Consuming Louisville » Outdoors

Free February is Free at Yew Dell Gardens

Michelle — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:37:00 +0000

With this crazy warm weather we’re having you could certainly do a lot worse than spending an afternoon roaming around Yew Dell Gardens. It’s a lovely, lovely place and for the month of February you can get in to see for yourself for free.

February is the month of love and we love gardens! We decided to make admission FREE to all for the month of February so visitors could come and love our gardens. Winter gardens are open for viewing, as are our hiking trails and gorgeous arboretum. With this mild weather you may be surprised what you see in bud and even in bloom.

Yew Dell Gardens
6220 Old LaGrange Road
Crestwood, KY 40014

Skate Tweet Up II: Electric Boogaloo December 28, 2011

Michelle — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:58:35 +0000

My very good friend and all around awesome person, Melissa from Loueyville, arranged a tweet up at the temporary skating rink over in Jeffersonville earlier this week. IF you missed out on the fun you don’t weep in your eggnog because she’s arranging another skating tweet up for next Wednesday night, December 28, 2011.

The Jeffersonville rink is tiny and adorable. There’s a hot dog/hot chocolate vendor outside. And street parking is convenient and easily found. And it’s only $8 for the whole shebang– skating AND skate rental! I really wish the rink would stay open longer than just January 1.

So, I am planning another Skate Tweet-Up before the rink closes.

Who: YOU! This event is kid-friendly and non-skater-friendly.

What: Skating at the Jeffersonville rink.

When: December 28 from 7-9pm, apres-skate gathering at the BBC on Main Street

Where: Jeffersonville, Indiana– corner of Market and Spring Streets.

Why: Because it’s lovely and festive, and you’ll work muscles that you didn’t know you had– ow!

Now doesn’t that just sound terribly festive? Yes, yes it does.

Barkitecture at Yew Dell Gardens

Michelle — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:00:47 +0000

I’m enough of a crazy dog person that I’m always on the lookout for new places to go and things to do with my dog. So I can’t wait to take Grace to Yew Dell Gardens to checkout their new exhibit called “Barkitecture.”

A two-month celebration of architectural design, done canine style! Come to Yew Dell to see the display of these whimsical wonders created by some of the area’s most creative architects, designers and builders. Hounds on the Grounds every Sunday (that means you can bring your dogs) to check out the the real estate!

They’re kicking off the exhibit this Sunday September 11, 2011 from 1PM to 4PM.

Pack up the family, and the dogs, and join us to kick off the show with an afternoon featuring dog treats, people treats (grilled hot dogs, appropriately!) demonstrations and more.

The afternoon’s festivities are free with regular Yew Dell admission.

Yew Dell Gardens
6220 Old LaGrange Road
Crestwood, KY 40014

Hummingbird Festival at Yew Dell Gardens August 27, 2011

Michelle — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:01:15 +0000

It’s time for Yew Dell’s annual Hummingbird Festival.

Yew Dell’s Hummingbird Festival is a great way to spend an afternoon enjoying the gardens and learning about one of Mother Nature’s most amazing marvels. Hummingbird banding experts will be catching and tagging birds all afternoon and sharing information on hummingbird acology, biology and offering tips for attracting them to your garden. The banding work will also allow you to see the little guys up close, like you’ve never seen them before. Renowned hummingbird photographer Russ Thompson will be on hand providing tips on attracting and photographing hummingbirds so be sure to bring your camera. Kid’s activities, refreshments, hummingbird-attracting plants for sale and more. No reservations required.

Saturday August 27, 2011
3PM- 6PM
Free with regular admission

Yew Dell Gardens
6220 Old LaGrange Road
Crestwood, KY 40014

Louisville Loves Mountains Tomorrow May 20, 2011

Michelle — Thu, 19 May 2011 11:46:59 +0000

Tomorrow night from 4PM-10PM there’s a special event happening outside the Longest Avenue locations of Heine Brothers and Carmichael’s. It’s the 3rd annual “Louisville Loves Mountains” Festival and will be featuring music, speakers, food, beer and all sorts of festiveness.

An impressive list of local artists and musicians are teaming up with Heine Brother’s Coffee and Carmichael’s Bookstore and Kentuckians For The Commonwealth for an evening to celebrate Kentucky’s mountain beauty and heritage. The festival celebrates the unique natural beauty and ecological importance of Kentucky’s Appalachian Mountains and is designed to educate the community on the destructive practice of mountain top removal mining.

The third annual Louisville Loves Mountains Festival will be held Friday evening, May 20 from 4–10 p.m, rain or shine. A section of Longest Avenue at Bardstown Road – adjacent to Heine Brothers and Carmichael’s stores – will be blocked off to create an outdoor space for the festivities.

The event begins at 4 PM with music, beer and food and continues until 10 PM with speakers, poets, bands and entertainment.

Wendell Berry will deliver the keynote address at 6 PM and Sally Campbell, author of Saving Kentucky will speak at 7 PM. Additional participants include readings by Affrilachian poets, a rousing performance by the River City Drum Corps, and music from the Reel World String Band, Relic, Appalatin and more.

Yew Dell Gardens Sculpture Show Opening Reception May 20, 2011

Michelle — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:00:14 +0000

We enjoyed our visit to the Yew Dell Gardens plant sale so much a few weeks we became members. Well I enjoyed my visit to Yew Dell Gardens and B enjoyed her visit plus also loading the car completely down with new plants and a new composter. Whatever, the point is we’re now Yew Dell Gardens members so don’t be surprised if I tell you about their events more often even if they are way, way beyond the Watterson.

The first of those events I want to tell you about is their 4th Annual Sculpture Show. I have a serious soft spot in my heart for sculpture so I’m really excited about this event. The show runs from May 21-July 31 so you’ve got plenty of time to get out there and see it. If you are really anxious to see the show or just enjoy fancy opening receptions then you can go to the show’s opening reception next Friday night, May 20 from 5PM-8PM. It’s not free though, it’s a little price, $25 for Yew Dell members and $30 for nonmembers. To be fair though you’ll get to meet the artists, view the art before the show officially opens and munch on “heavy appetizers” by chefs from the Mayan Cafe, Limestone and the Oak Room.

Yew Dell Gardens
6220 Old LaGrange Road
Crestwood, KY 40014

Gardener’s Fair at Locust Grove Starts Tomorrow May 13, 2011

Michelle — Thu, 12 May 2011 11:55:51 +0000

Lest you think this is turning into a gardener’s blog I think this will be the last gardening event I write about for a while. However one of the beloved gardeners in my life looks forward to this event every single year so I’d be in serious trouble if I even considered not mentioning it to you.

This annual event offers visitors the chance to purchase flowers, herbs and plants along with a variety of tools, artistic and practical gardening accessories, wrought iron sculptures, water gardens and antique yard furniture among other delightful finds. Professionals will be on hand to answer questions and help solve your garden problems. The silent auction, a fundraiser for Historic Locust Grove, will have scores of offerings from antiques, quilts and other handiwork to art, gardening accessories and valuable gift certificates. General admission to the event, which includes a tour of Historic Locust Grove, is $5, or $3 for children age 6 to 12.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday May 13, 14, & 15
10AM-5PM

Historic Locust Grove
561 Blankenbaker Lane
Louisville, KY 40207

Early Warning: KlezmerFest

Michelle — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:38:02 +0000

I’m so disappointed that I’ll be missing KlezmerFest again this year. Particularly given that it’s moving to Iroquois Amphitheater. That disappointment is negated a little bit by the fact I’ll be attending the nerd wedding of the century but still… Know what would make me feel better? If you went to KlezmerFest and had a great time.

The headliner(s) of KlezmerFest is Margot Leverett and The Klezmer Mountain Boys. Their music has been described as a “unique blend of Klezmer and its cousin Kentucky Bluegrass music.” How awesome does that sound? Can’t believe I’m going to miss it!

Other bands performing at KlezmerFest 2011 include the Java Jews from Des Moines, Cincinnati Klezmer Project and Louisville’s own Lost Tribe and River City Klezmer Band.

Order tickets online: $15 in advance, $10 students
(or $18 at the door)

Iroquois Amphitheater
1080 Amphitheater Rd
Louisville KY 40214

Early Warning: Forest Fest May 21, 2011

Michelle — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:45:51 +0000

If you dig the bluegrass music (and you should, you really should) then mark your calendars for Forest Fest at Jefferson Memorial Forest on Saturday May 21, 2011.

It’s the 8th year for this event which is an all day (11AM-7PM) family-friendly outdoor extravaganza featuring great local music (run-on sentence FTW!). Bands on the bill include Relic, High Rollers, Bluegrass 101 and The Grascals.

It’s time to think spring and plan now for the eighth annual Forest Fest Bluegrass Music Festival featuring the award-winning Grascals. Admission is free; parking is $5 per carload. Forest Fest offers something for all ages including the best local, regionaland national bluegrass music talent, plenty of good food, and arts and crafts.

Valentine’s Day Romantic Retreat at Jefferson Memorial Forest

Michelle — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:06:02 +0000

Made special plans for Valentine’s Day yet? No? Then I offer for your consideration an outdoor romantic adventure for you and your sweetie.

Give your sweetie the moon, the stars, and all of Louisville. Bring them to the Forest for a romantic candlelit hike that ends with a beautiful view of the lights of Louisville. The hike’s destination is the Forest’s beautiful Manor House, where you’ll be greeted by a roaring fire, hot beverages and desserts provided by local bakeries. Meets in the Horine Reservation.
Reservations must be made by Monday, February 9, 2011.

Fee: $25/couple

Sunday, February 13, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday, February 14, 7:30 pm to 10 p.m.

To make reservations call the Welcome Center at 368-5404.