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Have you ever seen a poetry-spouting plant or heard a chorus of critters? The birthday bash celebrating the 100th birthday of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden includes such experiences and more! The free family-friendly event will be held Saturday, Aug. 11, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
To celebrate the garden’s birthday, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre has created four special presentations that will be performed throughout the day. Visitors are invited to explore the garden enhanced by toy theaters.
A birthday party at Wirth Picnic Pavilion features birthday cake, music by Dreamland Faces, party hats to decorate and other family activities led by staff from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
Schedule
11 a.m.-4 p.m. – On-going puppetry and theatre performances in the garden.
12:15 p.m. – A special performance by In the Heart of the Beast artists and residency participants at the Wirth Picnic Pavilion.
12:30-2 p.m. – Birthday party with music by Dreamland Faces at the Wirth Picnic Pavilion.
In the Heart of the Beast Performances
“Pollen Nation” – This performance pays homage to the relationship between flowers and their pollinators. Composed by Laurie Witzkowski and performed by a Floral Chorale, the song cycle features a botanical love duet, a bird whistle sonata, a hummingbird ode, a bee fashion show set to an opus for kazoos and a tribute to the monarch butterfly.
“How Flowers Changed the World” – 140 million years ago, angiosperms (flowers) mysteriously appeared on the earth and started stitching together a rapid-growing, colorful tapestry of life that made us possible. This silent puppet show is accompanied by classical and experimental guitar music that shows the cosmic and old-fashioned vignettes of a flower-powered universe.
“While Eloise Sleeps” – The personified flora and fauna of the bog come to life while Eloise sleeps. The toy theater piece features hand puppets and rod puppets who express the magical essence of flowers and bog plants, with song and dance inspired by early 20th century children’s verse and artwork.
“Happy Birthday Pageant” – Celebrate the flowers and creatures of the garden’s woodland, savannah and bog through a colorful pageant full of music, puppetry and poetry.
Birthday Gifts
A birthday party wouldn’t be complete without gifts, so visitors are welcome to bring gifts if they wish. Gift ideas for the garden include:
• Your time as a volunteer at the garden
• Packet of Minnesota native seeds
• Gift certificate for native plants from local nursery
• Donation for wildflower garden’s plant fund
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is located at Theodore Wirth Parkway and Glenwood Ave. The garden is open from 7:30 a.m. to one-half hour before sunset.
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