October 2014 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
Shop the Fall Native Plant Sale at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Oct. 11-12 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. both days). The event includes walks and talks, book signings and opportunities to meet James Truchard, David Werth, Jolyn Piercy and Thomas Koschmieder. Details and a list of plants are available at www.wildflower.org/plantsale/.

Enjoy lifelike and fantastical creatures created by Barbara Attwell in “Morphogenesis,” an exhibit of her sculptures made of colorful, felted wool, at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The indoor exhibit of 30-plus sculptures depicts everything from endangered birds to seedpod-like beings suspended in the air. In McDermott Learning Center through early December. Also see Cynthia Clerc’s vibrant acrylic nature images in the store through Dec. 7. The fellow Texan’s mixed-media paintings incorporate seedpods and other found elements while displaying the richness of our natural environment. Admission: $9 adults, $7 seniors and students, $3 children, free for members and children under 5. For more information, call 512-232-0100 or visit www.wildflower.org.

Bryan / Brazos County
Attend the Third Annual Texas Fruit Conference Oct. 6-7 at the Hilton Garden Inn in College Station. This educational program is aimed at bringing together commercial and recreational fruit growers from around Texas to hear and discuss the challenges and successes of fruit growing in our state. Featured speakers include Dr. Arlie Powell (Auburn U), Dr. George Ray McEachern, Dr. David Byrne, Gary Marburger and Larry Don Womack. For full details contact Monte Nesbitt, 979-862-1218, MLNesbitt@tamu.edu.

Attend the 2014 Town and Country Garden Tour sponsored by Brazos County Master Gardeners on Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Gardens include the Demonstration Ideas Garden located beside the Brazos County offices of Texas A&M and several private gardens – an eco-friendly perennial garden with tortoise habitat, a 1-acre urban eclectic garden, a diverse fruit, vegetable and native garden, a Texas Wildscapes backyard habitat, and a cottage garden. Advance tickets on sale at the Brazos County Extension Office, 2619 Hwy 21W in Bryan. Tickets available the day of the event at any of the gardens (checks or cash only). Find details at http://www.brazosmg.com.

Corpus Christi / Nueces County
Support South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center at the same time that you enjoy Moonlight in the Gardens 2014! The date is Friday, Oct. 10, and start time is 5:30 p.m. It’s a casual evening jam-packed with entertainment and good food under the stars – four Stellar Spirits bars, Astronomical Appetizers, Jupiter’s Jazz Bar, Starlight Silent Auction and Grand Galaxy Blackboard Auction. Click here for details.

Dallas / Dallas County
Learn more about cool-weather herbs, fruit tree planting, cole crops, wreath making and more when North Haven Gardens celebrates this first weekend of fall, Sept. 27-28. Presenters include herb enthusiasts Carrie Dubberley and Mary Nell Jackson and NHG staffer Christine Hensley. Find details at www.nhg.com

Take advantage of buy-one, get-one-free general admission to the Dallas Arboretum on BOGO Wednesdays, now through Nov. 26. You’ll enjoy Autumn at the Arboretum displays, including the acclaimed Pumpkin Village. BOGO tickets are available onsite only. See details about this and many other special offers at www.dallasarboretum.org.

Enjoy Richardson’s Cottonwood Park and shop for art at the 2014 Cottonwood Art Festival Oct. 4-5. This year’s festival features local and regional musicians performing classic rock, country, jazz, and more. Brice McCasland is this year’s featured artist. Festival hours are 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday. Cottonwood Park is located at 1321 W. Belt Line Rd., one block east of Coit Rd., in Richardson. Parking and admission are free. Find details at www.CottonwoodArtFestival.com.

Sign up now for training as a Dallas County Master Gardener. The series of classes begins in January 2015; applications are due by Oct. 20. Once certified, Master Gardeners have many opportunities to serve the community with dissemination of horticultural knowledge — at home and garden shows, in educational projects for children, in hands-on development of community gardens, and much more. Find information at www.dallascountymastergardeners.org.

Enjoy music under the stars at the Dallas Arboretum again this month. The Cool Thursdays Fall Music Series presents The Molly Ringwalds (Oct. 2), Brave Combo (Oct. 9), Asleep at the Wheel (Oct. 16), A Hard Night’s Day (Oct. 23) and Thriller Night with Who’s Bad (Oct. 30). In a setting that includes the beauty of White Rock Lake and the Concert Lawn, you can enjoy a picnic brought from home or purchase edibles and beverages from food trucks like Easy Slider and Cajun Tailgators. Purchase tickets online at http://www.dallasarboretum.org/visit/seasonal-festivals-events.

Don’t miss Texas Discovery Gardens when you attend the State Fair of Texas, Sept. 26-Oct. 19. Great exhibits and kid-friendly fun, plus extended hours and half-price admission. State Fair fees and parking apply during the fair. Click for details.

Fort Worth / Grapevine / Tarrant County
Stock up on plants at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens Fall Plant Sale, Oct. 10 (2-6 p.m.) and Oct. 11 (9 a.m.-2 p.m.). The sale features a wide assortment of trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, perennials, vines, winter annuals, and spring-flowering bulbs. Offerings also include citrus and other fruit trees. Representatives of rose, iris, daylily and other societies will offer plants for sale as well. Please bring your own wagon to The Grove! A preview class is offered on Oct. 7, 7-8 p.m. Call 817-392-5534 to register. Find other details at www.fwbg.org.

Shop the Grapevine Garden Club Plant Sale Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., in the Botanical Gardens at Heritage Park. Plants include butterfly nectar and host plants, native and adapted trees, shrubs and perennials. Master Gardeners will be available for guidance. Proceeds benefit the Grapevine Garden Club’s scholarship and civic programs. The park is located at 411 Ball Street in Grapevine. Find details at www.grapevinegardenclub.org.

Enjoy a “Fantastic Festival of Fun, Friends and Horticultural Enlightenment” at Hortipalooza ’14 on Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the Resource Connection in Fort Worth. The upbeat garden event is sponsored by Steven Chamblee, Steve Chaney and Tarrant County Master Gardeners. The fun includes a lecture series, hands-on workshops, prizes for best garden hats, lunch/munch and more. Find full details at https://www.formstack.com/forms/?1823574-ZUKopabYEv.

Stroll the paths of the beautiful Japanese Garden and immerse yourself in Japanese culture at the annual Fall Festival in the Japanese Garden at Fort Worth Botanic Garden on Oct. 25-26. You’ll hear koto music and taiko drumming watch graceful Sakura dancers and Japanese swordsmen, even have an opportunity to participate in a tea ceremony. Lots of vendors selling jewelry, artwork, and gifts. Culinary delights and children’s activities as well. Find details at www.fwbg.org

Houston / Harris County
Get your tools sharpened or have lunch with the garden experts at The Garden Gate in Tomball during October. The education schedule includes “Establishing Woody Ornamentals,” Skip Richter, Oct. 11, 10 a.m.; “Proper Care for Healthy Trees,” John R. Warner, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.; and “Ornamedibles,” Angela Chandler, Oct. 19, 11 a.m. Find details about these and many other presentations at www.arborgate.com.

McAllen / Hidalgo County
Enjoy a full schedule of fall activities at Quinta Mazatlan in October, including Songbird Strolls, Garden Walks and Talks, and a Nature Speaker Series. This month’s series includes talks about butterflies, birding, backyard habitats, Mexican folk art, bats and more. Quinta Mazatlan is located at 600 Sunset Drive in McAllen. Find details at www.quintamazatlan.com

Celebrate Valley Native Plant Day at Quinta Mazatlan on Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to noon. Activities include a native tree walk, a butterfly garden demonstration, and more. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase native plants. Fee: $3 adults, $2 seniors. Visit www.quintamazatlan.com

McKinney / Collin County
Support Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney this Saturday, Sept. 27, by bringing the family to the 9th annual “Run the Trails” 10K, 5K and 1-mile Run/Walk. Lots of family-fun activities in addition to the run. Find full details in a special article in this issue of e-gardens.

Join Collin County Master Gardeners at their 2014 Bulb and Perennial Mark on Oct. 18 in the Stall Barn at Myers Park and Event Center in McKinney, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. This one-day one-stop event provides an opportunity to learn more about, and purchase, hard-to-find heritage bulbs and drought-tolerant perennials for North Texas. Crinums available! Free indoors event, so come rain or shine. No sales tax. Master Gardeners will be on hand to conduct tours of their trial gardens. Find details at www.ccmgatx.org or call 972-548-4219.

Have Halloween fun with the family at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary on Oct. 18. Kids will enjoy trick or treating in a safe environment along the eerie Dinosaurs Live! trail of life-size animatronic dinosaurs. Other fun includes the Heard’s Haunted Forest and Ghost Town. Bring flashlights, insect repellant and water-resistant blankets and stadium seats for movie watching. Find details at www.heardmuseum.org.

Nacogdoches / Nacogdoches County
Find Texas-tough plants and so much more at the Fabulous Fall Festival Plant Sale hosted by SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University on Saturday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. A wide variety of hard-to-find plants will be available, including Texas natives, heirlooms, tropicals, perennials, shrubs, trees and exclusive Greg Grant and SFA introductions. Most of the plants have been trialed in the gardens and most are produced by the SFA staff and volunteers. Location is the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches. Arrive early and bring a wagon. For a list of plants, visit www.sfagardens.sfasu.edu.

Attend this month’s lecture in the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series on Thursday, Oct. 9, when Texas gardener Patty Leander presents “Goodness from the Vegetable Garden: Enjoying the Fruits – and Roots, Seeds, Leaves and Flowers – of Your Labor.” 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
Enjoy music, tasty foods, and fall beauty at Gardens by Moonlight, Oct. 11, at the San Antonio Botanic Garden. Live music on five stages throughout the garden, including Los Lonely Boys playing their Grammy-winning “Heaven” on the main stage. Gate opens at 5:30 p.m.; music begins at 6 p.m. General admission: $15 advance, $20 at the gate. See www.sabot.org.

Take the kids to Nature Connects, an exhibit of art made with LEGO® bricks at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, now through Jan. 4, 2015! The exhibit features 27 sculptures in 14 displays created from nearly 500,000 LEGO® bricks by artist Sean Kenney. The largest sculpture is a mother bison, made from 45,142 bricks. Regular admission rates apply. See details at http://www.sabot.org/events/.