Bloom Garden: Art and Nature Workshops invite families to explore the natural world through hands-on art making, storytelling, and seasonal activities in the Bloom Garden at Noah’s Ark. These workshops connect creativity, care for the earth, and shared cultural experiences, and feature collaborations with artists, educators, and community partners. Each workshop reflects what's growing that season, the Jewish calendar, and the stories we're exploring together.

• Sunday, November 8, 12:00 and 2:00 pm—Kitty Caterpillar Story Time and Create a Creature
  Join authors Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White for a reading of their new picture book, Kitty Caterpillar (Barnes & Noble Pick - Best Kids' Books of 2026). This interactive story time features audience participation, lots of laughs, and a six-foot-long Kitty Caterpillar puppet that brings the story to life.
  
  After the reading, Annabeth and Connor will help kids come up with new creative creatures from their own imaginations. Families can continue the adventure in Bloom Garden, looking closely for bugs, plants, shapes, textures, and other discoveries that might spark an imaginary creature of their own.
  
  Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White are the authors of several books for children, including the Kitty Caterpillar series, the Shivers the Pirate series, Jaclyn Hyde, and Quest for the Crystal Crown. The Emmy-nominated writing duo are co-creators of the animated TV series Eva the Owlet. Other TV credits include Helpsters, Waffles & Mochi, and the upcoming Mo Willems adaptations The Elephant & Piggie Show! and The Pigeon Show! starring the Pigeon. Learn more at annabethandconnor.com
   
• Sunday, January 10, 12:00 and 2:00 pm—Tu B'Shevat in the Garden
  Celebrate the Jewish birthday of the trees with Shemesh Farms through a Tu B'Shevat seder and collaborative artmaking activity. During the seder, you’ll taste fruits that are grown in our garden, then create drawings and poems inspired by Tu B'Shevat themes to add to a communal tree sculpture.
  
  Shemesh Farms is a Shalom Institute program where adults with diverse abilities grow, harvest, and create community through gardening and handmade goods.
   
• Sunday, February 21, 12:00 and 2:00 pm—Rainy Season Watercolors
  With winter rain, our Bloom Garden comes alive with new growth and fresh colors. In this workshop, participants will explore the garden to collect plant materials to create watercolor paintings inspired by the garden. Come celebrate this rainy season with us!
  
  Led by Skirball's Getty Garden Fellow, Nik Berne.