Children from Reach for Success, a summer enrichment program for students in Baton Rouge, visit the Children’s Garden and learn about summer vegetables during a field trip to the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in 2015. (Photo by Kiki Fontenot, LSU AgCenter)

News Release Distributed 12/01/15

BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter will host a series of seasonal children’s garden activities at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden beginning in December.

In addition to the December session, events will be held in February, April, June and September 2016, said AgCenter fruit and vegetable specialist Kiki Fontenot.

“Kids will have an opportunity to come play in the soil and learn about gardening,” Fontenot said.

The East Baton Rouge Master Gardeners will join the AgCenter to present the series of Saturday interactive gardening activities for children ages 6-10.

The events have been scheduled as follows:

– Dec. 19, 2015. Fairy gardens: Learn the art of creating a special garden to entice tiny “fairies” to visit.

– Feb. 20, 2016. Vegetable gardening: What is native to America and what is not; creating vegetable characters and vegetable gardens.

– April 30, 2016. Terrariums: Create your very own tiny ecosystem in a bowl.

– June 25, 2016. Frog and toad: Learn how to create miniature gardens to entice frogs and toads to your yard.

– Sept. 24, 2016. Chickens: Chickens are a great backyard animal; learn about raising chickens and how they help plants.

All events will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., and children will receive snacks and take-home garden crafts, Fontenot said.

Each event will require a small fee of $15 per child, and an adult must accompany each child to all activities. Reservations may be made by email to Angie Wall at angwall@cox.net.

Attendance will be limited to 15 for each session.

The Botanic Gardens at Burden is located off Interstate 10 at 4560 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge.