Events in the Gardens & On the Farm
July 2010 - June 2011
2100 Ruffin Mill Road, Colonial Heights, VA
(15 minutes south of Richmond on I-95, exit 58)
526-4000, info@boulevardflowergardens.com
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July & August
Kids GROW Class & Lunch *Click here for details
(Summer Saturdays, July17 - August 7, 9:30-12:30)
Field Trips for Children’s Groups (Tues, Wed or Thurs, 9:30-1:30)

September 11 & 12
Garden with the Pros
(Saturday & Sunday, Extension Agents, Master Gardeners, Garden Product Vendors, Speakers, Free Classes, Refreshments & Product discounts)

September 25
Community Yard Sale (Saturday 7am-11am)
Join over 30 families on the front lawn!

October 1st thru 30th
Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch
(Wagon rides are Free) Weekends have additional activities for a fee.

Pumpkin Patch Reservations Available for Children’s Groups In October, we provide an outdoor classroom experience with Growing education on Virginia’s autumn harvest for children’s groups. Children are greeted and seated on straw bales in front of a large inflated pumpkin and welcomed to the farm. When the group leader completes the check-in at the farm shed, they will be given a coloring page for each child to take home. There are age-appropriate discussions on harvesting the pumpkin crop, as well as how birds, bees, insects and animals assist and benefit the farmer. (We cover SOL requirements through discussion of “seed to seed” on fall crops for school age children.) They will then find their way through a straw maze before they begin their journey to the patch. A wagon ride pulled by our farm tractor will take them to the field for their selection of a pumpkin which they will be able to carry back onto the wagon. After returning to the buses to unload the pumpkins, children can grab their lunch and walk to the picnic area to eat under the trees. Picnic tables are on a first come, first serve basis. Teachers may want to bring an extra blanket or two. Since seating is limited, children get first priority. If a lot of parents are attending, they may want to bring folding chairs. Please insist that children and chaperones bring bottled water only for drinking with their lunches as canned sodas and juices attract yellow jackets in the fall season. When the children have finished eating their lunch, they may help the farmer feed the animals a handful of grain. There is a sink with cold water (not drinkable) and sanitizer for hand cleaning. Some teachers opt to bring additional wipes for little hands. Swings, slides, sandbox, etc. are available for continued play if teachers allow. Reservations are for weekday mornings only, October 4-26, 2010 beginning between 9-11:30 am for organized groups of 10 or more children. Teachers can call for info to set up date and time, 526-4000, ext 301. An email confirmation will be sent to the team leader with further details for planning. Cost is $6.75 per child, parent, chaperone or teacher’s aide. One teacher is free per class. **Ask about our discount for booking an early reservation October 4-7 ** All monies are to be collected in advance by group leader. (Additional adults or children arriving on site without pre-pay will be charged $8 each.) Most visits last approximately 1 1⁄2 to 2 hours. Please arrive as a group and be ready to begin your tour at your scheduled time. We are a small farm and hope that you will appreciate the time and care given to make your trip memorable through appropriate scheduling. Pumpkin wagon rides will be held if the sky is overcast or misty. Teachers may call during business hours if you need to reschedule. Rain dates are Oct 27, 28 and 29 but pumpkin choices may be extremely limited by then. Children will be exposed to straw on the wagons and in the maze. Insects and animals are common in the outdoor environment. Parents should be advised and bring any necessary first aid with you to treat allergies. Most of all, ....we hope you enjoy your day with nature at the Farm!!!

October 2
Bacchus, Bloom & Bluegrass
(Saturday noon – 5pm. Wine tasting, seasonal plant displays & discounts, Live Music, Concessions, Arts & Crafts. Inside Greenhouse & Outside Nursery; Rain or Shine)

October 30
Medieval Arts & Modern Chivalry
(Saturday, 11am-3pm – Society of Creative Anachronism is an international organization, researching and will be recreating the arts, skills and traditions of pre-17th century Europe.
Nov thru March - Miniature Horse Nursery Tours for Children (Saturdays 11am to 2pm) Best suited for ages 4 to 9 (max weight, 85 lbs) $5. Experienced horse rider leads horse through greenhouse & around through nursery.

November 13 & 14
Christmas Open House …Everlasting Designs & Decorating Trends

November 27
Poinsettia Tour Saturday, every half hour beginning at 1pm through 4pm. Join one of our growers for a “Behind the Scenes” guided walking tour of our production with a small group for a 20 minute discussion and viewing over 8,000 poinsettias in bloom. Magnificent! Bring your camera.

December, Nostalgic Music of Christmas Past, Saturday & Sunday afternoons – Time slots open to reservation by community musicians, church choirs, school chorus, symphonic classical quartets or harmonizing groups for exhibition of seasonal music at time slots of 12:30-2 or 2:30-4. No charge to the public.

December 4 & 5
Model Train Displays throughout the Greenhouse
Collectors and train enthusiasts welcome to display and view the various models at no charge. Bring the children, young & old.

December 11
Gingerbread House Creation – Saturday, 10 to 11am. Contestants arrive at 9:30 to set up and have 1 hour to create their masterpiece from edible supplies they will bring to the contest. Imagination knows no bounds. Judging will begin at 11:30 with winners announced at 1pm. Winning entries must remain on display through Sunday, Dec 12 at 3pm.

January 21
Ladies Night Out
Friday 5:30 to 8pm with vendors & crafts invited to display their products in catering to the gals. Wine tasting, Refreshments, Music and Line Dancing Lessons!

January 22
Bird Lovers Unite!
Saturday, 1mile Nature Walk, bird viewing. 8:30am & 10am Class on Birds of VA

January 29
Piggy Party for Wilbur!
Saturday, 2pm. Our pot belly pig turns 3! Young & old invited to celebrate!

February 5
Young Art & Music in the Gardens
Saturday, 10am-4pm. Local high school artists display various media, midday refreshments and music as you stroll through the warmth of the tropical greenhouses.

February 18
Art Gala, Music, Wine Tasting
Friday, 5-8pm preview of Artist Displays.

February 19
Art in the Gardens
Open to area artists; no charge to the public

March 26
Community Yard Sale
Saturday, 7 to 11am; room for more than 40 families to sell on front lawn!

April all month - Fresh Asparagus Harvested from our fields.
No pesticides have been used in the growing of this field crop; available at the Garden Center checkout.

April 23 - Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, 1pm– Children ages 3-7; $5 fee
Dress for the weather with a wagon ride to the woods. Bring your own basket to hunt and don’t forget your camera!

May 15, Tea Time, Sunday 3pm.
Bring your own special tea cup. Mark Ragland will discuss growing, harvesting, brewing and tea varieties. Tasting & a bit of tea time protocol, mixed with light snacks, approximately 1& 1/2 hours. $25 fee. Call to reserve early, space limited to 32.

Adult Garden Classes
Most Saturdays, January - June & September - November at 10am.
Call for more info on each of the events 804-526-4000 updated 7/12/10

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Live, Laugh, Love & Learn from the Gardens.
A local family business, planning events for family fun, learning together,
enjoying the simple outdoor pleasures in life.

“Top Revolutionary Garden Center in the Southeastern Region of the U.S.”
by Today’s Garden Center magazine, Jan 2007

Call to confirm or reserve space at 804-526-4000.