What’s new at Botanica? More tulip varieties, extended hours and an evening weekly series
New things are springing up at Botanica.
Along with 38 new varieties of tulips among the 119 varieties that are set to bloom in April, Botanica also has new, extended hours and is introducing a new, once-weekly evening event series for April and May.
Botanica recently extended its daily hours to be open earlier in the morning and into the evening. It’s now open to the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Previously, its daily hours were 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Members can get even earlier access, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Rooted in Riverside, the new once-weekly series happening from 6:30 to 7:30 on Thursday nights in April and May, will feature mindful gardening, which involves helping weed garden beds, and fitness classes.
Yoga will be offered April 3, 10 and 17, tai chi classes are scheduled for April 24, May 1 and 8, and cardio dance is the featured fitness activity May 15, 22 and 29. Admission for the classes is $15, with discounts for members. Class bundle packages are also available. Those who attend to do the mindful gardening activity, offered all nine weeks, will get free admission.
Tulips take center stage
For Nikki Smith and other Botanica staff, the tulips blooming has become a much-anticipated rite of spring.
“We have just been waiting all winter for this, and this year’s display is going to be awesome. It’s already started blooming,” said Smith, Botanica’s director of community engagement and education.
About a decade or so ago, Botanica started its Tulip Festival. This year’s festival, with featured performances and activities, is happening from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, April 5, 12 and 19. Admission is $15, with discounts for members and kids ages 3 to 11. Limited tickets for early access, starting at 9 a.m., will also be available for $25, with a $5 discount for members. Online advance ticket purchases, which are encouraged, can be made at botanica.org/tulip-festival/. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Last fall, around 68,000 tulip bulbs were planted in Botanica’s annual plant beds. Besides being “awesome,” as Smith described it, this year’s display has another distinction: that of being the final tulip garden designs overseen by Pat McKernan, Botanica’s head landscaper who retired in December.
He had joined Botanica’s staff in 1987, when the gardens first opened as a collaboration between the Wichita Area Garden Council and the city of Wichita. McKernan always included new varieties for visitors to enjoy tulips not commonly seen in residential gardens.
One of this year’s new varieties is a Rembrandt tulip called Rembrandt Mixed, which can be found only in the garden beds by the Pinetum and Evergreen Collection. Rembrandt tulips have contrasting flames or streaks resembling brush strokes. The tulips resemble the virus-riddled ones that were often featured in 17th-century paintings; the tulip-specific virus caused the petals to have two or more colors. In the centuries since, virus-free varieties featuring similar characteristics were created.
Tulips are categorized by their characteristics, and this year Botanica has 12 distinct types of tulips.
Parrot tulips, which have brightly colored serrated, curled petals that resemble a parrot’s plumage, can be found in the Carousel Garden and elsewhere.
Blue double late tulips, which have a peony-like appearance, were planted in the Blue Garden, while other double late varieties will bloom in other annual flower beds.
Visitors can check out one of the eight varieties of lily flowering tulips — which have pointed petals — in the Terrace Garden. The Whispering Dream variety showcases pretty pink colors.
The fringed tulips that have frayed petal edges are among Smith’s favorites, she said. Fifteen fringed varieties were planted this year.
Activities during Tulip Festival include:
Free pictures with the Easter Bunny on all three Saturdays
Performances featuring the Wichita Children’s Theater and the musical group The Neilsons on April 5, improv sessions with Flying Pig Improv and music by The Steinbergs on April 12 and Ballet Wichita and musician Paul Fowler on April 19
A plant sale, which is a new activity this year
A Garden Ambassadors station where visitors can get expert advice from some of Botanica’s gardening volunteers, and
Interactive activities including lawn games, ribbon dancing and collage painting that are free with admission. The DIY floral crown-making activity will be an extra $5 charge to cover the costs of the cut-flower supplies, Smith said.
More specific information about Botanica and its events is available at botanica.org.