Snowy views and seasonal events at the West Virginia Botanic Garden.
As cold weather sets in in earnest, you might be dreaming of picnics and pool days—but don’t rush Old Man Winter along too fast. When the West Virginia Botanic Garden transforms into a winter wonderland, there’s no better place for reflection and scenic views.
“In winter, there are so many new ways to connect and learn about nature, like looking for animal footprints in the snow,” says WVBG Education Director Abigail Waugh. “It’s a space that people are used to, but it’s a brand new way to look at it.”
Bundle up and explore glittering trails from dawn to dusk, stop by the new Visitors Center and gift shop, then round out your magical Garden experience with these refreshing winter events.
George W. Longenecker Symposium
Saturday, February 1, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
25 years ago, George W. Longenecker led efforts to transform the former Tibbs Run Reservoir area into the Botanic Garden we know and love today. As the Garden celebrates its silver anniversary and reflects on a quarter-century of passion for nature, art, and local culture, the inaugural George W. Longenecker Symposium honors the legacy of its earliest visionary.
Held at the WVBG’s Terrace at Tibbs Run event venue, the symposium features a guest speaker lineup of gardening educators. Hobbyist gardeners and horticultural professionals alike are invited for a day of garden design tips, mingling, and Q&A sessions with local experts.
“We felt a great way to honor George in years going forward was to create this symposium with The Terrace as a base for educating the public on gardening and plants and garden design,” says Philip Smith, the WVBG’s third and current executive director.
Look for more details on the symposium in our January 30 Lowdown.
Appalachian Cookery Tutorial: Old-School Appalachian Sweets
Tuesday, February 4, 6:30 p.m.
When construction on The Terrace was completed two years ago, Smith says, cooking tutorials were an early concept for the space. Marion and Alegria Ohlinger, the esteemed chefs behind Hill & Hollow Free-Range Kitchen, have provided their culinary expertise from some of the earliest annual Garden Party galas to recent fine dining events.
From there, the Appalachian Cookery Tutorial series was a clear next step.
The Ohlingers’ previous tutorials have highlighted Appalachian classics like stews, biscuits, and ramps, but this installment will feature a recipe especially fitting for the season: old-school Appalachian sweets. More than a cooking lesson, Waugh says, the classes present an opportunity to connect with Appalachian culture and reflect on treasured memories.
Great Backyard Bird Count
Saturday, February 15, 10 a.m.
What were previously green grass and greener leaves are now sparkling expanses and bare branches, revealing details that were previously hidden—including the Mountain State’s many feathered residents. Whether you can list taxonomic names on command or tend to identify your backyard visitors by titles like “that round gray bird,” the Great Backyard Bird Count is an opportunity to venture from your nest for some low-stakes birding.
Hosted by the National Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual worldwide community science project contributing data to avian research and conservation efforts.
“This is built as a family program, so this is a great place to start if you want to get into birding or community science,” says Waugh. Unlike similar events that encourage hours of data collection, the Great Backyard Bird Count suggests a minimum of 15 minutes—a great option if you’ve got young children with limited attention spans, she notes.
During the event, Waugh will educate on the benefits of community science efforts, guide attendees through the Garden, and demonstrate data reporting methods.
If you still find yourself counting down the days to spring, rest assured—the Garden’s spring schedule will become available next month. In the meantime, keep an eye out for all the ways the WVBG will be celebrating its silver anniversary, from silver flowers to silver art installations. It’s an exciting time for the Garden, Smith says, so don’t miss out.
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM MORGANTOWN LOWDOWN
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