SIUE’s 2014 Discover the Gardens Day will be held October 12 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in The Gardens at SIUE. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Tree Top pedestrian bridge will jump start the event. The new bridge connects the brand new ecologically-friendly parking lot to The Gardens attractions. This event is open to the university community, students and the general public. Complimentary refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon while supplies last.
Guests of the event will be greeted by members of several student organizations, including the SIUE Natural Connections organization, which promotes homegrown sustainability in the family garden. Master Gardeners will explain plantings and features, such as the new Monarch Way Butterfly Garden and Prairie Portal, while art students are available to assist with pumpkin decorating and face painting for children. Volunteers will be on hand to help aspiring young naturalists make ecologically friendly bird feeders. The SIUE Pep Band and Steel Drum Band will provide musical entertainment during the event.
For more information, call (618) 650-3070 or visit siue.edu/gardens.
The Gardens at SIUE comprises existing woodlands, a pond, grasslands and an arboretum on a lush and rolling 35-acre site. The Gardens is a living laboratory dedicated to supporting the educational and research mission of the University. Environmental sustainability, conservation and stewardship are cornerstones of The Gardens’ vision, providing a unique opportunity to research, implement and demonstrate innovative green technologies. Gardens, facilities and amenities feature renewable, recycled and sustainability-produced materials.