Foraging has grown in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. With its roots in local Native American communities, the rich tradition of foraging (the wild searching for food or supplies) has a long history in the Midwest. Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s Botanical Garden, invites explorers of all ages to discover the natural joy of foraging at our Midwest Foraging exhibit!

The Midwest Foraging exhibit (April 15-October 15) showcases forageable plants native to the region, which guests can both learn about and explore at Powell Gardens. Specialized blue plant tags, identifying foraged examples, are placed throughout the Heartland Harvest Garden and around the 1-mile Family Discovery Loop.

Self-led discovery is encouraged at Powell Gardens where visitors can now use the new digital Midwest Foraging tour in Garden Explorer. This virtual tour allows explorers to discover the practical uses of each plant and locate the featured plants in the Gardens. This family-friendly tour was developed in collaboration with Powell Gardens horticulture experts. The digital tour is accessible at powellgardens.gardenexplorer.org/tour.aspx.

“The exhibition is part of Powell Gardens’ efforts to foster Midwest spirit of place,” said Powell Gardens Education Manager Caitlin Eckard. “We want our guests to be equipped with the tools and education to experience the midwestern landscape and to be proud of our shared cultural and agricultural landscape.”

Monthly classes are offered to visitors, featuring how to creatively cook with foraged plants and include a take-home beginner’s booklet about foraging. Additionally, such educational topics have been hand-picked to represent our regional food sources like a Prickly Pear or Elderberry-based drinks.

Powell Gardens is open Tuesday-Sunday (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) through September 3, 2023. From September 6 to October 15, Powell Gardens will be open Wednesday – Sunday (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Visitors can purchase admission and register online for classes online at powellgardens.org.