Events & Exhibits
• Children's Activities
Join us the second Saturday of each month for fun and informative children's activities for elementary school-aged children. Drop-In Activities are an inexpensive way to spend time with the child in your life. They are also great for rainy days. When the activity is finished, families can walk through ELsong Gardens, tour the home and enjoy a nickel Coca-Cola. Projects take between 10 and 30 minutes to complete.
Drop-In Children’s Activity
Gardening for Mom
Saturday, May 10
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $5 Fee
Plant Mom an herbal scented treasure this Mother’s Day! Learn about the many uses for scented herbs and take home recipes for potpourri, sachets and tasty treats! Plants such as rosemary, lavender, lemon verbena, chocolate mint, Eau-de-Cologne mint, and other sweet scented delights will be featured.
Drop-In Children’s Activity
Gardening for Dad
Saturday, June 14
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $5 Fee
Bring Dad to ELsong on Father’s Day weekend for gardening fun with edible plants! Working with herbs, children will decorate pots, play in the dirt, and present their role model with a lovely gift, complete with recipes! Herbs will also be available for tasting and sniffing.
These fun and informative activities are intended for elementary and school aged children. While children participate in the craft project, family members can relax in the garden, watch a video about the Biedenharn or help with the craft. Projects take ten to thirty minutes to complete. No reservations are necessary, just drop in between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. A $3 fee covers the cost of supplies.
• Moonlit Gardens
Moonlit Gardens
Experience ELsong Gardens under the light of the full moon when the Biedenharn opens its gates from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on seven different occasions at no charge. These special evening hours will be offered Fridays: April 18, May 23, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 12, and October 10. Each month features different flowering plants, which take on a completely different look under the evening sky as do Biedenharn’s sculpture and water features. The experience is heightened even more when the full moon makes an appearance. Dates and times are subject to change without notice pending weather conditions
Moonlit Gardens
Featuring Magnolia Strings Quartet
Friday, May 23
8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Admission is Free – No Reservations Necessary
Experience the magic of music under moonlit skies when the Biedenharn opens its gates from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. The evening will feature the musical talents of Magnolia Strings. Performing from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the terrace, the ensemble is regarded as one of the most sought-out young chamber groups in Louisiana. The musicians are employed as principal chairs of both the Baton Rouge Symphony and Acadiana Symphony orchestras. Though some seating will be provided, the music is intended to enhance your experience as you stroll along garden paths and enjoy Biedenharn’s sculpture and water features. Moonlit Fridays are scheduled the Friday closest to the full moon and are a popular event for all ages. In case of rain, the ensemble will perform in the Fountain Room of the Biedenharn Home.
Moonlit Fairy Gardens
Friday, June 20
9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Admission is Free
Experience the Biedenharn enchanted like never before! For one night only, illuminated fairy gardens will be on display throughout ELsong Gardens. Sure to delight all ages, the exhibit will highlight fairy gardens designed for the Fairy Wings & Garden Things summer day camp. The evening will also feature the musical talents of flautist Larry Estep of Laughing Rabbit Flute Works.
• Special Events
Staff Presentations
If you are seeking a speaker for your group or club's next meeting, consider calling the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens. Staff members are available to present on a number of topics ranging from education and events to collections, gardening, and Biedenharn's past, present and future. Special programs are also available, including Animals of the Bible, Plants of the Bible, A Bouquet of Stamps, and seasonal talks on Plants of Christmas and Books of Hours, also known as Medieval Prayer Books. These programs are available at your meeting site or at the Biedenharn in the Welcome Room. If you come to the Biedenharn, your group can add to their visit with a tour of the Biedenharn Home and gardens. If you are interested in scheduling a talk or learning more, please call 387-5281 or E-mail bmuseum@bayou.com.
• Summer Camp
Registration opens April 1, 2008
Summer Day Camps for Ages 7-10
June 9-13 and 23-27 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Two different day camp experiences will be offered during the month of June: Fairy Wings and Garden Things, and Wiggles, Wings and Garden Things.
Fairy Wings and Garden Things will be held June 9-13 for girls. Campers will experience the Biedenharn enchanted like never before. Fairy gardens will not only be seen in ELsong Gardens, but campers will also make a Fairy Garden of their very own. They will learn about the many flowers and plants that fairies care for, about butterflies and other insects that they befriend, and will create beautiful wings of their very own.
Wiggles, Wings and Garden Things will be held June 23-27. This co-ed experience will take campers on an adventure through the soils beneath the gardens to the very plants, animals and insects above the surface. All of this will be explored through fun and interested activities, including seed and soil dissection, worm composting, painting, music and more! Campers will also make their very own take-home garden.
Click here for the Detailed Summer Camp Brochure.
• Workshops
• Concerts
Spring Vocal Concert
Honoring Emy-Lou Biedenharn Memorial Scholarship Recipients
Tuesday, April 22 5 p.m. Admission is Free
Reservations Required
Join us as voice majors from the University of Louisiana at Monroe fill the air with beautiful song as part of a spring recital in the Fountain Room of the Biedenharn Home. Featuring Emy-Lou Biedenharn Memorial Scholarship Recipients, the performance will last one hour and will highlight the vocal music of W.A. Mozart, Antonin Dvorak, and Richard Strauss. Scholarship recipients include Johnny Nichols, Tenor, Madonna Gil, Soprano, and Melissa Keaster, Soprano.
A reception will follow the program in the Welcome Room of the conservatory where guests will have the opportunity to meet the students. Please call 318-387-5281 to make reservations.
• Exhibits
• Tours
Daily Tours
Monday thru Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sundays, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Biedenharn Museum and Gardens is a perfect destination for group tours. The last tour of each day begins at 4 p.m.
Groups of ten or more are requested to make reservations.
