Discover Nature Programs
Through a partnership with the Louisiana Master Naturalist of Greater Baton Rouge (LMNGBR) we are proud to offer exciting new Discover Nature programs featuring local and national experts who are in touch with nature and are eager to share their experiences. All programs will be held in the Imo Brown Complex in the Beverly Brown Coates Auditorium at Hilltop Arboretum. Discover Nature programs are free for Members Magnolia Level ($250) and above.
Sip & Flutter: An Evening with Butterflies and Moths
Featuring Janine Kharey and Teri Rome
Tuesday, August 26 | 6:00-8:00pm
Cost: Hilltop, LMNGBR members and students $15, Non-members $20
Spend a summer evening surrounded by nature’s most delicate wonders at Sip & Flutter,
a unique program celebrating butterflies, moths, and the plants that support them.
Begin your evening with a stroll through Hilltop Arboretum’s flourishing pollinator
garden, a haven for winged visitors, while enjoying a refreshing botanical mocktail.
Then, join naturalists Janine Kharey and Teri Rome for an engaging talk on the fascinating lives of butterflies and moths—from their vital roles in ecosystems to the surprising ways they interact with our gardens and landscapes. Whether you’re a nature lover, gardener, or simply curious, this evening will leave you inspired and enchanted.
Wings and wonder—what could be better?
Janine Kharey is a dedicated educator, multimedia artist, Master Naturalist, Master Gardener, and the visionary founder of Wild Ones Greater Baton Rouge. Her lifelong passion for nature is vividly expressed through her role as curator of a 400 species native plant habitat and haven for butterflies and pollinators in suburban East Baton Rouge. Janine’s commitment to conservation extends beyond her garden and backyard nursery where she grows plants for habitat gardens. She has created and expanded a native plant seed repository focusing on plants with local genetics, especially wild plants used by Lepidoptera as host plants. Her work has preserved unsung but essential species, sharing seeds with growers and expanding awareness of their ecological value.
A Certified Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, and long-time Hilltop board member and volunteer, Teri Rome has an avid interest in gardening, specifically for pollinators and native flora. She has planted her own yard to attract pollinators and birds, observing from her porch, a plethora of butterflies and moths, eagles, blue herons, blue birds, great herons, owls, and other wildlife. Teri enjoys sharing and teaching new gardeners about the benefits Hilltop has to offer to volunteers and anyone interested in learning more about gardening.
Medicinal Mycology: Part II
Featuring Jordan Gros
Tuesday, September 9 | 6:30-8:00pm
Curious about how to bring the benefits of medicinal mushrooms into your everyday life? In this follow-up session, Biological Engineer and Mycocentrics founder Jordan Gros will guide us through practical, accessible ways to “access the medicine in mushrooms” at home. From simple cultivation techniques to crafting your own tinctures, you'll leave with hands-on knowledge to support your health naturally. Whether or not you attended Part I, you’re welcome to join this deep dive into the healing power of fungi. Jordan will share lessons from years of personal experience using mushrooms to improve wellness—for herself and others.
The Daily Lives of Louisiana Hummingbirds - and the Gardens that Attract Them
Featuring Dennis Demcheck
Tuesday, September 23 | 6:30-8:00pm
Get an up-close look at the fast-paced and fascinating lives of Louisiana’s hummingbirds—especially the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, our most common local species. Master Naturalist and photographer Dennis Demcheck will share insights into their daily behaviors, including feeding, courtship, nesting, and their remarkable long-distance migrations. This highly visual talk will also highlight the native plants that provide food, shelter, and year-round appeal to hummingbirds, so you can create a garden that truly supports these dazzling pollinators.
“Pressed & Preserved: A Two-Part Flower Pressing Workshop”
Featuring Connie McLeod
Sunday, October 26 and November 16 | 2-4pm
Cost: Hilltop, LMNGBR members and students $60, Non-members $75
Program is limited to 15 participants
Join us for a hands-on, two-part workshop celebrating the art of flower pressing!
In Part One, we'’ll forage the Hilltop Meadow for seasonal blooms and foliage and learn how to assemble a flower press to preserve your gathered finds. Connie will inspire us with a presentation on the process behind her botanical art creations, some of which will be available for purchase.
Note: Part One must have dry weather. If rain is predicted, date may be rescheduled.
In Part Two, we’ll reunite to transform our pressed flowers and foliage into beautiful botanical works of art. Hands-on demonstrations and materials will be provided, no experience necessary. Attendees will walk away with two framed pieces- perfect for displaying or gifting!
Connie McLeod is a Baton Rouge native and received her BA from LSU. She recently retired from a career as an Art Director. She has taken her love of design, and turned her small garden into her oasis, full of color and texture. She started pressing the garden flora and turning the flowers, petals, and leaves into art. She calls herself a botanical artist and can often be found in her friends’ gardens foraging their plants. She is a Master Gardener and a Master Naturalist.
For more information about this event, please contact us at LSU Hilltop Arboretum at 225-767-6916, visit www.lsu.edu/hilltop, or email info@friendsofhilltop.org.
Program Details
Sip & Flutter: An Evening with Butterflies and Moths
Tuesday, August 26 | 6-8pm
Hilltop, LMNGBR members, and students $15, non-members $20
Medicinal Mycology: Part II
Tuesday, September 9 | 6:30-8:00pm
Medicinal Mycology Registration
The Daily Lives of Louisiana Hummingbirds - and the Gardens that Attract Them
September 23 | 6:30-8:00pm
Daily Lives of Hummingbirds Registration
Pressed & Preserved is 2 sessions
Sunday, Oct. 26 & Nov. 16 | 2-4pm
Hilltop, LMNGBR members, and students $60, non-members $75
PRESSED & PRESERVED Registration
Questions? Contact Hilltop by email info@friendsofhilltop.org or call 225-767-6916.