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 International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition in the Stables Art Gallery and Seasons Restaurant. Have a look at some of the stunning images here. We’re also running photography courses linked to the exhibition – thFriday May 17 – Members’ Day: Our annual event-packed day for Garden Members.

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May 22-25 – Get Well Soon at the Chelsea Flower Show: This is the first time the National Botanic Garden of Wales has exhibited at Chelsea. Here are some details about the plants you can see there.

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Medicines in May 2013:  Wednesday 22nd  May is Honey Day: 11am- 4pm in the Apothecary’s Hall. Meet the Herbalist. Nicola Dee Kelly will show you the multiple uses that a herbalist can make use of honey.12-1.45pm in the Bee Garden Observatory. Meet the Beekeeper. The Bee Garden’s creator Chris Adam will be on hand to advise you on how to create a bee garden.1pm. Ten minute talk about a plant that bees love in the Apothecaries’ Garden. 2-2.40pm in the Theatr Botanica. Apothecary’s Bees: Investigating Honey’s Anti-microbial Properties with Dr Natasha De Vere, the Garden’s Head of Science and Research, and Jenny Hawkins of Cardiff University.

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Saturday May 25-Monday May 27 – Hobbies Weekend. A great chance to see demonstrations by, and talk to, people who have a passion for their hobby – includes Dinefwr Photographic Society, West Glamorgan Dolls House Club, Swansea Stargazers Club, Neathand Port Talbot Lace Makers, Happy Beaders Club Neath, Carmarthenshire Woodturners Club, gardening, canoers, cyclists, fly fishers, model railways, felt makers, stitchers, spinners, weavers and book writers.

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Sunday May 26th at 1.30 pm and Monday 27th May at 2.30pm: ‘The Meadows’ in concert on the Stage in the Great Glasshouse.  They will be performing music from a wide range of genres including Tudor, Celtic, Classical and Modern. Here’s a short film of them performing to whet your appetite.

Saturday May 25: Solar Day with Swansea Astronomical Society who will be presenting a day of safe solar observation using a variety of safe solar telescopes.   With the Solar Sunspot cycle at a

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 maximum there should be lots of interesting phenomena to see,  weather permitting.

There will also be an exhibition and two talks in the Theatr “How the sun works” in the morning and  “Sun spots and the weather” in the afternoon.

Monday May 27 1pm in the Great Glasshouse – Liverpool Wirral Choir featuring soprano Helen Pickett.  “MY KIND OF MUSIC” – a concert of great songs & music…From the West End through to Broadway & the World of Opera. The programme will include BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, VISSI D’ARTE from Puccini’s Tosca, Gershwin’s SUMMERTIME, DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING AND ONE DAY MORE from Les Miserables, THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC, THE CHORUS OF THE HEBREW SLAVES, the beautiful Gounod’s SANCTUS and the mighty HALLELUJAH CHORUS.

Tuesday 28th May 12-3pm – Healing Herbs. Bring your family to make potions with the help of herbalist, Nicola Dee Kelly.  Venue: Apothecary’s Hall

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Medicines in May 2013: Wednesday 29th  May is Herb Day. 10am- 5pm. Pirates, Peppers  and Plague Treasure Hunt. Chance Encounters Theatre will help you find out what life was like here in the Garden in the 17th century.  Venue: Great Glasshouse and Apothecaries’ Garden. 11am- 4pm in the Apothecary’s Hall. Meet the Herbalist. Nicola Dee Kelly will be on hand to show you how to use some common garden herbs. 1pm. Ten minute talk about a medicinal herb in the Apothecaries’ Garden. 2pm in the Theatr Botanica. ‘The Secrets of Herbs and Herb Growing’ with Andy Cook of Ross Hill Garden Plant Nurseries

Thursday 30th and Friday 31st May 12-3pm – Family Fun with Herbs. Join Rebecca Thomas and make something creative using herbs.  Venue: Apothecary’s Hall

Sunday June 2: Folk Music and Dance Day

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Sat & Sun June 8-9 Theatr na n’Og: We Need Bees, performance stage or Theatr Botanica. Shows (both days) at 11.30-12.30 (in Welsh); 2pm-3pm and 4pm-5pm (in English)

Friday June 14: “Formula 1” event with giant Scalectrix track in the Great Glasshouse

Saturday, June 15: Visit to Kenfig NNR.  Meet at 11.am at Kenfig Reserve Centre.  Introductory talk and guided walk by member of staff to see the Fen Orchid (Liparis loeselii) and many other species that grow on the reserve.  Dr Roy Bailey-Wood attending as OSG Leader.  For more information contact: secretary@orchidstudygroup.org.uk or Tel: 01558 668492

Sunday, 16 June 2013 – Father’s Day, including Formula 1 and music

Friday, June 21st: Members/Volunteers coffee morning and talk  – Theatre Botanica – Janet Radford at 11.30am

Saturday June 22: Midsummer Concert, Symphonica Tywi, Great Glasshouse (rehearsing from 1pm-3pm, playing from 7.30ish until dusk) – then join us afterwards for the annual Bat count.

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Saturday and Sunday June 22-23: Meet A Meerkat in the Marquee

Friday June 28th 11am: Tree Medicine – a talk, followed by a tree walk by the West Wales Herb Group. Part of Herbal Medicine Awareness Week.

Sunday June 30: Merlin Bike Ride

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Saturday Sunday July 6-7 – Black Mountain Falconry

Saturday July 13 – International Day of Dance

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Sunday July 14th – Wales Wildflower Day. Poetry, guided walks, painting, plant identification, embroidery and lots more.

 Monday, July 15 – Sunday, July 21 – British Woodcarvers Association.  Exhibition of woodcarving GGH & Les Bryan

Friday, July 19th: Members/Volunteers coffee morning and talk  – Theatr Botanica – Chris Squire at 11.30am

Sunday July 21: Ffestiva! World music day 11.30am to 5.30pm  on the Great Glasshouse stage, Performance Stage or in the Marquee if wet.

Saturday-Sunday July 27-28 – Hands-on Harps weekend with Shelley Fairplay

Saturday August 3-Sunday August 4: Summer Craft Fair in the Great Glasshouse

Sunday August 4 – Peter Rabbit, Quantum Theatre

August 5-9 Monday-Friday Garden Olympics

Saturday-Sunday August 10-11: Black Mountain Falconry

Sunday, August 11: Return visit to Kenfig NNR lead by Michael Clark to see rare Epipactis species.  Numbers restricted.  Please contact:  secretary@orchidstudygroup.org.uk or Tel: 01558 668492.

August 12-16 Monday-Friday Garden Olympics

Sat-Sun Aug 17-18: Welsh Tree Festival - guided walks to notable trees, woodturning, music, axemaking, tree trail, tree conservation… and more.

Saturday August 24-Monday August 26 – August Bank Holiday Weekend

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Wednesday and Thursday Aug 28-29: – Meet A Meerkat – in the Marquee

Saturday and Sunday August 31st – September 1st 2013   –  Welsh Orchid Festival (Marquee). Full details of Festival Talks and Participants now on our website:   www.orchidstudygroup.org.uk.

October 5-6: Antiques Fair – the biggest collection of antiques stalls ever in Carmarthenshire + half price entry

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Sunday October  13: Wales Fungus Day (part of UK Fungus Day). Guided tours of fairy rings, waxcaps and tree rotting fungi; fungi craft demonstrations, poetry, fungal food, exhibition and more.

October 19-20:  Apple Weekend