I love walking around Maymont checking out the animals, so was a little bummed this morning when reading that one of the two bald eagles at Maymont passed away.

Liberty, the female eagle in the Richmond park’s native Virginia wildlife collection, was pronounced dead Wednesday morning by Maymont’s veterinarian. She had been at Maymont since August 2008.

Liberty suffered from a foot infection in October and had been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. But the cause of death will not be confirmed until the park receives results of an autopsy in several weeks.

[via]

Henrico’s whoops is our woohoo! This just in from Lewis Ginter’s Facebook: The first 4 Groovin’ In The Garden concerts will be held at Maymont instead of Lewis Ginter. Due to an oversight by the producer, Haymaker Productions, Henrico Co. was unable to approve the permit for the May concerts.The June concerts will be held at the Lewis Ginter Gardents as scheduled.

This move effects the following shows:

• Thursday, May 6: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
• Thursday, May 13: Keller Williams
• Thursday, May 20: Jay Farrar
• Thursday, May 27: Carbon Leaf

I’d personally be psyched to see Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (the Dap Kings were Amy Winehouse’s backing band and you haven’t heard real old school R & B singing until you hear Sharon Jones sing!) Jay Farrar is known for his former band, Uncle Tupelo, and their contribution to the No Depression Alt-country sound. He just recently collaborated with Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie to  compose music to lyrics based on Jack Kerouac’s landmark 1962 novel Big Sur. Carbon Leaf is a well-known Richmond band but I don’t know who Keller Williams is, but found his website.

Join Maymont this month (individual memberships are $45, family ones $60) and get great discounts at a bunch of local merchants including chic-fil-a, Baskin Robbins, World of Mirth and more! See all the discounts here. And why not go in with another family so you can save even more. Buy one membership buy a second for 1/2 price!

May is Membership Month at Maymont! In addition to the year-round benefits listed below, if you renew your membership in May, you can purchase a gift membership of equal or lesser value for 1/2 price (call 804-358-7166, ext. 313 for details), receive a free guide booklet of your choice showcasing History, Habitats or Horticulture, and receive Chick-Fil-A coupons.

Plus, throughout the month of May, ALL members receive great discounts and special offers from participating local merchants (see list below) when you show your membership card at the place of business.

Here I am with a date night staring me in the face and no plans and what should I stumble across? Maymont’s Cocktail Classic! Oh honey……. 

Cocktail Classic
Presented by Maymont’s Dooley Noted Society

Fri, 8 May, 2009 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM

Swing, shake and stir under the stars at the Dooley Noted Society’s annual Cocktail Classic! Savor signature cocktails and beverages from some of Richmond’s most popular local hot spots while heating up the dance floor with hot Latin music and dancing. Must be 21 years or older. For registration information, call 804-358-7166 ext. 310 or Register Online!
Location: Nature Center
Fees: $15 per person (available through May 6)/$20 at the door. Dooley Noted Society members receive a $5 discount.
Contact: 804-358-7166, ext. 310

 

25th Anniversary Herbs Galore & More
Saturday, April 25, 2009
8:30am-4pm
Carriage House Lawn

Register for Classes
The 25th anniversary of everyone’s favorite plant sale will be bigger, better and greener than ever! In addition to the always popular Marketplace bursting with [more than 40]  herb, plant and craft vendors from Virginia and beyond, this year’s event will offer great new ideas for your garden and fun ways to go green — in color and conservation.

$3 fee for the Marketplace; Maymont members and children 12 & under free.

If I hadn’t failed to charge my camera’s battery before our trip to Maymont this week, you’d see a lovely photo of a moon bounce right here. Maymont continues to offer lots of fun activities through Friday this week including aforementioned moon bounce, petting zoo, hay rides and other assorted fun.

MONDAY-FRIDAY, APRIL 6-10, 2009
Spend spring break week at Maymont! Indoor exhibits including Maymont Mansion and the Nature Center will be open 12-5pm (even on Monday, when they are usually closed), and there will be something fun to do every day! Some programs require advance registration. For information, call 804-358-7166, ext. 310.

For $3 you can get a clump of three bulbs, although the clumps could easily produce more than just three blooms. The sale continues in front of the Children’s Farm today until 4pm and tomorrow 10-4pm. Cash, Credit or Checks are acceptable. The sale is very nicely organized by type and color but there’s also a mystery pile if you’d rather be surprised this summer!

Looking to perk up your flower beds  on the cheap? Maymont is selling daylilies dirt-cheap this week.

“Thursday -Friday, March 26-27, 2009 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

We’re doing some spring cleaning in preparation for our brand-new Daylily Garden coming this spring. Find great bargains on a variety of daylily cultivars during this one-time sale. Prices start at $1 per plant! Hurry – while supplies last. “

Are you in the dog house with a significant other in your life? Nothing says I am sorry like a stuffed otter. If your significant other doesn’t read this blog that makes me sad but it means you can patch things up on the cheap by going to the Maymont Gift Shop.

50% off all items! 60% off for Maymont members and volunteers. Help us clear the Maymont Shop shelves, and get great deals on gifts for Mother’s Day, children’s birthdays, Easter baskets. Pick up some gardening gadgets and home decor for yourself too! Maymont Shop, located in the Nature & Visitor Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sunday, 12-5pm through April 11.

In the interest of full disclosure I didn’t notice this myself but read about it on the Richmond Bargains blog so full credit goes to Alison.

From the Jame River Association website:

I didn’t realize that Maymont offers a bunch of Summer Camps for a variety of ages.

Read more >