Lorax Day
“I Speak for the Trees”
1 to 3 p.m. Saturday
Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve celebrates Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the opening of the movie, “The Lorax,” adapted from Dr. Seuss’s book by the same name.
The program for kids of all ages includes a reading of “The Lorax” followed by a nature walk to learn about Fernwood’s trees. Enjoy a “Truffula tree” treat and make seed bombs to take home. Copies of Seuss’s book will be available in Fernwood’s gift shop.
Program is free with paid Fernwood admission. Children younger than 5 must be accompanied by an adult. Register by Thursday.

Sunday Journey: In the Footsteps
of Charles Darwin — The Galapagos
1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Take a tour of the Galapagos Islands with Phil DeVore, photographer and Fernwood Volunteer of the Year 2010. Enjoy the photography of the flora and fauna of this unique habitat. Program cost is $10. Register by Friday.

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner
6 p.m. March 16
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, so celebrate with a traditional Irish meal prepared by Fernwood’s Chef Tim Carrigan. Buffet includes corned beef, shepherd’s pie, cabbage, potatoes, salads, desserts and beverage. $15.95 per person. Reservations required by March 15.
Spring Yoga Session
12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays, March 22–May 3
Instructor Deirdre Guthrie of Yoga Glow teaches the fundamentals of the practice in this six-class series, including breathwork, alignment, and the development of both strength and flexibility. Make-up class the seventh week for those who sign up for the series and are unable to attend one practice. Yoga mats and props included. $60 (Members $48) for six classes. Register for the series by March 15. Winter yoga session runs through March 15 and drop-ins are welcome at $10 each.

Basics of Edible Gardening
10:30 a.m. to noon March 17

Grow your own healthy and delicious food. Susan Gilbert will cover the basics and best practices for setting up a lower-maintenance, high-yield garden without using lots of chemicals. Explore bed layout, soil preparation, companion planting and crop rotations. $10. Register by Sunday.

Fernwood’s Spring Raffle
Win up to $5,000 in Fernwood’s 2012 Spring Raffle and help support education programs and gardens. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased in person or by phone. The winner will be chosen by a random drawing at 10 a.m. March 22. You need not be present to win. Odds are 1 in 100 with all tickets sold. If fewer than 100 tickets are sold, the drawing reverts to a 50/50 raffle with the winner receiving 50 percent of the receipts. Michigan raffle license number R13153.

Meijer Gardens Butterflies
and Grand Rapids Museum Tour
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 23

Escape for the day with Fernwood for a trip to Grand Rapids. Visit the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, where colorful butterflies are sailing through the conservatory. After lunch at Meijer (not included in fee), enjoy exhibits about historic Grand Rapids, Native Americans, Michigan Civil War and Habitats at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Transportation and admission fees included. Cost is $75. Register by Sunday.
Fernwood’s Spring Garden Symposium
Designs with Purpose:
The People and Plants Behind Them
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 24

This symposium features three award-winning speakers who talk about their artistic instincts, environmental consciousness and knowledge of great plants to create garden designs with social significance.
n Janet Marinelli will take you on a whirlwind tour of the history of landscape design, explore discoveries on the frontiers of science, and show how every gardener can harness nature’s power to create a sustainable landscape that helps repair the tattered web of life. Marinelli has written three books, and she is a columnist for Public Garden, the publication of the American Public Gardens Association.
n Bob Hyland will speak about how well-chosen plants are the heart and soul of good garden design. With new plants hitting the market at record speed, how do gardeners choose wisely and develop an adventurous, sustainable personal style? Renowned plantsman and garden designer, Hyland shares his philosophy shaped by a long career in public and private gardens.
n Gary Smith’s award-winning work in botanic gardens and arboreta masterly blends artistry with sustainability. Learn simple graphic techniques and make meaningful gardens that express the relationship between the site and your creative spirit. Smith is an artist, landscape architect, and author, who received a Gold Medal and Award of Distinction from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. He released “From Art to Landscape: Unleashing Creativity in Garden Design” in 2010.
The symposium will conclude with a round table discussion with the speakers and Fernwood’s manager of plant collections, Steve Bornell, and it qualifies for three Michigan Master Gardener continuing education credits. Sponsored by Vite Greenhouses and Crystal Springs Florist and Greenhouse. Lunch is included. Fee is $120. Register by March 22.