Special Events and News at Texas Discovery Gardens

Special Events 2008

Stay for the Day at Fair Park! Click here for a map and links to all of the "fun for the whole family" cultural institutions located in Fair Park.

Register now for our 2008 classes and seminars. Look for the green "Donate Now" button to the right and click on it to register.

Conservation in Action -- March 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free Family Event. Come see us at the annual City of Dallas Environmental Education Initiative (EEI) community fair, Conservation in Action. The fair will feature water conservation, recycling and environmental education activities and exhibits at Texas Discovery Gardens. For additional information, call the Water Conservation Hotline at (214) 670-3155. Sponsored by City of Dallas, University of North Texas, and Texas Discovery Gardens. Rain or shine.

Workshop: Creating a Beautiful Easy Care EarthKind™ Landscape -- March 15, 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. $20 in advance for members, $25 in advance for non-members; $30 at the door. Dr. Steve George will lead a workshop on proper care for EarthKind™ roses. Learn how to manage your landscape in harmony with Mother Nature by following the research-based principals of TX A&M extension’s exciting EarthKind™ system. We will cover EarthKind™ environmental soil management (including expanded shale and living mulches), new EarthKind™ fertilizers for turf, EarthKind™ irrigation techniques, and how to select the best landscape plants, including the newest beautiful easy-care EarthKind™ roses. This class will feature a tour of an actual EarthKind™ rose demonstration garden in Fair Park. To register, call (214) 428-7476 ext. 23 or visit our Web site.

Organic in the City -- First Tuesdays (March – September) 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. $10, $8 for members. Enjoy a summer evening in the Gardens with music, guided tours and presentations on organic and environmental topics. We’ll provide drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Don’t miss this opportunity to rediscover the Gardens and learn how to simplify your life with an organic lifestyle! More information to follow. No advance registration required.

City of Dallas Sanitation Services Earth Day Celebration -- April 20, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. WRR 101.1 and the City of Dallas will hold an earth day program that includes a string quartet, refreshments and speakers. We’ll have prizes, contests and more, so stay tuned! For more information, give us a call at (214) 428-7476, ext. 23. This is a free event.

Butterfly Gardening Workshop -- April 26, 9 a.m. to noon; May 1. 9 a.m. to noon; May 3. 9 a.m. to noon. $45, $35 for members. This workshop sells out fast, so sign up early! Transform your garden into a butterfly paradise with help from Dale Clark, the president of the Dallas County Lepidopterists’ Society. Get garden design tips and learn what plants make the best nectar and host plants in the Metroplex. Included in the admission price is a flat of starter plants! Contact Sarah Gardner to reserve a spot at (214) 428-7476, ext. 23 or register online.

Cultural Day in the Garden -- June 1, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Join us in a celebration of culture in Dallas! Feast your eyes on performances of music, dancing and martial arts. Pause and enjoy delicacies from around the world while you peruse art and enjoy the garden on a sunny summer day. It’s a free family event.

June Plant Sale -- June 6, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Members Only Preview) June 7. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stock up on host and nectar plants for your butterfly garden. You can choose from several hardy, low-maintenance native and adapted plants. Become a Texas Discovery Gardens member and receive a 10% discount and an extra day to shop!

Dragonfly Workshop -- June 14, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $15, $10 for members. As juveniles, they hunt prey under water. As adults, they fly at lightning speed. Learn about the amazing life cycle of this highly beneficial insect. More than 75 species of dragonflies are found in the Dallas area. The workshop includes a walking tour of Texas Discovery Gardens and Fair Park to identify dragonflies in flight. Conducted by Omar Bocanegra, dragonfly expert and biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Contact Sarah Gardner to reserve a spot at (214) 428-7476, ext. 23.

The Fascinating World of Butterflies -- July 12, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. $35, $30 for members. Cover butterfly basics with local species ID, biology, and behavior with local expert Dale Clark. Contact Sarah Gardner to reserve a spot at (214) 428-7476, ext. 23.

Garden Walks

Garden Walks are a guided tour on various topics. Unless noted, Garden Walks are on the third Saturday of the month and last one hour. They are free with garden admission. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for adults 60 and older, and $1.50 for children 3-11. No advance registration required, and programs go on rain or shine.

Growing Greener Roses -- February 16, 10 a.m. Give yourself time to stop and smell the roses with hardier varieties that require less care. Learn proper pruning techniques with rose expert Peter Schaar.

Stroller Strut -- April 12, 10 a.m. See the garden through the eyes of your little one! This garden walk is specially designed for parents, grandparents and small children (infant – three years old). Delight in an experience for the senses – touch, smell, look and listen to the wonders of the garden. Become a co-explorer with your toddler.

Caterpillar Crawl -- May 17, 10 a.m. Follow us on a tour around the garden in search for local caterpillars and butterflies. This is a great family walk.

Native Plants of Texas -- July 19, 10 a.m. Join us as we discover native plants around the Gardens. Native plants require less water, fertilizer and pesticides! They attract local wildlife and butterflies.

Trees of Texas: A Native Primer-- November 1, 10 a.m. Join us as we teach you how to go native! Local trees are hardier and more drought-resistant. They also attract birds and other wildlife to your yard. We’ll tour the garden in search of native trees and give you pointers on proper planting techniques.

For the Birds -- December 6, 10 a.m. It’s all hands-on as we learn how to garden for wildlife in the winter. Bring the kids and work on fun projects to feed birds and native wildlife during the big chill. We’ll tell you what plants to add to your garden that will attract birds all year long.

Garden Highlight: Garden Notes on WRR 101.1

Bring Texas Discovery Gardens home with you! Tune into WRR 101.1 Saturday and Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. Fran Anderson will give you tips and tricks about gardening and give upcoming event reminders.

This is your chance to enjoy a bite of gardening while you savor that morning cup of coffee each weekend.