Events
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
StoryTime in the Garden
One Saturday a month | 9 a.m. - Noon
Join us on Saturday morning to listen to storybook readings and flex your creative muscles! Young children will have a blast interacting with other kids, making arts and crafts, and listening to stories. Little ones also receive a book to take home with them. Every half hour, we switch between stories and crafts to keep young children interested and engaged. Best suited for children ages 3-8, but children of all ages are welcome! Admission is free. No registration is required.
Reflections in the Garden
September 9, 2024 | Noon - 1 p.m.
"Jewels of the Garden - Louisiana's Hummingbirds" | Presented by Dr. Erik Johnson, Director of Conservation Science for Audubon Delta
Reflections in the Garden is a monthly "lunch and learn" series presented by the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. The lectures are generally held on the first Monday of the month at noon at the Botanic Gardens. Admission is free for member of the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens and $10 for non-members.
Birding at Burden
One Saturday a month | 7 - 9 a.m.
Did you know 320 species of birds have been recorded in and around Burden, including common species, such as northern mockingbirds and ruby-throated hummingbirds, seven different woodpeckers, waterfowl and wading birds, and a variety of resident migratory songbirds?
Grab your birding gear and join us bright and early to catch a glimpse of some of these species on a two-hour guided tour led by different birding specialists through the birding loops at Burden.
Admission is $10. The capacity for each excursion is limited to 15 guests. Register here.
2024 Fall dates:
- September 21
- October 19
- November 16
- December 14
Orchid Show & Sale
July 13th, 2024 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) and July 14th, 2024 (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
The Baton Rouge Orchid Society's Annual Show & Sale offers stunning visual displays from multiple Orchid Societies across the Gulf Coast, affordable sale plants from local vendors, tours of the BROS orchid collections, and educational sessions on growing and caring for orchids! This event is free and located at the LSU Rural Life Museum.
Corn Maze
October 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th, 2024
Join us every Saturday in October for fall fun for the whole family! During your two hour session, you can take a hayride to our sunflower field and satsuma grove, dip your toe in the Corn Crib, visit the Goula Paradise petting farm, pick a pumpkin in our pumpkin patch, and so much more!
Fun festival foods will be available for purchase from a variety of local vendors
Tickets are pre-sale only, meaning no tickets will be sold at the gate. Limited quantities
available.
Night Maze & Bonfire
October 26th, 2024
Grab your costumes, glow sticks, and flash lights and head on over Night Maze. At our family-friendly Night Maze you can take a stroll through the corn maze, roast marshmallows by the bonfire, climb the hay mountain, go for a "swim" in the corn crib, play awesome games, and dance to live music!
Poinsettia Sale & Show
November 2024
It's not Christmas in Louisiana without our Burden Poinsettias! Over 50 varieties of Poinsettias will be on display and available for sale at the Botanic Gardens greenhouse. The botanic gardens evaluates Poinsettia varieties developed by breeders worldwide and they will be exclusively sold at the annual show and sale. A limited number of each variety are available so arrive on time so that you don't miss out on these rare varieties of Poinsettias!
Louisiana Lights
November 29th - December 29th, 2024
Premiering this fall, Louisiana Lights will captivate visitors of all ages and take them on a journey through illuminated garden rooms, past enchanted forests, a sparkling lake and a shimmering tunnel of light on the grounds of the former Burden family home. Dazzling fireflies, beautiful doves, Moravian stars and other stunning surprises will light the way against a backdrop of brilliant, majestic oaks, twinkling crape myrtles and the luminous landscapes of Burden Museum & Garden.
Tickets go on sale September 15th!
Poinsettias & Prosecco
December 4th, 2024
Experience the magic of the season at "Poinsettias & Prosecco," an exclusive 21+ event hosted by the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. This special evening will take place at Louisiana Lights on Wednesday, December 4th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Wander through the stunningly lit Windrush Gardens while enjoying delectable small bites and perfectly paired drinks from local restaurants. Delight in live music on the porch of the Burden family home, participate in a live auction, and enjoy delicious desserts.
Tickets go on sale September 15th!
Arbor Day and Tree Giveaway
January 18, 2025
We partner with Baton Rouge Green to bring you the best Arbor Day celebration ever!
Join us for tree climbing with Bofinger's Tree Service, a scavenger hunt, ax throwing with the Timber Tigers, shopping with local vendors and even a chance to meet Smokey Bear (don't worry, he's not a real bear). Plant your very own tree in the Burden Woods and track its growth using GPS coordinates! Planting trees are limited to one per family. The trees you plant help reforest the Burden Woods after previous hurricane seasons.
Baton Rouge Green will host their annual tree giveaway in conjunction with Arbor Day. Giveaway trees are limited to one per household.
Camellia Show & Sale
February 2025
Shop from over one hundred camellia selections for your garden or take a look through the exhibit of award-winning camellias grown by the Baton Rouge Camellia Society and by gardeners like you! Many of these camellias have been meticulously propagated from the expansive camellia collections at the Botanic Gardens. The Camellia Society will also offer planting and management advice.
The Camellia Show will be held at the LSU Rural Life Museum.
The Camellia Sale will be held at the Ornamental and Turf Research Facility on the
north side of I10 on Burden Museum & Gardens property. Signage will guide guests upon
arrival.
Herb Day
February 2025
Herb Day is the perfect place to start an herb garden or refresh one you've already established! At Herb Day you'll find thousands of healthy herbs and All America Selections vegetable plants as well as local vendors selling their wares, food trucks selling delicious fare, and educational sessions for the home gardener.
Herb Day is an educational outdoor gardening event and plant sale hosted by the Baton Rouge Unit of the Herb Society of America.
Spring Garden Fest ft. EBR Master Gardener Plant Sale
March 2025
Join us for a celebration of spring, knowledge, and all things green – a perfect day for seasoned gardeners and budding plant lovers alike!
This revamped event is a haven for plant enthusiasts, featuring separate plant sales by the Botanic Gardens and EBR Master Gardeners. Immerse yourself in a vibrant marketplace with garden-related vendors offering a curated selection of goods. Explore informational booths from horticultural organizations and attend insightful 30-minute educational lectures by the Master Gardeners throughout the day in the Ione Burden Conference Center.
Don't forget to bring your wagon to carry all of your exciting new purchases!
Icon Painting Workshop
March 16th - 21st, 2025
The Icon Workshop is a thoughtful and meditative week-long retreat focusing on traditional painting techniques that date back 2,000 years.
The workshop is led by trained Iconographers in the Ione Burden Conference Center. No artistic skill or previous painting experience is required, and all materials are provided by Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. Coffee and lunch are provided daily.
Email dianawells1548@gmail.com for more information.
Music in the Gardens
April 2025
Be one of the first to experience Music in the Gardens, a treat for the senses!
Enjoy live performances from local musicians while basking in the beauty of the Botanic Gardens. We'll bring the tunes, the views, and the fun. You bring friends and family, your coolest picnic setup, and your dancin' shoes!