beach county school district 3rd graders. As part of the new program, which launched in august 2024, more than 15,000 children, 200 teachers and 1,500 chaperones started visiting the garden in august of 2024 and had the opportunity to explore, learn, and connect with nature at mounts botanical garden.

Mbg's seasonal plant-a-palooza plant sales and major exhibits continue to be the garden's most popular events, attracting more than 12,000 attendees throughout the year. Held in february, april, september, and november, the four seasonal plant sales feature top growers from throughout florida displaying and selling a wide variety of ornamentals, orchids, succulents, cactus, bonsai, butterfly/native plants, shrubs, fruit trees, herbs, garden accessories, baskets, fine crafts, and more. In addition, speakers and authors who are experts in their respective fields conduct fun and informative presentations on gardening, horticulture, and more.to complement its lush tropical landscape, mbg houses a number of permanent exhibits and collections. The 'moai at mounts botanical garden' exhibit reconnects visitors to the ancient rapa nui culture of easter island, and the story of preserving and protecting our environment and resources, including our potable water, ocean and sea life, forests, native wildlife, and fertile farmlands. Mbg also houses an eclectic art collection of sculptures prominently displayed throughout the garden. In addition, throughout each year, mbg provides visitors the opportunity to experience featured exhibits. In december 2022, patrick dougherty built his last outdoor sculpture "fit for a king," at mbg, which was on display through october 9, 2024, but did not survive hurricane milton. In january 2024, mbg open its largest traveling exhibit to date that runs through may 12, 2024. Origami in the garden, by santa fe artists jennifer and kevin box, featured more than 20 larger-than-life metal sculptures located throughout the garden. In november 2024, mbg opened ribbit the exhibit ii, a collection of 18 larger-than-life whimsical metal sculptures by artist andy cobb. The exhibit will be on display at mbg through may 2025, under the theme "leap into nature, art & science." mbg offered a year of inspirational art, nature, and ecological programming for all ages.in january 2024, mbg welcomed monks of drepung gomang monastery for a week-long sacred arts tour, which featured a variety of soul-stirring experiences, including daily ceremonies, creation of a sacred sand mandala, mala bead making classes, pet blessings, and a cultural pageant, which attracted over 800 participants.mbg's popular monthly dogs' days in the garden drew 2,800 attendees to the garden.in april 2024, mbg reinstated monthly palm beach county residents day, offering free tours for residents, which attracted nearly 900 attendees.