History of CCBG Society, Inc.
Facility Rental Information
CCBG & NC Operation Guidelines
Daily, Monthly & Annual
Education
Classes!
Upcoming Classes & Events at the
SOUTH TEXAS BOTANICAL GARDENS & NATURE CENTER
8545 S. Staples St., Corpus Christi TX 78413 361-852-2100
Please Phone in Your Reservations!
2008
Orchid Novice class series, taught by Orchid Curator Sam Jones, are held at 7 p.m., the first Thursday of each month, in the Visitors Center. FREE! Sam’s booklet, Orchid Culture for the Novice, may be purchased for $3.25. For information, call 361/854-7624.
ADVANCED BIRD ID
SERIES
Begins Monday, January 14, running through May 3, 2008.
12 Monday evening sessions (6:30-8:30 p.m.), 6 fieldtrips, with birder & naturalist, Gene Blacklock, of Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program. (class max 16) Prepayment Must Accompany registration. $175, $150 members.
WINTER LECTURE SERIES
Wednesdays, 10-11:30 a.m.
For residents and winter tourists, Guest speakers will provide unique perspectives on regional environmental, agricultural and horticultural topics. General Admission only--$5adults, $4 seniors (60)/Active Military/college students. Members, free!
January 16
Hints for Healthier House Plants
Dr. Michael Womack, STBGNC Executive Dir. & Caller-Times
Columnist
January 23:
Super Simple Orchids
Sam
Jones, Orchid Curator
January 30:
Rediscovering Old Favorites: Antique Roses
Corpus Christi Rose Society
February 6:
Harvesting Snake Venom
Texas A&M-Kingsville Natural Toxins
Research Center Staff
February 13:
Wetlands—More than Meets the Eye
Jay Tarkington Texas A&M-CC Center for Coastal
Studies
February 20:
Tricks of the Trade & Home Remedies
Frank
Eicholz, Retired Texas Certified Nurseryman
February 27:
Must-Have Herbs
Rockport Rose & Herb Study Group
ROSE BED TO ROSE BUD
Saturday, February 16, 10-Noon.
All you need to know to grow gorgeous roses in South Texas, with accomplished rosarians from the Corpus Christi Rose Society.
$6, $3.50 members.
VEGETABLES FROM YOUR BACKYARD
Saturday, February 23, 10-Noon.
Instead of paying grocery store prices for fresh vegetables, how about growing your own? Carol Krank, Texas Certified Nursery Professional & Master Gardener, will give the info you need, including garden prep, types of plants, spacing, feeding, mulching, watering and more. Vegetable gardening’s not only a money saver, but is also great exercise and a relaxing hobby. $6, $3.50 members.
BIRDS OF THE TEXAS COASTAL BEND (101) Short Course
Saturday, March 1, 8:45-11:30 a.m., class; 1:30-4:30 p.m., fieldtrip. Study some of the more than 450 known bird species in South Texas, with acclaimed birder Gene Blacklock, of Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program. (Class max 30) Prepayment Must Accompany Registration. $25, $22 members.
BACKYARD CITRUS & TROPICAL FRUITS
Saturday, March 8, 10-Noon.
Would you like to step out your back door
and pick fresh citrus, mango, papaya, banana . . .and more? Dr. John Fucik, retired horticulture
professor, tells you how to get started including on-going care of your
trees. $6, $3.50
members.
BOTANICA 2008—Mariposas & Margaritas! (Mariposas is Spanish for Butterflies)
6-10 p.m., Thursday evening, March 13, Ortiz Center!
Annual festive spring fundraiser--with the new Butterfly Garden & Conservatory in the starring role. The evening features an interactive live butterfly flight cage, silent auction, dinner by the Corpus Christi Mustangs, dessert by Ovations, music and dancing with Carl Lewis & the Deadbeats. Sponsorships available at $10,000, $5000, $3000, $1500. Individual Tickets are $100 each. For more information, call Dr. Michael Womack, or MaryJane Crull, 361-852-2100. Reservations Required.
ETHNOBOTANY
Saturday, March 15, 10-Noon.
Learn about many South Texas native plants, and how their components were used by Native Americans and pioneers, as well as how these methods can transition to present-day uses. Master Naturalist Sibyl Deacon shares her knowledge on this fascinating subject.
$6, $3.50 members.
BASICS OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m..
Dr. Juan Bahamon, a winner in the Coastal Bend Wildlife Photo Contest, teaches this comprehensive short course which covers: Digital vs. Film, Manual vs. Automatic, Exposure, Light, Depth of Field, Background, and Composition. The Course includes a lecture from 10 a.m. to noon, field work from noon to 2 p.m., processing and review from 2 to 3 p.m. Bring a sack lunch. $10, $7 members.
THE FORGOTTEN PLANTS
Saturday, March 29, 10-Noon.
Gill Landscape Nursery Landscape Designer Kathy Hubner shares her expertise about those great performing but underused plants for local landscapes, including ornamental grasses, groundcovers, heirloom plants, and new introductions. $6 $3.50 members.
CREATING WILDLIFE HABITAT LANDSCAPES
Saturday, April 5, 10-Noon.
Transform your backyard into a lush, colorful habitat for birds and butterflies by landscaping with South Texas native plants recommended by Master Gardener/Master Naturalist Ernie Edmunson. $6, $3.50 members.
The BIG BLOOM!
Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. DOLLAR DAY! Members Free (Members Early Entry 8-9 a.m.)
A Spring garden festival and only Plant Sale of the year! Kids Activities, Orchid Auction, specialty vendors, ladybug releases and more …Plant experts on site. Buy a membership at 10% off; get a discount on plants & Garden Shoppe purchases. FAMILY FUN!
BASICS OF FLORAL DESIGN
Saturday, April 19, 10-Noon.
Hobbyist Nan Bailey teaches attractive but simple designs bud arrangements, wreathes, bow-making, and basket arrangements. $6, $3.50 members.
WHAT’S BUGGING YOU?
Saturday, April 26, 10-Noon.
Learn to recognize the difference between pests and beneficial insects and the best methods to control the bad guys in your landscape, with Master Gardener Cindy Straub. $6, $3.50 members.
TURF TALK
Saturday, May 3, 10-Noon.
Texas Cooperative Extension Horticulturist
Michael Potter discusses fertility, mowing, irrigation, and other best turf
management practices for the greenest lawn on the block. $6, $3.50
members.
Saturday, May 10 Wednesday, July 2 Saturday, September 6 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sponsored by AEP Texas. This is a FREE COURSE!
ATTENTION TEACHERS AND INFORMAL EDUCATORS! This one-day course provides 96 ready-to-go lesson plans for hands-on environmental education activity lessons in Pre-K through 8th grade. PLT takes an interdisciplinary approach (Science, Math, Social Sciences, Language Arts, Visual Arts, PE) that teaches kids HOW TO THINK about the environment, not WHAT TO THINK. PLT uses trees as a window to the world of environmental issues, covering plant life, wildlife, natural resources, water, and man’s interaction with our biosphere. Lessons are correlated to the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS). Teachers can attain 6 hours continuing education credits for recertification and 6 hours toward the Texas Environmental Education Certification. Teachers receive a 96-lesson Teacher Guide, lesson planning/goal setting activity and a BOX LUNCH. Instructor is Botanical Gardens Executive Director and horticulturist Dr. Michael Womack. AEP Texas underwrites tuition, but there is a $10 refundable deposit to cover lunch cost for no-shows. Pre-registration Required. Call to sign up.
ORCHIDS WITH SAM !
Saturday, May 17, 10-Noon.
Get an orchid at the BIG BLOOM? Or for your birthday? Want to keep it healthy, but don’t know much about orchids? Sam Jones, Orchid Curator, says “you too can grow orchids!” Learn the basics, made simple by Sam. $6, $3.50.
JUNIOR MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM—Seven 2-hour classes, for kids who have completed Grades 1-6, taught by Nueces County Master Gardeners. Classes are Saturdays, from 1-3 p.m., June 7 through July 19—
at the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center.
JMG is an international youth gardening program operated nationwide through the Cooperative Extension network. JMG is “Growing Good Kids” by igniting a passion for learning, success and service through a unique gardening education. The JMG course for summer, 2007 focuses on Environment, Soil and Water segments, correlating to and integrated into academic standards for science, math, language arts, and social studies. It includes science process skills, observation, taking measurements and problem solving. JMG inspires youths to be of service to others through leadership development and service learning projects, rewarding them with certification, recognition upon completion, and eligibility for advanced youth gardening programs. (Class max is 18.) Prepaid registration by May 29.
Fee is $30 per child for the entire series and covers student manual, all materials, and Gardens & Nature Center admission.
WILDERNESS
EXPERIENCE KIDS CAMP – Four-day
Day Camp. Tuesday through Friday,
9:30-4.
Ages 7-9: June 10-13 or July 8-11. Ages 10-12: June 24-27. Campers learn secrets of the wilderness and its ecological conservation, including plant propagation, endangered species, area wildlife, native habitat, natural wetlands and touring the Gardens & Nature Center’s tropical floral exhibits. Includes interactive indoor and outdoor activities, hands-on take-home projects, and a camp t-shirt. Kids will need a sack lunch, sunscreen, sunglasses and hat. (Session max 20) FEES: $85 per session per child, $70 members. Prepayment must accompany registration.
Begins Tuesday, July 1, running through Labor Day, Monday, September 1.
Flamingo Fandango, in its second year, features classic pink plastic yard flamingos theme-designed and “dressed” by area artists of all ages, plus a “naked” flock of about 200 perfect for photo ops. You may pick up your flamingo to dress for competition, plus award categories and contest rules, after April 1.
BEGINNING BIRD ID SERIES
Begins Monday, September 8, running through December 6, 2008.
12 Monday evening sessions (6:30-8:30 p.m.), 6 fieldtrips, with entertaining birder & naturalist, Gene Blacklock, of Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program. (class max 16) Payment must accompany registration-Register by September 4. $175, $150 members.
2009
ADVANCED BIRD ID
SERIES
Begins Monday, January 12, running through May 2, 2009.
12 Monday evening sessions (6:30-8:30 p.m.), 6 fieldtrips, with birder & naturalist, Gene Blacklock, of Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program. (class max 16) Prepayment Must Accompany registration-by January 6. $175, $150 members.
BIRDS OF THE TEXAS COASTAL BEND (101) Short Course
Saturday, March 7, 8:45-11:30 a.m., class; 1:30-4:30 p.m., fieldtrip. Study some of the more than 450 known bird species in South Texas, with acclaimed birder Gene Blacklock, of Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program. (Class max 30) Prepayment Must Accompany Registration. $25, $22 members.