FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEET THE BEETLES July 12, 2008

Grand opening for blockbuster sculpture show

See 13 dinosaur-sized bugs and thousands of wildflowers at the Web-of-Life extravaganza and blockbuster show

Come to a Giant Picnic, Image (c) New England Wild Flower Society/William Cullina

Contact:

Debra Strick, Marketing/Public Relations Director

508-877-7630 ext. 3501, dstrick@newenglandwild.org

For images, Steven Ziglar, Corporate/PR Associate

508-877-7630 ext. 3503, sziglar@newenglandwild.org

MEET THE BEETLES when BIG BUGS Returns July 12, 2008

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — New England Wild Flower Society announces the return of David Rogers' BIG BUGS exhibit to Garden in the Woods opening July 12, 2008. They're bigger than you can imagine…and they’re coming back!  Have you ever seen a 25-foot ant or a 17-foot praying mantis?  Meet them all…and the BEETLES too! Share in an enormous web-of-life extravaganza, as the public thrills at new ways to GO GREEN with thirteen giant sculptures gracing the Society's living museum.  This summer and fall, the Society and BIG BUGS celebrate the important relationships between people, bugs, and plants.  And it's tremendous fun. Visitors of all ages come face to face with enormous versions of these tiny creatures that rule the planet.

Get ready for a special “Summer of Bugs” treat on July 12 with the Grand Opening Festival of BIG BUGS Sculpture Exhibition and Web-of-Life Extravaganza!  The public is invited to opening festivities of the exhibition featuring 13  Dino - sized natural wood BIG BUGS us all in the web of life.  "MEET THE BEETLES" –with HELP! New England’s own Beatles Tribute Band, performing live in honor of BIG BUGS. Join in to make this the greatest celebration of rock history meeting natural history ever.

All this takes place in a summer paradise filled with 1,500 native wildflower species and including 200 rare species at New England Wild Flower Society's Garden in the Woods, a world-renowned 45-acre botanical garden and living museum at 180 Hemenway Road in Framingham. See BIG BUGS July 12-September 1, 9-7 daily; September 2-October 31, 9-5 daily, rain or shine.  Admission, including opening day concert and theme weekends, is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students with ID, $4 for youths 3-18, and free for members and children under three.  508-877-7630, www.newenglandwild.org.         

For nearly 20 years, "HELP!" has delighted audiences with its authentic Beatles sound, vintage costumes and instruments, and repertoire that spans the entire recording career of the "fab four." “We play Beatles music because we love it”, says Marc Hertzberg, Bandleader of ‘HELP!’, and dedicated conservationist. “Bringing the Beatles to the Beetles is an exciting way to support the plant conservation work of the Society and have a great party too.”

Families will thrill to meet live costumed characters “ANT MINI”, “ODO” the dragonfly, and “DANI” the monarch butterfly on garden walks, together with the enormous BIG BUGS.

Which BIG BUG is also a beetle?  Visitors will learn the answer and lots of exciting nature facts every day, and at theme weekends through the exhibit, with special family activities, buggy crafts, and a great time for everyone.  There is a full roster of buzz worthy courses at the Society’s education programs throughout.  New England Wild Flower Society's offers the largest native plant education program in the nation.   

Garden GREENER: Learning more about native plants and their Insects is a great way to create a greener and more sustainable lifestyle, and a more beautiful and dramatic garden. Enjoy plant demos at the Idea Garden.  At the Museum Store there are lots of goodies for young "Biologists", including BUGOLOGY an exciting bug and nature activity book by the Society's Program Manager, Bonnie Drexler, filled with cool facts and projects for bug-minded individuals of all ages. A complete array of native plants for attracting wildlife, garden-themed books, and clever bug toys are available at the BUG MALL on site and online at www.newenglandwild.org. Stop by the native nursery for thousands of gorgeous perennials and woody plants perfect for attracting butterflies and favorite wildlife to the garden.   All purchases support the plant conservation work of the Society, and members receive discounts.  

New England Wild Flower Society is the region's leading plant conservation organization, with more than 1,400 volunteers in the field helping to protect our native flora and natural heritage. Find out more at www.newenglandWILD.org. 

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