It’s time to Party for the Planet, a celebration of Earth Month at The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky.

This year’s party, Celebrating the Past, PLANting the Future, got started with a Native Spring Flowers Tour and a Spring Has Sprung celebration in the Kentucky Children’s Garden in early April. The party continues with an Urban Forest Ecology Tour April 17 and Arbor Day festivities April 29. This year’s party extends into May to include the Spring is for the Birds program.

With the support of presenting sponsor Kentucky Utilities, the annual party offers special activities focused on environmental topics and is designed to bring adults and children closer to the wonders of trees and nature.

The 26th annual Arbor Day event will kick off at 10 a.m. April 29 in the Tree Giveaway Tent with a proclamation by Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government 4th District Councilwoman Susan Lamb. The program will include Tree Campus and Tree City USA presentations, a choral performance from Lexington’s Cassidy Elementary chorus and sponsor recognition.

After the program, The Arboretum will celebrate by offering free admission to the Kentucky Children’s Garden, a native-tree giveaway until they run out, and two additional tents featuring local organizations and America in Bloom. The event concludes at 2 p.m. Visitors may use free shuttles to and from UK’s Orange parking lot from 9:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m.

This year, Party for the Planet overlaps with another program, Spring is for the Birds. Preregistered artists may drop off their unique birdhouses for display throughout the garden from April 17-19. The birdhouse display will be open to the public from April 21-May 7 and will culminate with a reception in the visitor center. Visitors may vote for their favorite birdhouse in different categories and even place bids to take one home.

Sponsors of the 2017 party include Kentucky American Water, Big Beaver Tree Service, LFUCG Tree Board, Lexmark International, Keep Lexington Beautiful, Lexington Environmental Commission and Community Tree Care.

The Arboretum, housed within the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, began in 1991 as a joint effort between the University of Kentucky and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. It is located next to UK’s campus at 500 Alumni Drive and offers more than 100 acres of trails, waterways, native trees, a children’s garden and exhibits. For more information about activities and seminars during Party for the Planet, visit The Arboretum website, http://www.ca.uky.edu/arboretum/calendar_events.php.