Arbor Day celebration set Jan. 18 at Botanic Gardens

BATON ROUGE — Burden Museums and Gardens has planned a day of family fun with a variety of activities and Smokey Bear at the fourth annual Arbor Day celebration from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. Jan. 18.
The event is presented by the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Burden Horticulture Society, which welcomes participants of all ages.
“Visitors are invited to plant a tree in the Burden woods and participate in a 5K Fun Hike and scavenger hunt through the Trees & Trails system,” said Jeff Kuehny, director of the Botanic Gardens.
Family members participating in the tree planting will be given a card with the tree name and GPS coordinates so they can monitor the growth of trees they plant, Kuehny said.
In addition to planting a tree in the Burden woods, each family will receive a tree seedling to plant at home. The seedlings are provided by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
“New this year will be lumberjack demonstrations,” Kuehny said. “In addition, students from the LSU School of Renewable and Natural Resources will demonstrate their expertise at archery, tree climbing, ‘toe chop’ ax styles and more.”
The activities will include chainsaw wood sculpting demonstrations and sculptures for sale. Refreshments also will be on sale.
Attendees can warm up at one of two bonfires. Hayrides will run from the bonfire at the Barton Arboretum to the bonfire at the orangerie for those who are not up to hiking the Black Swamp Trail to the arboretum.
Children also will have the opportunity to make decorations that wildlife can eat and learn more about trees and leaves with a leaf stamp activity during the StoryTime book reading beginning at 9 a.m. at the orangerie. There will be readings and activities every 30 minutes with the last reading beginning at 10:30 a.m. The program ends at 11 a.m.
Admission is $5 for individuals; children ages 3 and under will be admitted free. Proceeds will be used to support the Project Learning Tree program for children that is conducted by the Burden Horticulture Society.
For more information, visit www.LSUAgCenter.com/botanicgardens or call 225-763-3990.