August 2014 Events
The San Antonio Botanical Garden officially celebrates the Dog Days of Summer on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 2-3, when canines and their two-legged friends (on leash) can enjoy the grounds together. The celebration not only includes an earlier opening hour and plentiful water, but also special doggie biscuits at the Carriage House Bistro! For more details, read the San Antonio entry in the calendar 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
Take advantage of special sales at The Store at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center this month. Aug. 2-3 is the Summer Gift Clearance. Aug 8-10 is the Sales Tax Holiday. Aug. 16-17 is the Art Print Sale, and Aug. 23 is the Seed Sale. The Labor Day Weekend Sidewalk Sale is Saturday through Monday, Aug. 31- Sept. 2. Find details at http://www.wildflower.org/events/.
Brady / McCulloch County
Enroll now in the fall training sessions to become a Central Texas Master Gardener. Classes will be held on Tuesdays from Sept. 9 through Nov. 11, usually from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Call the McCulloch County Texas AgriLife Extension Office at 325-597-1295 for details, or download the application form at http://txmg.org/centraltexas/.
Bryan / Brazos County
Mark your calendar for the 2014 Town and Country Garden Tour sponsored by Brazos County Master Gardeners on Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tickets will go on sale at the Brazos County Extension Office, 2619 Hwy 21W, on Sept. 25 (checks only). See the group’s website for details: http://www.brazosmg.com.
Corpus Christi / Nueces County
See “Metal In Motion 2” now through Labor Day (outdoors) at South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. The displays feature the over-the-top scrap metal work of Mark “Scrapdaddy” Bradford. The artist is best known for large, robotic, recycled metal creatures that often move by pneumatics and hydraulics, some breathing fire and opening their jaws. His work has been shown throughout North and South America and Europe. Find details at http://www.stxbot.org/.
Dallas / Dallas County
Enjoy one of the last staycations of the summer with $1 general garden admission to the Dallas Arboretum and $1 Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden admission the entire month of August. (The Children’s Garden has more than 8,000 square feet of misters!) August Dollar Day tickets must be purchased at the gate in order to receive this special offer, subject to availability. Discounted parking is available for purchase online. There will also be $1 food items available, including hot dogs, small drinks and smoothies. The Hoffman Family Gift Store will have its annual mega-summer sale Aug. 8-23. Dollar Days presented by Time Warner Cable. Visit for more details.
Learn more about growing and canning your own vegetables from Donelle and Marilyn Simmons of Garden Inspirations and The FarmGirls Organic Radio Show, when they lead classes this month at Texas Discovery Gardens. “Canning Your Garden Veggies” is Aug. 2, 2-4 p.m., and “Garden to Table: Organic Food 101” is Aug. 9, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Fee for each session is $25 ($20 TDG members). Please register in advance: http://texasdiscoverygardens.org/events_and_classes.php#aug
Nacogdoches / Nacogdoches County
Attend the August lecture in the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series on Thursday, Aug. 14, when Ethan Kauffmann, garden director at Moore Farms Botanical Garden, presents “Green Roofs, Green Walls, the South Carolina Way.” The garden lectures are 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. The lectures are free and open to the public, but donations will be appreciated. Parking is available at the nearby Raguet Elementary School. For more information call 936-468-1832 or e-mail grantdamon@sfasu.edu.
San Antonio / Bexar County
Bring your favorite canine to Dog Days of Summer at the San Antonio Botanical Garden Aug. 2-3, when dogs and their owners can visit the Garden and enjoy fresh air together. (The Garden opens one hour earlier than usual, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) Refreshments include special doggie biscuits from Anne Marie’s Carriage House Bistro and water bowls in the shade of the tent. Admission: $10 adults, $8 students, seniors, active military, $7 ages 3-13, plus a $5 donation per dog. Proceeds from the canine contribution goes to the co-sponsors: Animal Defense League, San Antonio Animal Care Services, the San Antonio Humane Society and San Antonio Botanical Garden. Find details at www.sabot.org.
Mark your calendar for a special event in September at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. It’s a Nature Connects exhibit – art made with Lego bricks!