Family-friendly exhibit extended at Sonoma Botanical Garden
This whimsical frog trio is part of the "Ribbit Exhibit" running through Sept. 29 at the Sonoma Botanical Garden in Glen Ellen. Courtesy Sonoma Botanical Garden
People-sized “frogs” are attracting record crowds from throughout Northern California to Sonoma Botanical Garden (SBG). Due to its popularity, “Ribbit Exhibit” will extend its wine country stay.
In its West Coast debut, the traveling show – featuring 23 whimsical frog sculptures – will now stay through Sept. 29, a month longer than originally scheduled, SBG announced Wednesday.
“We are delighted by the remarkable response to Ribbit Exhibit since its launch,” says Jeannie Perales, SBG’s executive director. “We've experienced a phenomenal 40 to 50% growth in attendance, admission revenue and membership year-over-year. This exhibit has not only expanded our family audience but also boosted membership and solidified our status as a premier destination both locally and beyond.”
Located in Glen Ellen on Highway 12, SBG is Sonoma County’s only public botanical garden. Created in a former quarry, the garden covers 67 acres with a wealth of Asian plants and California natives. About an hour away from Sacramento, it's an inviting summer day trip, surrounded by wineries.
Sculpted from copper with a naturally green patina, the Ribbit frogs are scattered throughout the botanical garden in Instagram-ready settings – relaxing on a bench, dancing next to a pond, sitting in a tree and more. Created by artist Andy Cobb, each Ribbit has its own story and personality.
Visitors can use SBG’s “Frog Finder” map to track the sculptures – and win a prize for finding all 23 frogs.
“It’s like an Easter egg hunt through the Garden, and families are loving it,” Perales says. “Seeing the delight on children’s faces when they open the treasure box of prizes is joyful. This activity has inspired visitors to explore every nook and cranny of the Garden, making their experience even more magical and memorable.”
And there’s more family fun: On Aug. 11, SBG hosts “Sunday Funday” with face painting, arts and crafts, children’s music, family yoga and more.
In addition, “Acoustic Sunsets” offers live music and family activities every Wednesday evening this summer. (More details are on the SBG website.)
SBG is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 30. Admission is $15; seniors (65 and up) $12; youth (ages 5 to 17) $8; children age 4 and under admitted free.
SBG is located at 12841 Hwy 12, Glen Ellen, CA. Questions? Call 707-996-3166 or email info@sonomabg.org.
Details: sonomabg.org.
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3
November still offers good weather for fall planting:
* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.
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