Events

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

bird sitting on branch

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 Spring dates:

  • March 16
  • April 20
  • May 18
plants at the sale

Spring Garden Fest ft. EBR Master Gardener Plant Sale

March 23, 2024 | 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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!

Lecture Schedule:

  • 9 - 9:30 a.m. | Succulents with Joyce Ryder
  • 10 - 10:30 a.m. | Herb Gardening with Kathy Mullin
  • 11 - 11:30 a.m. | Pollinator Plants with Carol Paine
  • 12 - 12:30 p.m. | Composting with Bert Hammett
Louisiana iris

Reflections in the Garden

April 1, 2024 | Noon - 1 p.m.

Join LSU AgCenter research assistant Alessandro Holzapfel as he discusses marigold research at the Botanic Gardens.

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. 

See schedule of dates and topics.

adult reading to children

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. 

Spring 2024 Dates:

  • April 13 at the Pavilion
  • May 4 at the Pavilion
man playing trumpet

Music in the Gardens

April 18, 2024 | 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Be one of the first to experience Music in the Gardens, a treat for the senses! 

Enjoy live performances from the Musical Theatre Club of LSU 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!

Get your tickets today! Admission ranges from $5 to $25. Friends members receive a discount on all ticket levels. 

large group of people gathered causally in garden setting

Gourmet in the Garden

Canceled 2024

Gourmet in the Garden is a foodie's dream!

Bring your food-loving friends to savor dishes and cocktails from your favorite Baton Rouge chefs and mixologists. After you've tried them all, vote for your favorite in the People's Choice Awards!

 

orchid

Orchid Show & Sale

July 2024

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 open to the public.

 

woman painting

Icon Painting Workshop

August 2024

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.

girl in front of corn maze entrance

Corn Maze

October 2024

Join us as we open our fields and crank up our tractors to usher in the Fall season with some crazy mazy outdoor fun in October 2024. More details to come!

 

bonfire with marshmallows roasting

Night Maze & Bonfire

October 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! 

champagne flutes filled with pink cocktail

Wine and Roses Rambler

November 2024

The Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden invite you to ramble through the Gardens!

Stroll through the gardens as you savor gourmet hors d'oeuvres from some of your favorite local restaurants, sip fine wine specially selected for each small bite, and engage your senses in an aromatic wine tasting. Guests will also enjoy live music, a wine toss, a silent auction, and a raffle.

 

red poinsettias

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!

two girls help young boy plant a tree

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.

White camellia

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. 

people buying herbs at the sale

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.