Dance of the Daffodils

The magnolias are starting to bloom! Photo by Tracie Sheahen.     The local wildlife has had their turn. Now the Bog Walk will re-open to humans on May 15. Photo by Lizzo Wallace.

This Week Thursday, May 5: First in a series: "Vine to Wine: Appreciating the Bounty of the Grape." Arboretum oenologist Katie Cook Shares keys to great wines in ths series. Gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for wine by learning how grapvine breeders and growers approach the art and science of cultivating grapes particularly suited for wine. Thursdays, May 5, 12 and 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Andrus Learning Center. Class fee is $80 for Arboretum members and $90 for non-members. http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/horticulturetechniques.aspx More This Weekend Happy Mother’s Day weekend! Come out and enjoy the spring blooms with Mom. Take a drive on Three-Mile Drive. Enjoy a stroll on the terrace. Discover the massive Steelroots sculptures outdoors. Indoors, spend some time in the Oswald Visitor Center: Pick up an orchid as a gift, for sale in the Arboretum Gift Store. Peruse the exhibits: "Tree Trunk Treasures" and “Seed Stories: Catalogs of Life & Gardens in America.” Head to the Andrus Learning Center; there, make a May basket and plant spring flowers (noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday) in our “Blooming Baskets” Weekend Family Fun program. Enjoy making memories with Mom this weekend. More   Coming Up Friday, May 13: Summerhouse opens.  Purchase local fruits and veggies, U of M cheeses, baked goods, jams and jellies, live plants, shrubs and trees, plus gardening tools and more at this charming rustic market, located just 1.5 miles west of the Arboretum entrance.  Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the summer. Saturday and Sunday, May 14- 15: Auxiliary Spring Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Margot Picnic Shelters. Don’t miss the best plant sale in the Twin Cities! Shop for hard-to-find plants, shrubs and trees.    More