Botanical Garden to Hold Centennial Celebration
By DAVID JONES
Contributing Editor
Call it a preview of coming attractions or whatever, but the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden is going to hold its official Centennial Celebration Sept. 8 and 9.
The garden is on a 215-acre site that is a gift from Tulsa attorney and rancher Gentner Drummond and businessman Tom Atherton. They purchased the site from the Williams Company and created Persimmon Ridge, LLC to give the land to the Garden.
The Garden will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 8 and noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 9.
Garden Executive Director Pat Woodrum said the celebration is being presented for several reasons.
“We want to bring people to the site of the future garden and show them the types of events that we will offer on a regular basis.
“Also, the celebration is an official Centennial event. It is funded in part through a grant made possible by the Oklahoma Legislature,” she said.
The festivities will include over 100 free activities, programs, demonstrations and entertainers for children and adults alike.
Saturday free bulbs and wildflower seeds will be handed out while supplies last, and free tree seedlings will be given out on Sunday while supplies last.
Hiking trails will be opened during the weekend and again on a varied schedule in the months to follow. To see when the trails are open check www.ocbg.org for details.
Master Gardeners and Linnaeus Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and display new plants.
Demonstrations will be plentiful, among them: the best plants for Tulsa, chuck wagon cooking, beekeepers, cooking demonstrations, and mud ball wildflower seed sowing.
For youngsters face painting and pioneer games will be offered. There will be demonstrations in origami and Kirigami.
A number of lectures will be offered.
Because of limited parking at Post Oak Lodge and Conference Center, where the weekend celebration will occur, the public is asked to park at Central High School, 3101 W. Edison. Parking and shuttle bus service are free. From I-244, U.S. 64 or OK 51 go to Gilcrease Museum Road, north to Edison and west (left) to the school.
Woodrum said the timing of the full opening of the Garden depends on the finances made available by the state and through gifts.
Updated 08-21-2007
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