Austin Ikebana Group Monthly Meeting
Zilker Botanical Garden 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX, United StatesThe Austin Ikebana Group was founded by Isamu Taniguchi (circa 1902-1992), who started building the Taniguchi Japanese Garden when he was 70 years old. Ikebana is more than simply arranging flowers-its Japanese characters mean “giving life to flowers.” This art form has spiritual and philosophical roots, where the relationship between every flower, stem, branch, leaf, and even container expresses a balanced and harmonious nature. The feelings of the arranger play a key role as well. Members rotate leading demonstrations and workshops. Because members have trained in various schools of Ikebana, including Ohara, Sogetsu, Ikenobo, and Ichiyo, they bring a rich atmosphere of learning and growth to the meetings. This becomes a contemplative practice of expressing gentleness and elegance through the art of flower arrangement. Meetings are monthly on the first Friday at 10am.
Seed Collection Gathering
Austin Central Library 710 W. César Chávez St., Austin, TX, United StatesJoin us for Seed Collection Gatherings on the second Monday of each month from 3–4:30 pm in the northwest corner of the Austin Public Library Main Branch on the 6th floor. What is the Seed Collection? The Seed Collection is a joint project of the Austin Public Library and the Central Texas Seed Savers, a grassroots group of seed savers, gardeners, horticulturists and social activists that coalesced around the idea of establishing a repository and exchange system for seeds of land race, heirloom, locally adapted and native varieties of fruits and vegetable and other useful plants in Central Texas region. The Seed Collection is housed in the classic card catalog cabinet on the Austin Central Library's 6th floor. Everyone is welcome to "check out" and "return" seeds from the collection. If you have more questions about this project or would like to join our green gang, please Ask a Librarian. The Seed Collection has taken root! The Central Texas Seed Savers and the Austin Public Library are committed to supporting the local environment and community by sharing seeds and related knowledge through our programming and circulating collection. We believe that seeds are nutritional and historical suitcases which contain the potential for both physical and cultural sustenance. Seed collections like ours are intended to promote sustainability, self-sufficiency, food security and interpersonal exchange. How does it work? Browse the drawers, check out up to four seed packets per visit and record them on our checkout clipboard on top of the catalog cabinet. When you have extra seeds, keep the spirit alive with a donation. Fill out a form from drawer 19, and place it with the donation in drawer 20. If needed, you can find seed envelopes in drawer 21. The Seed Collection relies upon your contributions to keep it growing.
Free Day at Zilker Botanical Garden
Zilker Botanical Garden 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX, United StatesOn select dates throughout the year, Zilker Botanical Garden offers free days where no admission is charged. Free Days for 2024: January 15, February 19, March 12, April 28, July 14, September 7, November 11, December 26 No advance registration is necessary. Final entry to the Garden is 4:30pm. Parking is always free and available via our main parking lot, which can be accessed through the front entrance of the garden. If overflow parking is needed, our overflow lot at 2300 Stratford Drive will be open. If you park in the overflow lot, you can enter directly across the street through the Hartman Gate at the back entrance. This is a highly ornamental gate and is easily recognizable.