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 Mt. Kisco, NY - Watch the “Eerie Railroad” wend its way through a miniature haunted village, see Venus flytraps, Dracula orchids, pencil trees, weird cacti and other curious botanical specimens and much more when Westchester’s largest publicly owned arboretum hosts a “Halloween Hair Raiser” reception, Friday evening, October 24, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Lasdon Park and Arboretum in Somers.
Lasdon’s main house, patio and adjoining lawn areas will be dressed for the occasion with botanical and Hollywood-style props, special lighting and costumed greeters who will be your hosts. Highlights of the evening include:
- A miniature “haunted village” traversed by the O-gauge “Eerie Railroad” running continuously on top of a train table;
- A “Faerie Forest” miniature display;
- Displays of live horticultural curiosities – orchids, cacti and more;
- A tribute to Hollywood’s imaginative, often creepy interpretation of horticultural oddities;
- Live music provided by the Bedford-based recording artist, the Gerard Carelli Orchestra;
- Exhibition of seasonal plants and beautiful themed flower arrangements by the 9th District Federated Garden Clubs;
- An array of colored-pencil drawings and watercolors in rich autumn hues and seasonal themes, perfect for gifts or home display in any season. All artwork has been created especially for the event by Lasdon’s resident botanical artist and students;
- Educational exhibits featuring, real-life landscape “horrors” – those innocent-looking invasive plants, vines and insects that can wreak havoc on your home garden’s native plants;
- Opportunities to view the October sky through powerful telescopes brought to the event by the Westchester Amateur Astronomers;
- Shopping in the Garden Shop for Venus flytraps and other seasonal houseplants.
Guests are encouraged to add to the fun by wearing costumes.
Admission to the Halloween Hair Raiser preview reception is $25 per guest; proceeds benefit the Lasdon Glass House Conservatory Fund. The event is sponsored by the Friends of Westchester County Parks and the Somers Chamber of Commerce.
Following the preview reception, the Halloween Plant and Art Show exhibits and displays will be on view from Saturday, October 25 through Halloween day, Friday, October 31, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission on these days is $5 per adult and $2 per child under age 12.
Lasdon Park, Arboretum and Veterans Memorial is a 234-acre park and arboretum featuring many species of trees, shrubs and perennials, and is home to the Lasdon Memorial Garden, the Garden Shop and the Famous and Historic Tree Trail. It can be reached via I-684, exit 6. Head west off the exit; the park is approximately four miles ahead on the left. Or, take the Taconic State Parkway to Route 202/Route 35 exit; the park is 3.5 miles ahead on the right.
For general information about Lasdon, call (914) 864-7268.
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