July Events

To submit a garden-related public event for the e-gardens calendar, please e-mail details to events@sperrygardens.com. Deadline is the 15th of the month prior to the event date.

Austin / Travis County
Take the family to Nature Nights at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Thursday evenings this month. These free family-fun evenings are designed for explorations of plants, animals and the ecology of Central Texas: “Birds of Prey,” July 11; “Wildlife,” July 18; “Snakes,” July 25. Nature Night events are scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m.; the Café is open from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Kids 12 and under receive a free gift in the Gift Store. Sponsored by HEB. Come early for convenient parking. If the lot is full, please park in designated places on the street. Find details at www.wildflower.org.

See the nature-inspired watercolors of artist Jan Heaton on display June 1 through Aug. 18 at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s McDermott Learning Center. Find details at www.wildflower.org.

Bryan / Brazos County
Pre-register for the seminar Fall Vegetable Gardening – You Can Dig It! presented by the Brazos County Master Gardeners on Saturday, July 20, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest Dr., in Bryan. Speakers are Margrit Moores and Kate Kelly. Topics include everything from preparing the soil to gathering the harvest. Fee of $35 includes handouts and refreshments. Find registration materials at www.brazosmg.com.

Cleburne / Johnson County
“Ask a Master Gardener,” and get well-researched answers to your gardening questions this summer from Johnson County Master Gardeners. Every Friday members of the association field questions from callers to the Johnson County Extension office, 817-556-6470.

Corpus Christi
Bring the family to Flamingo Fandango at the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, beginning July 1 and continuing all month. This fun-tastic exhibit of innovatively costumed pink plastic yard flamingoes provides smiles and photo opportunities galore. Find details at www.stxbot.org/.

Attend a summer seminar at the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center: “New Plumeria Passions” on Saturday, July 13, 10 a.m. – noon; “Selecting a Spotting Scope for Bird and Butterfly Watching,” Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m. – noon. Details at www.stxbot.org/.

Dallas County / Collin County
Enjoy in-depth learning opportunities at Texas Discovery Gardens this month. “Ascent of the Arthropod,” second in the series, is Tuesday, July 16, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Attendees learn all about arthropods, including insects and arachnids, and also enjoy bubbly, hors d’oeuvres and a walk through the butterfly house. (Fee: $15; $12 members.) On Saturday, July 20, butterfly enthusiasts get a chance to visit a working butterfly farm near Dallas as part of the annual “Fascinating World of Butterflies” three-hour class with Dale Clark, co-founder of the Dallas County Lepidopterist Society. (Fee: $30; $24 members.) (http://texasdiscoverygardens.org/events_and_classes.php#jul.)

Learn about common, and not so common, landscape plants tough enough to survive Stage Four Water Restrictions in a class at Texas Discovery Gardens on Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m. – noon. You’ll also take home some samples for your own garden. Led by director of horticulture Roger Sanderson. (Fee: $20; $15 members.) (http://texasdiscoverygardens.org/events_and_classes.php#jul.)

Take a self-guided field trip or participate in one of the Family Fun Mini-Camps this summer at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney. Find details at www.heardmuseum.org.

Stroll through the gardens, then enjoy an evening of music on the Dallas Arboretum concert lawn overlooking White Rock Lake on July 4. The Dallas Wind Symphony provides A Special Patriotic Performance. Information and tickets at www.dallasarboretum.org.

Fort Worth / Tarrant County
Break out the picnic basket and relax under the stars at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden while listening to great music provided by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and friends. The 23rd Annual Concerts in the Garden Festival continues through July 6 with special Independence Day events and fireworks. Visit www.fwbg.org to see the schedule and buy tickets.

Nacogdoches
Attend the July lecture in the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series on Thursday, July 18, when Julie Shackelford, Texas programs director of the Conservation Fund in Nacogdoches, presents “Backyard Gardening for Dummies.” The garden lectures are held in room 110 of the Stephen F. Austin State University Agriculture Building. Refreshments and a rare plant raffle are included. Free and open to the public. For more information call 935-468-1863 or e-mail grantdamon@sfasu.edu.

San Antonio / Bexar County
Enjoy Concerts Under the Stars at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Featured performers: Lisa Morales on July 11 and Joe Posada and The Show Band with Wednesday Ball on Aug. 13. Tickets $5; ages 12 and under free. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., with performances starting at 7:30 p.m. Find details at www.sabot.org.

Capture the excitement of carnivorous plants in the Savage Gardens exhibit at the San Antonio Botanical Garden June 29 through Dec. 1. Find details at www.sabot.org.

Waco / McLennan County
Bring the family to the final Midsummer Nights free concert at Carleen Bright Arboretum in Woodway. The July 3 concert features Texas Country Gentlemen, 8 to 9 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets, and relax to great music! Call 254-399-9204 for details.

Weatherford / Parker County
Celebrate peach season at the 29th Annual Parker County Peach Festival, Saturday, July 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Historic Downtown Weatherford. Features include the 25th annual Peach Pedal Bike Ride and entertainment on three stages, not to mention peachy treats ranging from homemade peach ice cream to peach juleps. More than 200 art/craft, food and activity vendors provide lots of family fun on this Peachy Day! Admission: $5; free for ages 12 and under. Find details at www.parkercountypeachfestival.org.