Dyck Arboretum celebrates Mother's Day with Botanical Getaway Weekend, FloraKansas Plant Sale

 On Mother's Day weekend, May 9 and 10, Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston will host a special "Botanical Getaway Weekend" for gardening and nature enthusiasts in conjunction with the annual FloraKansas native and adaptable plant sale.
    "This is the perfect getaway for couples, mother-daughter duos, or groups of friends to spend quality time together and learn about Kansas native plants," said Julie Torseth, arboretum director.
    For $59 per two people, attendees will receive an overnight stay at a whirlpool suite at AmericInn in Hesston; breakfast; a monarch gardening seminar; a 10 percent discount on plants at the FloraKansas sale; a free one-year membership at Dyck Arboretum; and $20 Hesston Chamber Bucks for shopping and restaurants in the Hesston area. The event is made possible by a grant from the Hesston Area Economic Development Council. Call the arboretum at (620) 327-8127 for information or to make room reservations.
    On May 10, the arboretum will celebrate Mother's Day with a luncheon at 11:30 a.m., featuring a "visit" from special guest, Duncan Hines. Duncan Hines will talk about his life on the road as a travelling salesman, his emergence as the first modern-day food critic, and the development of the baking mixes we all know today. Also appearing will be the spirit of Mary Colter, architect of Fred Harvey hotels, and real-life Larry Williams of Halstead, recounting his culinary exploration along Highway 50 from Kansas to the Atlantic Ocean. A Southwestern menu and a Duncan Hines dessert will be served. The arboretum luncheon area will feature "Curtain Art" from the 1930s and 1940s. The cost is $8.50 per person. Make reservations at (620) 327-8127.  
    Other events on May 10 are: "Herbal Breakfast" by Kay Neff at 8:30 a.m.; "Planting a Monarch Waystation Garden" by Cristina Janney at 9:30 a.m.; "The Art of Nature" with sculptor and painter Janice Weibe Ollenberger at 10:30 p.m.; "What's in Bloom" a 45-minute tour of the grounds with Scott Vogt at 10:45. Vogt will be available to answer questions and provide growing tips throughout the sale.
    The largest native plant sale in the state, FloraKansas offers more than 300 varieties of hard-to-find native wildflowers, shrubs, trees and grasses. Members will get a first pick from 4 to 8 p.m. on May 8 and 8 am. to 8 p.m. May 9. Current members and individuals who become members receive a 10 percent discount on plants at the sale. FloraKansas will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 10, noon to 4 p.m. May 11 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 12.
    Scott Vogt, arboretum horticulturist and grounds manager, grows many of the plants sold at the sale. Cultivars of native plants and plants well-adapted to the region are selected from area growers. A complete list of available plants can be found at the Dyck Arboretum web site at www.dyckarboretum.org  
    "It's a great place to see native and adaptable plants side by side, and get inspirations for your own garden design," said Vogt. "All the plants we offer grow well in Kansas and will add beauty to your garden for many years to come."
    FloraKansas promotes Dyck Arboretum’s mission to educate people about the benefits of appreciating, preserving and utilizing native plants. Proceeds from the sale will be used to help preserve prairie species in local remnant areas and in garden displays at the arboretum.