As spring unfolds its wings, accompanied by the blooming wave, it brings forth a special occasion every year - International Day of Plant Appreciation. On this day, the Botanical Garden of Klaipeda University (KU) warmly opens its gates, inviting visitors not only to admire the nurtured flora but also to participate in the traditional event "Pavasario alasas" (Spring Farewell).
The team nurturing the KU Botanical Garden is raising the curtain on their "Pavasario alasas" this year on May 17th, on the eve of the International Day of Plant Appreciation. On that day, access to the KU Botanical Garden will be free. "May is the peak of blooming. There are plenty of forms, colors, and scents. Visitors will surely find something to admire and marvel at!" - say the hosts, enriching the Plant Appreciation Day with educational and cultural programs.
On May 17th, visitors will not only be invited to educational activities for adults and children organized by the hosts but also to creative activities of other cultural institutions in the city and region. "One of the most important missions of botanical gardens is environmental education, so when planning events, we look for partners with whom we can together reveal the secrets of nature to visitors, draw their attention to the environment around us, its beauty, or troubles," says Ana Timonina-Mickevičienė, the project manager of the KU Botanical Garden. This year's event partner, the team of Vaclovas Intas Stone Museum, will teach how to wash gold; representatives of the Curonian Spit National Park will introduce invasive and alien plants, explain how to recognize them, and how they are dangerous to local plant species; the Lithuanian Sea Museum will invite visitors to create a sea mandala from findings on the seashore - stones, shells, animal prints. Along with the guests of the "Spring Farewell", the hosts - the team of curators of plant collections of the KU Botanical Garden - plan to create a land mandala in the plant meadow.
The cultural program of the "Pavasario alasas" includes numerous performances by Lithuanian authors, whose characters will guide visitors to various garden spaces, drawing attention to different plants and encouraging them to see beauty in simple things. Additionally, there will be a concert by the duo of soprano Viktorija Stanelė and bass-baritone Igor Bakan. The musical part of the event will be crowned by a performance by the group "Klasiokai".
There will also be a fair in the "Pavasario alasas", where representatives of nature-friendly farms and businesses will entice visitors with their products.
Although the program is in Lithuanian, no knowledge of the language is required to enjoy admiring plants, watching performances, or listening to music – everyone is welcome!
