Raulston Arboretum offers Valentine's Day programs for kids

On Friday, an early release day for many Wake County schools, there's Winter Hearts, which focuses on bulbs, shrubs and trees that "show their love for winter" from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is just $1 per family. Explore the gardens with your children and find hidden questions. Guess the answers before you reach the end of the trail. Start your afternoon at the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center where you can pick up a map. Pre-registration is not required.

In the morning, the arboretum will offer a 90-minute program for kids ages 3 to 5 and their adult. From 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Friday, Garden Buds will discover a garden theme through hands-on, creative art projects, stories and snack. The cost is $12 per child (or $10 for Friends of the Museum). Advanced registration is required as space is limited for this one. Contact Elizabeth Overcash, children's program coordinator, at elizabeth_overcash@ncsu.edu or 919-513-7011 to find out if there is room. Friday's program explores everything red and heart-shaped in the garden.