“Come Sit a Spell” Views of the Southern Garden

3/19 – 8/22/2010

Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont, NC

This new exhibit is designed to take a look at how the tradition of our outdoor space that has evolved over the years. Come Sit a Spell: Views of the Southern Garden will feature more than 50 chairs, rockers, benches, swings and other furniture designed by artists, companies, schools and community groups especially for the Garden.

From rustic to whimsical to colorful art pieces, the exhibit includes some expected and unexpected ways to honor the tradition of the southern front porch. Furniture fashioned from twigs twisted to form a chair, an iron bench inspired by an apple core, chairs composed of salvaged materials and others pieces designed to capture the imagination make up this exhibit that runs through Aug. 22.

Opening weekend festivities include FREE admission for each child with a paying adult with “Southern Craft Creations” activities in which children and their parents are invited to make garden related art.

Opening Weekend Festivities include:

March 19 & 20 – Grass Couches and Sod Sofas: Unforgettable Living Sculpture (Free with Garden Admission)

March 20 – Artist Reception 3-5 p.m. (Free with Garden Admission)

March 20 & 21 – Southern Craft Creations 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Free with Garden Admission)

March 20 & 21 – Carriage Rides
Southern Breezes Carriages will be providing carriage rides throughout a portion of the exhibit, Saturday and Sunday for an additional fee and weather permitting. Please visit their website for additional information on Southern Breezes Carriages

March 21 – Spring Tea Tasting (1-2:15 p.m. & 3 – 4:15 p.m.)

Events, including a part of the Garden’s ongoing lecture series, include a presentation by renowned author and lecturer Felder Rushing, who travels with a garden planted in the back of his pickup truck from his home in Mississippi. The Garden will present his lecture “21st Century Plants from Grandmother’s Garden” at 10 a.m. on April 17. Admission to the lecture is $15 for Garden members and $20 for non-members. It will be followed by a hands-on workshop led by Felder in which guests can create their own plant containers using reclaimed items. Stick around afterwords for “Re-Purposed Planters” workshop with Felder Rushing from noon-4 p.m.