The traveling exhibition featuring contemporary botanical artworks depicting plants discovered and introduced by two generations of the Bartram family is opening today at Bartram’s Garden (54th St & Lindbergh Blvd). The exhibit coincides with Bartram’s Spring Plant Sale (members-only preview of the plant sale is also today) and many of the plants depicted in the artists’ works will be available for purchase during the sale, which will run throughout the weekend.

The exhibition will be installed in the gallery of the restored Barn, built in 1775 by John Bartram, and the oldest barn in Philadelphia. It will be on display through May 24, then will travel to further venues throughout the southeastern US. For more information, go here.

Bartram’s Spring Plant Sale will be open for general public this Saturday and Sunday (May 4 & 5), 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The plant sale is an annual fundraiser for the garden. For more information on what plants are available for sale this weekend, check out this page.

Two turkeys strolling through Bartram’s Garden last summer. (Photo by West Philly Local)

Some people have written us with concerns about the turkey that has been spotted strolling around the neighborhood in recent days. As suspected, the turkey appears to be from Bartram’s Garden.

The turkey apparently got into a territorial dispute with his brother and took off. Spokeswoman Kim Massare said the Bartram’s Garden staff is interested in getting updates on the turkey, but other than that there is not much that can be done.

“They are federally protected birds and they generally have a wide territory,” said Massare. “If it’s in good health and seems happy there’s no reason to be concerned.”

If the bird does appear to be injured, she suggested contacting the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge or the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, which operates a wildlife rehabilitation clinic.

Otherwise, you can help document the bird’s whereabouts by snapping a photo, leaving a comment here or visiting the Bartram’s Garden Facebook page here.

A turkey, possibly one of those in the photo above, rambling down 50th Street near Springfield. (Photo courtesy of @kayasinfo on Twitter)

The very last public input session for the Bartram’s Mile planning process will take place this Saturday (Nov. 10) at the Garden’s Coach House. Everyone is welcome to come to an engaging design workshop and help brainstorm design and programming concepts for the park and trail space. Each group will be facilitated by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, PennPraxis, or Andropogon Associates.

Bartram’s Mile is an exciting project to convert one mile of currently vacant riverfront property into public green space and public input is essential to its success. To read more about the project, click here.

Bartram’s Mile Design Workshop
Saturday, November 10
12:00pm-3:00pm
Bartram’s Garden Coach House, 54th and Lindbergh Boulevard

Photo courtesy of Bartram’s Garden.

Your input is needed on a plan to transform a mile of vacant land along the western banks of the Schuylkill river between Grays Ferry Avenue and 58th Street, which is set to become a key link in the Schuylkill River trail.

The project provides an opportunity to convert publicly owned vacant land into public green space and to increase access to a West Philly gem – Bartram’s Garden. But there’s more to it; this new open space could provide riverfront access and recreation opportunities to local neighborhoods, help restore an important watershed, and extend the Schuylkill River Trail.

PennPraxis is conducting a series of public events and meetings to open up the “Bartram’s Mile” project to public input. Your input will be used to create a series of design proposals and cost estimates. The first meeting/walking tour is this Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m. Here’s more information:

EVENT #1: WALKING TOUR

Sunday, October 28, 2:00-4:00pm

Meet at the Bartram’s Garden Trail Head (make a left at the end of the entry road)

Featuring: Mark Focht (Parks and Recreation), Maitreyi Roy (Bartram’s Garden), Jose Almiñana (Andropogon Associates)

EVENT #2: BIKE TOUR

Saturday, November 3, 1:30-4:00pm

Meet at the Bartram’s Farm for its Fall Harvest Day — celebrate its one-year anniversary before biking!

Organized with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia

EVENT #3: DINNER CONVERSATION

Monday, November 5, 6:00-8:00pm

Bartram’s Garden, 54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard

EVENT #4: DESIGN WORKSHOP

Saturday, November 10, noon – 3pm

Bartram’s Garden, 54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard

To RSVP email: praxis@design.upenn.edu or call 215-573-8720. If you cannot attend any of the meetings, you can also provide your input at www.planphilly.com/bartramsmile.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to engage with the environment and the history of one of the nation’s oldest botanical gardens. Data Garden’s bio-interactive art and music festival, The Switched-On Garden, returns to Bartram’s Garden on Sunday. From 2 to 8:30 p.m. head to Bartram’s and connect with it through live music, performance and sculpture that blurs the distinction between biological and digital worlds. This is a free event and everyone is welcome. Here’s a full line-up:

Live Performances

 
KING BRITT (Album Release Concert)
Philadelphia producer, composer, performer and curator of electronic music will explore sound design, noise and ambient.

SPACESHIP ALOHA (EP Release Concert)
Philadelphia producer/composer/percussionist Christopher Sean Powell (Man Man/Need New Body) teams up with Data Garden to bring you the maiden voyage of Spaceship Aloha.

ALLEN CRAWFORD with LAURA BAIRD, DINO LIONETTI (of Cheap Dinosaurs) and GRETCHEN LOHSE
A sonic essay inspired by Bartram’s Garden

COSMIC MORNING
Renowned visualist and educator Don Miller presents a special light show that revisits the roots of modern VJ culture.

DJ RYAN TODD
International crate digger and electronic music producer Ryan Todd will provide natural grooves. Continue Reading

Bartram’s Garden and The Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild are inviting everyone to celebrate bees and honey with them on Sunday (Sept. 9). Bartram’s Garden is one of the venues hosting the 3rd Annual Honey Festival that will span three days in three locations this weekend. Check out the program below. For more information, visit http://phillyhoneyfest.com or contact: honeyfest@phillybeekeepers.org. For more upcoming events at Bartram’s Garden, click here.

10 am – 4 pm  – Annual Fall Plant Sale – all day long!
10 am – 2 pm  – Bee Discovery Day — Visit science stations, make a costume & march in the Be-a-Bee Parade!
10 am – Open Hive Talk — take a peek inside a real bee hive
10:30 am – How to Brew Honey Beer at Home: Part 1, with J. McMillan
11 am – PA Honey Queen Jessica Long demonstrates Cooking with Honey
11:30  – Mead-tasting
Noon – Honey Extraction
12:30 – Open Hive Talk
1 pm – Philadelphia Bees’ Stake in Pollination with Stephanie Wilson
1:30 pm – How to Brew Honey Beer at Home: Part 2 , J. McMillan
2 pm  – PA Honey Queen, Jessica Long demonstrates Cooking with Honey
2:30 pm  – Open Hive Talk
3 pm – Taste mead, braggot and honey-based homebrews; try Little Baby’s honey ice cream

Bartram’s Garden is located at 5400 Lindbergh Boulevard and is accessible by public transportation. Take No. 36 Trolley to 54th Street.