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This is a first! The Botanical Gardens is looking for VOLUNTEERS to work with Grounds Staff helping with daily hand-watering, mowing, weeding, edging! Coastal rains made the grass grow, and watering restrictions still make us hand-water! We’ll work with your schedule, except (watering must be done before 10 am), other work between 9 and 6. Please call Kathie for details, 361-852-2100, x 225.

1)“HAUNTED TRAIL WALKS” will be 8-10 pm, Fridays, October 16, 23 and 30, to scare your socks off on our Nature Trail! SEE MORE to make reservations on-line. 2) Halloween “HAY MAZE” opens October 17-Thanksgiving, for children to navigate, co-sponsored and decorated by Ocean Drive Garden Club, included in admission. Décor changes to Christmas after Thanksgiving. 3) ON HALLOWEEN, Saturday, October 31, costumed kids ages 3-12, get in half price, $3, when accompanied by at least one paying adult!

For your convenience, we’re providing a schedule of SATURDAY MORNING Horticulture & Environmental Education classes! All except BONSAI, begin at 9:30 am, Education Station classroom, with spaced seating for 40. Unless noted, all are covered by that day’s general admission, membership, or $5 each. Educational, fun, meet new friends. Make your reservation at 361-852-2100.

Learn while encountering different Garden & Nature Center areas—
Butterfly House, Reptile Room, Sensory Garden, Parrot Enclosures,
Brennecke Nature Trail, more!

Tears flowed like “rain” realizing we shouldn’t have the annual BIG BLOOM Plant Sale this
year, due to drought-caused water shortages and resulting watering restrictions! New Plants take lots of water. What if people couldn’t keep their plants alive? If sponsors weren’t interested? If attendance was down? What would public perception be if we had the fundraiser? We conserve our natural resources! Ignoring our critical water situation is not the image we want to project. No BIG BLOOM, but SEE MORE for how we make it up to you!

We’ve all been waiting for the annual PLUMERIA SOCIETY OF SOUTH TEXAS Plumeria Sale, coming 10am-1pm, Saturday, July 18. This year, it’s at the Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely. Seminar is 9:30 am, Saturday, July11, at Botanical Gardens.

MOONLIGHT MAGIC in the GARDENS entertained close to 600 people
who dined, danced, drank, bid and saw the Gardens during a “magical” relaxing evening, Friday, October 9! The Botanical Gardens
thanks Presenting Sponsor CITGO, plus dozens of supporting sponsors on large signs in the Gardens until MOOONLIGHT ‘27! Click
SEE MORE for those generous sponsors, entertainers, our Event Chairs, restaurant and beverage sponsors. . . with new Moonlight
slideshow in the works!

Guests visiting Saturdays or Sundays are treated to REP-TALES,10:30 am, on the Festival Lawn. Meet and learn about some our Reptile Animal Ambassadors including tortoises, iguanas, snakes and other creatures (specific animal ambassadors and species vary daily). Included with membership or general admission. Feed these reptiles for additional fee.

PRIVATE ENCOUNTERS are now more fun, more personal with more learning! Small groups can enjoy fun interactions with either parrots, reptiles or both, with guests holding each animal, giving them snacks, taking photos in a private setting. A great party, birthday, anniversary, or friend treat! Fees go to our Veterinary Fund!