The Western Kentucky Botanical Garden is gearing up for its annual Dazzling Daylilies Festival and Balloons Over The Garden June 20-26. On Sounds Good, Austin Carter speaks with Susie Tyler about the event, now in its 7th year and the theme of "blooms, balloons, barbecue and bluegrass" with activities including guided tours, sculpture dedication, walk and talk and balloon rides.
The festival features over 600 cultivars of hybridized daylilies (different from lilies). This time of year is the height of the daylily season, Tyler says. The garden is home to a 'sea' of daylilies ranging in colors. There are at least two developed at the garden and registered: 'Weatherberry Charlotte White' and 'weatherberry Caroline Compton.'
Events begin on Monday with a guided tour, a Walk & Talk with Stephen Vest of Kentucky Monthly Magazine on Tuesday, another guided tour Wednesday, a sculpture dedication and theatrical presentation on Thursday, hot air balloon rides Friday and Saturday (full flight and tethered), and a day-long festival including a daylily sale on Saturday.
The event is free for members. Adults are $5, seniors are $3, youth are $1. On the days with the balloons, it's $3 for everyone except children under 2. For full-flight balloon reservations call 270-993-1234. Full-flights are $200 by reservation. Tethered flights are $10 per person, first come first serve.
