December 2013 Events
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin celebrates the holidays with “Luminations” on Dec. 14-15, when the gardens are filled with thousands of luminarias and twinkle lights. Food, decorated trees, and music provided by local performers and area schools are just part of the fun. See other details in the Austin section below.
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
Find the perfect holiday gifts at the Wild Ideas Holiday Shopping Event at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Dec. 6-8. Free admission, plus a 20 percent discount off all merchandise. A dozen local artists will offer handcrafted jewelry, paintings and more on Saturday and Sunday in the Visitor’s Gallery. Other activities include early-bird gift specials Friday morning and Sunday afternoon, a throw and pillow show Sunday, and book signings. Hours: Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon – 5 p.m. Sponsored by H-E-B and Classically Austin 89.5/KMFA. Find details at http://www.wildflower.org/holiday/.
Enjoy an Austin holiday tradition, “Luminations” at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15, 6-9 p.m. You’ll stroll lighted gardens filled with thousands of luminarias and twinkle lights, and find the center filled with children’s activities, music, hugs from Frosty the Snowman, and much more. Admission is free with two canned food items for the Capital Area Food Bank. Find details at http://www.wildflower.org/luminations/.
Dallas / Dallas County
Celebrate “Holiday at the Arboretum,” Nov. 29 – Dec. 31 at the Dallas Arboretum. The lavishly decorated DeGolyer Mansion features a collection of 400 angels inspired by displays at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Other holiday activities include Holiday Tea, Family Fun weekends that include Santa and a live reindeer, festive music and tasty treats. Find details at www.dallasarboretum.org.
Fort Worth / Tarrant County
Share your holiday gift-giving with our feathered friends! Children of all ages are invited to make biodegradable bird treats to bring to decorate the Birds’ Christmas Tree at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden on Dec. 7, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. This free event, complete with music and entertainment, is one of Fort Worth’s oldest holiday traditions. Find details at www.fwbg.org.
McKinney / Collin County
Stroll through a half-mile light display in the pristine natural setting of the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, Dec. 14, 20 and 21. Live music and entertainment will complement the holiday atmosphere. Have a professional photo taken with Father Christmas and Mother Nature. Hot beverages and treats available for purchase. See details at www.heardmuseum.org.
Nacogdoches, East Texas and Points East
“Deck the Halls – Using Evergreens to Decorate for the Holidays!” Attend the garden seminar on Dec. 7 at SFA Mast Arboretum, 9 a.m. – noon in Room 118 of the Agriculture Building. Dawn Stover, research associate at the Arboretum, will teach participants to create elegant wreaths and garlands using materials from Mother Nature. Cost is $25 for Garden Friends and $30 for non-members. Class size is limited, so pre-registration is important. Call 936-468-1832 or e-mail erodewald@sfasu.edu.
Attend the December lecture in the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series on Thursday, Dec. 19, when Dave Creech of SFA Gardens, Stephen F. Austin State University, presents “Why Raising a Garden and Raising Kiddos Is About the Same Thing – Breaking Rules.” The garden lectures are held at 6:30 p.m. in 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
Bring your best friend(s) to Happy Howlidays, the Dog Days at San Antonio Botanical Garden Dec. 7-8. The garden will be decorated for the holiday season, making for many photo ops. Owners may also treat their dogs to special “doggie biscuits” at the Carriage House Bistro. All dogs must be on a leash, and regular garden admission is required plus $5 cash per dog. Find details at www.sabot.org.
Step away from the holiday whirlwind of traffic and malls and enjoy Holidays in Bloom at the San Antonio Botanical Garden beginning Nov. 29. “Natural” is, in fact, the theme for this year’s decor. Among many beautiful sights you’ll enjoy hundreds of poinsettias in the Garden and Conservatory areas, plus a giant pinecone wreath on display at the Texas Native Trail Pavilion The Garden’s dedicated team of volunteers makes many of the beautiful sights possible. Find details at www.sabot.org.