JC Raulston Arboreteum hosts storytimes for children

Raleigh’s JC Raulston Arboretum is hosting storytimes for preschoolers in the garden.

The next one is 10:30 a.m. May 29 for ages 3-5 and their caregivers.

Bring your picnic blanket and meet at the visitors’ center before heading into the gardens for a walk, garden stories, songs and a craft activity. Come dressed for the weather as the program is held outdoors and happens rain or shine.

More storytime events will be 10:30 a.m. June 12 and 26, July 10 and 24 and Aug. 7 and 21.

Storytimes will cover such topics as seeds, critters, garden surprises, sunflowers, vegetables and butterflies, said Elizabeth Overcash, children’s programs coordinator. For the seeds storytime on Friday, the children will plant seeds and take them home to watch them grow. For the vegetable storytime, they will read “Growing Vegetable Soup,” by Lois Ehlert, and have a tasting from the arboretum’s vegetable garden.

The cost is $5 per child and registration is required. Space is limited to 16 to 20 children. To register, go to jcra.ncsu.edu, click on Events, then Calender to find the event and registration link.

The arboretum also has summer camps on the schedule, including Garden Critters camp June 15-19, Nature’s Detectives camp July 13-17, Project Plants camp July 20-24 and Garden Chefs camp July 27-31. Prices and hours vary.

The arboretum is at 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh. Info: 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu.

This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 9:45 AM with the headline "JC Raulston Arboreteum hosts storytimes for children."