December 6, 2023

More than 100 Chinese artisans from Zigong, a city in the Sichuan Province with a rich tradition of lantern making, crafted the large-scale lanterns featured in Radiant Nature. Twenty-five of them also traveled to Houston and spent a month installing them in the Garden. Several of these talented artisans recently shared with us some of the history and passion behind their work.

Our Radiant Nature presenting sponsor, Reliant Energy, is also sponsoring the KHOU 11 Secret Santa Toy Drive, and we’re getting in on the gift-giving fun. This year, the Garden will be a drop-off location for toy donations that will give more children the holiday gifts they deserve. 

Through this Friday, Dec. 8, you can add a new, unwrapped gift to the box located in our Garden Shop, and it will be distributed to a local child in need through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. 

Online and monetary donations will also be accepted using the link below. 

Gorgeous glass "creatures" have taken over the Susan Garver Family Discovery Garden and are waiting for you to appreciate their sparkling iridescence. The steel and hand-cut Dalle de Verre glass sculptures of butterflies, bees, dragonflies, and more seem ready to come to life when sunlight shines through their colored glass. Created by Tucson artist Alex Heveri, the sculptures will be on display through April, and access to the exhibit is included with your general admission to the Garden.

Native to South America, the red, white, pink, and orange blooms of the Amaryllis have made it a favorite of Houston gardeners. As our Director of Education Dany Millikin explains, "The blossoms can reach impressive sizes, adding a touch of elegance to gardens and indoor spaces alike." 

Find out exactly what it takes to care for these flowering bulbs and where to get a special wax-dipped version you can give as a long-lasting holiday gift.

Plan ahead to give your kids one last dose of excitement before the end of their winter break. The Garden will host three days of BotaniCamp January 3-5. The Potions & Provisions sessions -- which you can register and pay for by the day -- will introduce participants to the Garden's natural ecosystems, where they will learn to identify and harvest edible and medicinal plants that grow in the wild. The camps are open to children from kindergarten through 5th grade and run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Reserve your child's spot today!

Author J. Juniper will be at the Garden on Saturday, Dec. 16, to read her children's book, "Sneezy Bee Rose." Guests will hear the delightful story of a honeybee who is allergic to honey, but finds another way to contribute to the hive. Meet the author and purchase a Bee YOU-nique gift set full of kid-friendly goodies for the beloved young ones on your shopping list. As a special bonus, participants will also have the chance to sample some fresh honey from the Garden's on-site beehives. 

Give your holiday table a decorative boost from Mother Nature with a candle ring featuring succulents, holly, pine cones, and more. Best of all, the succulents can be placed in soil after the season, where they will root and continue to grow. Amanda Barone of Enchanted Forest Nursery in Rosenberg will lead this tiny gardener class this Saturday, Dec. 9.

You'll have two opportunities to try your hand at wreath making this season. Bring scissors and any custom decorations you'd like to incorporate as Katherine McDaniel of arts incubator Synkroniciti instructs you how to transform found, natural objects into your new favorite holiday decoration. 

Bring a little bit of nature indoors with a lovely butterfly shadow box. On Saturday, Dec. 16, entomologist Erin Mills will teach participants how to spread and dry butterflies and help them craft a custom shadow box for your own enjoyment or to give to a loved one this holiday season.

Find the perfect gift for the health-conscious family and friends on your gift list at the upcoming Holiday Market on Sunday, Dec. 17. A variety of wellness vendors will be on hand with healthy foods, yoga gear, and more. 

Thanks to a generous commitment from Houston Botanic Garden supporters Cathy and Joe Cleary, all gifts of $100 or more made by December 31, 2023, will be matched dollar-for-dollar. 

Help us finish the year stronger than ever by donating to the Garden before the matching opportunity is gone. 

Your gift will support the next generation of environmental students by funding essential programs like primary and secondary school trips, our K-5 BotaniCamps, and various classes for nature lovers of all ages. It's all part of our mission to enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment. 

This holiday season, you can also honor someone you care about by making a tribute gift to the Garden in their name. It's a fantastic way to help us share the Garden's role as a place for discovery, celebration, and connection. 

• Saturday, Dec. 9 - Make scarves to dye for
  
  
• Saturday, Dec. 9 - Nourish & restore your body & soul
  
  
• Saturday, Dec. 9 - Impress family & friends through fermenting
  
  
• Saturday, Dec. 16 - Up your holiday plants trivia game & take home prizes
  
  
• Sunday, Dec.17 - Give yourself the gift of self-care

Did you know the Garden is a popular place for proposals? The natural beauty is a perfect backdrop for your first step toward a new life with someone you love. We offer two proposal packages to accommodate your surprise; one includes admission to the garden for three and a private garden area for you to pop the question, while both provide full access to the grounds for photography to commemorate the day.

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