As part of an ongoing series inviting guests to experience the nightlife of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, participants will have a chance to explore the garden during an upcoming Full Moon Hike on Feb. 11.

From 7-8:30 p.m., attendees armed with walking shoes and wanderlust, will take a guided tour through trails and gardens, exploring topics like constellations, astronomy, nocturnal creatures and more.

Tours begin at the Visitor Center & Conservatory Front Fountain before weaving two miles under a full moon with informative activities and facts along the way.

This monthly tour, which has been running for around four years, is the idea of Andie Bisceglia, 29, a University of Georgia second year graduate student.

Previously a middle school ecology teacher before going to UGA, she moved here with her husband and began working in the crop and soil sciences and education department at UGA.

Bisceglia has been working closely the the Gardens since being hired by their children's program in 2011 when she began the Full Moon Hike program.

In the summertime theres frog and insect calls you can identify because thats when theyre active, Bisceglia said. In the winter when theres less sounds going on I might focus more on astronomy or constellations. It depends on whats happening out in nature at the time.

Currently as a full-time graduate student she is not employed by the Gardens but still organizes and guides the monthly Full Moon Hikes, modeled after a nature at night program she used to teach children in Maine and Connecticut.

Bisceglia strongly encourages the surrounding community to enjoy the cost-efficient activities and programs offered by the Gardens, especially the Night Hike, which allows for a glimpse into nightlife.

Its really easy in this day and age even for someone like myself who love nature to go weeks at a time without really getting out of your neighborhood or comfort zone, Bisceglia said. Especially at nighttime when most people arent comfortable going out on their own, this is a safe environment thats lots of fun for the people who go on the hikes to learn.

For this months tour, Bisceglia hasnt yet decided on a topic, but strongly suggested that she would focus on the lunar eclipse set to happen early Saturday morning. She mentioned doing a demonstration on the science behind eclipses, keeping with a timely theme.

Although attendance fluctuates during the colder months and spikes in the summer with children out of school, Bisceglia noted that her tours run the gamut, including attendees aged 285. She also said the hikes are almost too popular, as nightly attendance, which should be capped at 25, often climbS into the 60s.

Pre-registration for the Full Moon Hike on Feb. 11 is strongly encouraged at $5 per person and $15 for families.

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Full Moon Hike to explore astronomy, nature - Red and Black