Are you dreaming of a backyard bounty or looking to garden more sustainably? Join us as we sew, dig, and harvest for “Know Gardens” in April. Learn the fundamentals of water-wise gardening and explore Monet’s innovative landscapes. Deeply connect to the natural world with a forest-bathing experience and indulge in animal therapy with Parsley the bunny. Attend a garden fair to learn more about composting, pollinator habitat, growing vegetables, seed bombs, and more. All programs are free and open to the public. Programs marked with an asterisk (*) require registration.

Color and Light in Monet’s Gardens 

Claude Monet was one of the first artists to paint en plein air. Join this presentation of Monet’s gardens and learn about the optical effects of color and light that led to some of the most innovative and memorable landscapes. 

• Monday, April 15 • 6:00 p.m. • Downtown Bend Library | 601 NW Wall Street, Bend 
• Saturday, April 20 • 3:00 p.m. • Becky Johnson Community Center | 412 SW 8th Street, Redmond 

Waterwise Gardening 

Learn the fundamentals of gardening with little or no water. This presentation covers the seven main steps to consider for a water-wise garden, and includes a slideshow of sustainable landscape design elements and plants. 

• Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Downtown Bend Library | 601 NW Wall Street, Bend 

Seed Swap 

Bring extra seeds to share and take home local varieties to start your veggie gardening journey. Join this free seed swap in partnership with the Central Oregon Gardeners group. 

• Saturday, April 20 • 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. • Downtown Bend Library | 601 NW Wall Street, Bend 

Bunny Therapy and Coloring with Parsley 

Hop into the library and spend your afternoon coloring and cuddling everyone’s favorite garden animal: a rabbit! Both kids and adults can experience the stress-relieving benefits and fun with Parsley the rabbit. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver. 

• Saturday, April 20 • 12:45 p.m. • East Bend Library | 62080 Dean Swift Road, Bend 

Tea Making with Metolius Artisan Tea* 

See, smell, taste, and play with herbs and spices to make your own unique tea blend. This hands-on workshop is led by 13-year-old Sevi Stahl, the daughter of Metolius Artisan Tea’s founder. Registration required.  

• Saturday, April 27 • 11:00 a.m. • La Pine Library | 16425 1st Street, La Pine 
• Saturday, April 27  • 4:00 p.m. • East Bend Library | 62080 Dean Swift Road, Bend 

Guided Forest Bath at Shevlin Park*  

Deeply connect to the natural world and feed your soul. Join a series of guided forest bathing invitations led by a local Certified Forest Therapy Guide at beautiful Shevlin Park. Registration required. 

• Saturday, April 27 • 2:00 p.m. • Shevlin Park |  18920 NW Shevlin Park Road, Bend, 

Garden Fair at Sisters Firehouse Community Hall 

Learn from local experts how to help pollinators, compost, roll up seed bombs, grow vegetables in our climate, create paints from your garden, and more! Join the library and fellow community organizations for this free event.  

• Sunday, April 28 • 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. • Sisters Firehouse Community Hall | 301 S Elm Street, Sisters 

Game Night with Modern Games 

Come in and learn new board games for adults. Our friends from Modern Games provide a selection of their favorite games with staff support to help you discover your next favorite game. Ages 18 & up.  

• Tuesday, April 30 • 6:00 p.m. • High Desert Music Hall | 818 SW Forest Avenue, Redmond 

For more information about these programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats or auxiliary aides) should contact Liz Goodrich at lizg@deschuteslibrary.org or 541-312-1032.