Events: February 2014
Family-friendly events frequently top the schedule at Texas Discovery Gardens. See the Dallas section of this month’s calendar for a look at just a few of the Gardens’ many educational events, both indoors and out. Photos by InI Photographics.
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
Visit the “Art of Nature” exhibit of nature paintings by Hill Country artist Nettie Pleuckhahn from February through Memorial Day at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The display features watercolors and acrylics by an artist who has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work. www.wildflower.org/exhibits/.
Attend the Austin Rose Society’s Rose Workshop, Feb. 15, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Zilker Botanical Garden. Subjects covered include rose propagation, pruning, soil, rose-related insects, and tips on selecting roses. A rose garden tour and lunch are included in the $25 registration fee. Register at www.AustinRoseSociety.org.
College Station / Brazos County
Get the scoop on bed preparation, best varieties, and good planting and management practices at “Spring Vegetable Gardening” taught by master gardener Kate Kelly on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6:30 – 8 p.m. The Gardening 101 Series is presented by Brazos County Master Gardeners in cooperation with College Station Parks and Recreation’s Xtra Education Classes. Classes are held at Cypress Grove Intermediate School, 900 Graham Rd. in College Station. Class fee is $15. Register online at https://rectrac.cstx.gov or call 979-764-3486.
Corpus Christi / Nueces County
Attend the remaining lectures in the Winter Lecture Series at the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, held Wednesdays 10 – 11:30 a.m.: Feb. 5 — landscape architect Doug Wade, “Exploring St. Louis’ City Park”; Feb. 16 — Nueces master gardener Betty Whitt, “Bonsai Basics”; Feb. 19 — Nueces master gardeners Carol Barragy and Norma Hernandez, “Community Gardening in Corpus Christi”; Feb. 26 –Nueces master gardener Sabra Morian, “Passionate for Plumeria.” Members free; non-members welcome with general admission. www.stxbot.org.
Dallas / Dallas County
BYOB (Bring Your Own Binoculars) to a family-friendly Garden Explorers Walk at Texas Discovery Gardens, Saturday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m. Participants will search for birds and other late-winter wildlife, then enjoy a Butterfly Release talk at noon in the conservatory. Included with general admission. www.texasdiscoverygardens.org
Learn about rose pruning from Dr. Peter Schaar in the newly renovated Heirloom Rose Garden of Texas Discovery Gardens on Saturday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m. – noon. Workshop fee of $25 ($20 members) includes a new rose to add to your garden. www.texasdiscoverygardens.org
Attend an Evening Chat titled “Water Wiser” led by horticulture director Roger Sanderson at Texas Discovery Gardens, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Discussion will center around landscape plants, both common and not so common, that are tough enough to survive Stage Four Water Restrictions. Fee: $5 ($4 members). www.texasdiscoverygardens.org
Enjoy the breath-taking sights of Dallas Blooms at the Dallas Arboretum Feb. 22 through April 6. Now in its 30th year, the festival offers floral displays featuring more than 500,000 blooming spring bulbs, plus blooming cherry trees, azaleas, and many other annuals and perennials. Among this year’s special features are a “Birds in Paradise” theme and an exhibit of six life-sized, interactive birdhouses built by local architects. Find details at www.dallasarboretum.org.
Fort Worth / Tarrant County
Sign up in advance for the Growers’ School offered by the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers on March 3-4 at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. The sessions are designed primarily for new growers, or those adding cut flowers to their existing lines. Find the full program and registration materials at www.ascfg.org.
Houston / Harris County
Enjoy free lectures in February at the Arbor Gate in Tomball: Sunday, Feb. 16, 1 p.m. — Gaye Hammond, “Rose Pruning”; Saturday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m. — Bill Adams and Tom LeRoy, “Vegetable Gardening”; Sunday, Feb 23, 1 p.m. – chef Molly Fowler, “Preserving the Harvest.” www.arborgate.com
McKinney / Collin County
Visit the Collin County Home and Garden Show Feb. 7-9 at the Allen Event Center. The show is a one-stop shopping opportunity for homeowners who want to comparison shop while supporting local home and garden businesses. Celebrity guest is DIY Network’s Jeff Devlin, star of “I Hate My Bath.” Proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity. Find details at www.AllenHomeandGardenShow.com.
Mark your calendar for The Garden Show: Earth-Kind Gardening sponsored by the Collin County Master Gardeners at Myers Park near McKinney on the weekend of March 22-23. The indoor event is packed with educational events, hands-on activities and demos from local experts, plus children’s activities and tours of the trial gardens at Myers Park. $2 per person fee supports two local charities. http://www.ccmgatx.org/thegardenshow
Nacogdoches / Nacogdoches County
Attend the February lecture in the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series on Thursday, Feb. 13, when garden writer Jay White presents “Weed Free – Organically.” White blogs at www.masterofhort.com and is a staff writer for Texas Gardener magazine. The garden lectures are now held on second Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the new Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches. A rare plant raffle is included. Free and open to the public, but donations will be appreciated. For more information call 936-468-1832 or e-mail grantdamon@sfasu.edu.
San Antonio / Bexar County
Explore and have fun with the kids at Family Flashlight Night at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, Friday, Feb. 21. Kids and adults alike with enjoy this rare look at the garden. You’ll encounter nighttime insects, create a constellation craft, and test your directional skills in a light maze. Free for members; non-members pay regular admission. Find details at www.sabot.org.
Waco / McLennan County
Bring that young daughter or granddaughter to a Father-Daughter “Sweet Memories” Valentine Dance at Carleen Bright Arboretum in Woodway this month. Dances scheduled: “Sugar and Spice” for ages 4 to 11, Thursday, Feb. 6, 6-8 p.m., and “Pure in Heart” for ages 12 and up, Friday, Feb. 7, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The dances will be held in the Pavilion at the Arboretum. Tickets ($25 per person, $5 per picture) include substantial hors d’oeuvres and sweets. Attire is semi-formal. www.Woodway-Texas.com