Sunnylands celebrates desert plants and wildlife with a free Family Day on April 19

Sunnylands celebrates desert plants and wildlife with a free Family Day on April 19
 
RANCHO MIRAGE, CA – Just three days before Earth Day, Sunnylands is inviting the public to explore the beauty of the desert at its annual “Family Day: In the Gardens,” a day filled with activities focused on desert plants, wildlife, and art materials that can be found in nature. 
 
The event at Sunnylands Center & Gardens is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 19. Admission and parking are free. Guests of all ages will be able to participate in several activities highlighting native plants and wildlife of the Coachella Valley including: 
 

• Guided bird walks with Sunnylands birder Kurt Leuschner. These one-hour walks will introduce guests to the many local and migratory bird species in the Sunnylands gardens. There will be two separate walks taking place at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Each guided walk will begin just outside the front entrance of Sunnylands Center.
• Learning about the ocean with The S.C.R.A.P. Gallery by creating “fish stick” collages which will be mounted on sticks.
• Making your own room spray with Molly Moon Crafts by picking an essential oil blend and dried flowers, which will be put into a bottle to decorate to take home.
• Learning and interacting with a variety of small local wildlife species like reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods with Hoggans Biological.
• Participating in a cardboard hummingbird activity with Wilkie Studios.
• Joining the local plant shop, Los Angeleaves, in digging and potting your own plant. You’ll have the opportunity to repot miniature succulents and take your plant home. 
• Participating in a worm lifecycle activity with Happy Worm Compost.
• Using materials found on the grounds of Sunnylands to create a stick bug on recycled cardboard.

• University of California, Riverside Master Gardeners will showcase Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tip cards that are designed to assist in managing home gardens organically and water-efficient landscaping. They will also provide seeds for visitors to take home and lead a children’s activity of decorating garden-related objects and critters.
• The Desert Horticultural Society will provide information on desert landscaping in the Coachella Valley and information on the organization’s fundraisers and upcoming events.