Flora Friends

Spring & Summer 2026

Flora Friends is a drop-off program at the Garden for 5–7-year-olds. Each week, learners explore the gardens through art and sensory play, building confidence, curiosity, and connection with the natural world.

Led by Garden Educator and artist Ashlee Mays, the program cultivates early learning skills through hands-on exploration, social-emotional awareness, and creative expression in the garden. Our primary goals are to support each learner’s sense of agency in the outdoors and support them in building their toolbox of skills for observation and connection.

CLASS FEES

  • $50 non-refundable deposit to reserve a session spot

  • $100 class fee per session

3% Cover the Fee

The deposit is non-refundable. Once we have received your deposit we will send you the required forms to fill out. Please submit the $100 class payment at least two weeks before the first date of your session. Please email questions about payments or ability to pay to education@knoxgarden.org.

Please send questions to:
education@knoxgarden.org

Sample Session Outline - Shadows

9:30 Arrival & Discovery Activity: Tracing Plant Shadows

9:45 Sensory Walk: Shadow Hopping

10:00 What Is Light? Question Time

10:15 Snack Time & Story Circle

10:30 Shadow Puppets

10:45 Sensory Walk: Light Listening

“We have so thoroughly enjoyed having a program to drop our daughter off at that embodies all of the skills and thought processes we wish to instill in her.”

— Parent of a Flora Friend

“Day 1 was ‘GREAT’ and she got to do so many things she ‘dreamed of doing’.”

— Parent of a Flora Friend