Trying not to disappoint a second year, but being good water stewards, we created a ‘WATER-SMART Plant Sale’ for you!
10 am-5 pm, Super Saturday, April 25, $2 Community Day Admission, Members Free.
Lesson learned from 2025: “People are going to buy plants; the Botanical Gardens is teaching
them the water-smart choices!” We’re leaving Big Bloom and traditional water-thirsty shrubs, perennials and tropicals behind for a while for the new WATER-SMART Plant Sale & Garden Fair! We will do the homework for you by ordering water-thrifty plants such as natives, succulents, cacti, other water-wise species, blooming nectar and larval butterfly attractor plants and more. We also will have plumeria starts available; and orchids propagated from our collection. Vendors will sell plants and art!
No shortages that day in entertainment! Traditional butterfly and lady bug releases, and
animal ambassadors will be back, with bonus ‘Raptor Project’ presentations and fun
Exhibitor Tent from Birdiest Festival in America, based at the Gardens that week.
Food trucks will be on site for lunch. Save time to explore the Gardens & Nature Center
at its prettiest, and shop Joan Batman Nature’s Boutique. New memberships also will be
on sale, with members receiving 10 percent discount on Botanical Gardens plants
and in Gift Shop!
You will be surprised finding out which colorful blooming plants require significantly less
water to survive once established—and the importance of good drainage! You’ll see flashbacks
to previous Big Bloom sales, too, plants you didn’t know were water-smart! Look for
Duranta, Pride of Barbados, Bougainvillea, Esperanza, Lantana, Texas Sage, Firecracker Plant,
Flame Acanthas, Turk’s Cap, Salvias, Cenizo, Frog Fruit, Rock Rose, Agaves, potted Desert
Rose, Ornamental Grasses, Phryallis, Povania . . .
HELPFUL HINTS: There are many ways to create attractive landscapes. In a critical water
shortage, we all should try alternatives even more striking than solid shrubs! For example,
blending water-smart plantings with various decorative hardscape elements–rocks, colorful
containers, imaginative wood pieces, sculpture, colorful metal décor, plenty of contrasting
mulch! Also consider well-placed empty spaces, contrasting with highlight plant groupings.
And don’t forget rainwater harvesting—from your roof to your landscape!
Since we missed last year, This year will be twice the fun
Watch the website, or follow us on Facebook for exact schedule closer to the event…
https://www.facebook.com/stxbot