Contact: Kyle Shepherd
kyle.shepherd@louisvilleky.gov
(O) 502-238-5331 (C) 502-744-5639
Louisville Zoo Calling Volunteer Gardeners!
Orientation for the Zoo’s Adopt-a-Garden set for April 13
The Louisville Zoo is seeking experienced gardeners: individuals, families (ages 16+) and groups with green thumbs to participate in its Adopt-a-Garden program. This unique volunteer opportunity allows participants with a passion for gardening to contribute to the beauty of the Zoo by adopting specific garden sites within the Zoo and caring for them throughout the 2024 growing season.
A required orientation session, which includes an overview of the Adopt-a-Garden program, will be held on Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m. at the MetaZoo amphitheater.
Once enrolled, volunteers will be required to submit a plan for their plot and will be responsible for planting, weeding, watering and maintaining the garden throughout the growing season, from mid-April through mid-November, including spring and fall bed clean-up.
Volunteers may purchase their own plants, with the added benefit of a 10 percent discount at Frank Otte Nursery and Garden Center locations at 2930 Bardstown Road and 12902 Shelbyville Road. Alternatively, with prior approval, volunteers may bring plants from their own gardens.
Longtime Adopt-a-Garden volunteer, Anne Ramsey, shared her enthusiasm for the program, stating, “I enjoy participating in this program. I have had my little patch of the Zoo near ZooVision that I maintain with limelight hydrangeas, daylilies and shasta daisies. I take pride in my little garden as I watch kids and families walk by building memories at the Zoo. Devoting two hours per week to this peaceful endeavor allows me and my husband, Jerry Randoph, to connect with nature, contribute to the beauty of the Zoo and immerse our hands in the enriching soil of the earth.”
Please RSVP to mary.taylor@louisvilleky.gov by April 11 to attend the required orientation session scheduled for April 13.
For additional information, please visit louisvillezoo.org/adoptagarden.
For other volunteer opportunities at the Louisville Zoo, visit louisvillezoo.org/volunteer.
Zoo Hours
The Zoo is open daily year-round. Spring / summer hours are 10 a.m. ─ 5 p.m. (enjoy until 6 p.m.). The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Visit louisvillezoo.org for more info.
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The Louisville Zoo, the State Zoo of Kentucky, is the top, non-profit, paid attraction in the state. The Zoo is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
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