Family Harvest Day on the Rooftop Garden

Help harvest seeds from Michaela’s Garden at the annual Family Harvest Day on the Rooftop Garden at the Connecticut Science Center.  See your favorite plants and enjoy the beautiful views. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in interactive planting activities.
Michaela’s Garden Project is a garden designed to encourage area families and youth to become more involved in community service; it is sponsored by the Petit Family Foundation. At each public garden seeds are harvested from the Four O’ Clocks plant, Connecticut’s new Children’s State Flower. The Four O’Clock seeds that are harvested are part of a massive propagation effort that supports Women in Science programs and encourages families and youth to become more involved in community service. Help us share the love!
You can help grow the project by planting and harvesting seeds. It’s easy to do. Each plant will set multiple blooms over a two to three month period. As each bloom emerges, matures, wilts and falls away, it will leave one seed—about the size of a peppercorn—which can be picked from the bract. Each plant will set dozens of seeds. During and after harvesting store seeds in a paper bag (not plastic) so that seeds can dry. Send us your harvested seeds and we will pack them for next year’s program. Every 25 seeds returned can mean $10 in additional support for the Foundation.
One of the special features that makes the Science Center a “green” building is the Rooftop Garden. A very specific planting design reduces by 50% the amount of water necessary to keep our plants thriving. Plants were chosen to highlight native species, and to explore some of the more interesting plants that have evolved in nature. The ground cover on the roof helps to insulate the building, making it more energy efficient, and the garden is home to many pollinating insects. It’s a cool place to relax and take in spectacular views of the Connecticut River.
This event is FREE with the purchase of General Admission or a Connecticut Science Center Membership.  Special thanks to the Petit Family Foundation!