But before Pam taught the adults, kids had some more butterfly magic courtesy of the Lafayette Library and Learning  Center.  They each made their own butterfly and left with their own milkweed plant to put in the garden.

The new summer class schedule will be posted shortly.  In the meantime, enjoy the slide show.

Saturday, May 11, 2013 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM |

Our Butterflies have a New Home!

Designed for: All Ages, Kids (5-11)

Let’s Celebrate with them at the Grand Opening of the Lafayette Community Garden & Outdoor Learning Center’s new Butterfly Garden!
Join us at the garden for Stories, Crafts & Butterfly Fun!

Thursday, April 25, 2013 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Children’s Room

Bye, Bye Butterfly Party!!

Designed for: All Ages, Kids (5-11)

Our caterpillars have their wings! Come celebrate at our Butterfly Party as we release our new butterflies in the Lafayette Library’s garden! Come dressed in your butterfly wings and join us for crafts, cookies and lemonade!

Science Cafe – Plants, Perfumes, and Poisons

Curious about what makes a stinking hellebore stinky? What makes leaves turn color in fall? Organic chemist Dr. Margareta (Greti) Sequin, author, plant enthusiast and Lecturer Emerita at San Francisco State University comes to the LLLC to talk about the plants we love, and the things we love about them – like their scents, oils and colors. She’ll share her vast knowledge of California native flora and their pleasing and poisonous properties.

Dr. Sequin will lead us on a virtual, photo-illustrated walk around the vicinity of the Lafayette Library and surrounding nature areas to explore the smells and defensive substances of native plants. Plants are masters at defense, in the form of tough skins, thorns, or sharp spines, but also in the form of bitter saps, sticky resins, or poisons that can harm. We will look at plants that contain defensive substances and examine their molecular structures….no previous chemistry knowledge required! We’ll also explore the connections with human uses of these plant substances, such as commercial fragrances or medicines.

More information here.

Sign up now for the last class this spring:

May 11     1:30 – 3pm  – Creating and Enjoying a Butterfly Garden

 Join Pamela Winther, Landscape Architect and Adjunct Professor at DVC to learn all about butterfly gardens and the beauty and delight they bring.  She’ll tell us the best plants to grow, what conditions they need to flourish, and which beauties you’ll find in your garden.  We’ll explore the Community Garden’s new butterfly garden and maybe find some visitors.

Sunday May 5, 2013 wildlife biologist and naturalist Jim Hale will lead a natural and cultural history interpretive hike to Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. We will meet Jim at the parking lot and staging area to the preserve at 8:30 A.M. for a brief introduction and orientation. At 9 A.M. we will depart on a 5-mile moderate loop saunter as Jim interprets the medicinal and edible uses of wildflowers and native plants. He will introduce us to wildlife and several Native American sites, including Volvon villages, hunting blinds, ceremonial cupule rocks, a prayer circle, bedrock milling stations and other resources. We expect to return by 3 in the afternoon.

Bring a lunch and plenty of liquids. Wear appropriate clothing and hiking shoes. We can carpool from the Community Garden or you can meet us at the staging area. Morgan Territory Preserve can be reached by taking Ygnacio Valley Road to Clayton. Take a right on Marsh Creek Road for three miles. Turn right on Morgan Territory Road and continue for 9.4 miles to the staging area at the top of the ridge on the left.

Cost: $30/individual; $50/Family This is a tax-deductible donation to Lafayette Community Garden. Limited space is available. To register, email Beth Ferree at bethferree@comcast.net.

Bonnie Stephens planting the first vegetable crop of the season on Saturday, March 30, 2013