September 7, 2022
Enjoy Nature at Home in Houston
Claudia Gee Vassar's at-home garden.
Walking around the Houston Botanic Garden most days means that I am often discovering plants, falling in love with them, and deciding I simply MUST have them at home. The results have been life-giving.
This past week, while sitting in our breakfast nook, my fourth-grade son shouted, “hummingbird”! That was the third hummingbird we had seen in a week enjoying the Malvaviscus arboreus (wax mallow).
On Saturday, September 17, I’m looking forward to our inaugural horticulture seminar, where we can all learn more from the Garden’s team of experts to apply to our gardens at home. I hope you’ll join me to learn about what an umbelliferous plant is and why it should be in your garden; uncommon herbs, like papalo, that thrive in Houston heat; and interesting plants to create a tropical paradise.
With the recent rains, the growth at the Houston Botanic Garden is breathtaking. I hope that you will find delight in your home garden, and also in our 132-acre living museum. Just don’t be surprised if you end up making a beeline for a local nursery right after your visit!
Claudia Gee Vassar, President & General Counsel
You're invited to the Garden’s second birthday celebration on Saturday, Sept. 24! The family-friendly event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with educational activities, food, and festivities. We will also be opening the limited-time exhibition "Sean Kenney's Nature Connects® Made with LEGO® Bricks," making our second birthday celebration even more exciting!
Horticulture experts Brent Moon, Erin Mills, Jessica Henry, Marilyn Ventura, and Dany Millikin will share knowledge with attendees.
Join the Garden’s horticulture team on Saturday, Sept. 17, for a day of learning about soil, plants, trees, water, and more. Expert lectures will cover lessons learned around the Garden, new trends in horticulture, tropical plants, and planting for wildlife. Participants will also enjoy opportunities to socialize with presenters and fellow attendees over coffee, lunch, and a happy hour.
Giant Lily by Sean Kenney.
Global Collection Garden Tent decorated for a holiday event.
Host your private event at the Houston Botanic Garden from Nov. 18, 2022-Jan. 1, 2023, and experience the popular holiday exhibition Lightscape! The Global Collection Garden Tent is great for holiday parties and corporate year-end events. Lightscape is an unforgettable way to celebrate the holiday season with family and friends! Check out these photos from a past event.
One of our most popular events is coming back this fall! Mark your calendars for our next Trail Mixology experience on Saturday, Oct. 8, offering more breathtaking views and cocktails inspired by our Global Collection and Culinary Garden. Attendees must be 21+.
For all visitors: The Garden will be staying open until 7:00 p.m. every Friday through the end of September.
Grow Together
Time for everyone in the family to get their hands dirty! Our Sprouts & Seedlings Family Gardening class on Sept. 10 is sure to transform your budding gardeners with a focus on prepping a home garden. We’ll also examine what makes good soil and how to make compost.
Listen, Reflect, Look Within
A deep-rooted connection to nature awaits on Sept. 11! Restorative Yoga & Sound Bath is a rejuvenating experience enhanced through the dulcet tones of gongs, crystal singing bowls, and chimes. No prior yoga experience is necessary.
Unleash Your Creativity
Join us on Sept. 17, as Houston artist Roberto Castillo offers you a chance to explore nature through the visual arts during our Canvas & Cocktails painting party. Adults only. No painting experience is necessary. All art materials provided.
Explore our Events Calendar for more upcoming opportunities to grow your gardening knowledge.
Making Memories at the Garden
Stop & Smell the Roses
Be transported through a flourishing gateway to the delights of the Culinary Garden, lined with a 78-foot-long stretch of Rosa ‘KORtrameilo’ (red) and Rosa ‘KORblixmu’ (white) welcoming you with open buds to one of the most cherished spots in the Garden. Stop by on your next visit to see the brand new rose arbor structure that was generously underwritten by Joy and Benjamin Warren. As the roses take root and climb, the arbor's striking archway will be the perfect place to pose for a photo!
Get Your Tickets for Lightscape
A must-see light display during the holiday season, Lightscape is returning to the Houston Botanic Garden for a brand new burst of seasonal magic. Join us from Nov. 18, 2022, to Jan. 1, 2023, for an illuminated outdoor experience that winds throughout the Garden grounds. Visitor favorites from last year will return, joined by many new-to-Houston installations (including a Texas-exclusive field of glowing bluebonnets). Don’t miss these incredible photo opportunities!
Houston’s typically mild winters make the fall an excellent time for planting and transplanting, allowing for essential root growth to occur as the soil remains relatively warm. Root growth is of course very important in order for your plants to survive the harsher Texas summers, which will be back before you know it. Planting in October or November will give you a six-month headstart before it starts to heat up again.
This sweet story of two donors planting years of memories in the Garden will make your cheeks rosy! After spending many summers in Nantucket, where roses are abundant, Houston Botanic Garden board member Joy Warren and her husband Benjamin decided it was high time to feature the plant prominently in the Culinary Garden.
The Warrens have generously underwritten the Garden’s brand new rose arbor feature, being installed now, introducing a more formal entrance to the Culinary Garden from its southern border.
Joy & Benjamin Warren actively support the Garden.
You can make a donation to our annual fund at any time by clicking here or texting give2garden to 71777.
Narcissus bulbs ready for planting.
How do I prepare my garden for the fall?
Autumn in Houston is an incredible time for growth, especially as nighttime temperatures begin to cool. From fertilizing and lightly trimming or pruning your annuals and summer vegetables to digging and dividing perennials, and top-dressing your landscape with compost, there are several ways to make the most out of the changing seasons.
Children and families volunteer with Generation SERVE at the Garden.
Once per month, a group of around 20 people made up of families and their children—ages 3 through 17—volunteer at the Garden as members of Generation SERVE. We spoke with a Generation SERVE Houston Advisory Council member about the critical work her organization does. We also explored how a deeper understanding of nature helps children learn valuable lessons that can transform them into community-minded leaders.
“Kids who connect with nature have a greater sense of calm and are quite literally more grounded. To connect with that sense of beauty and be able to contribute to its upkeep is a really special experience for impressionable minds.”
To get involved, contact us at volunteers@hbg.org or call 713-715-9675 ext. 152.
Glasscocks to be Recognized at the Annual Luncheon
Susanne M. & Melbern G. Glasscock will be honored on Thursday, Oct. 13, during our 2022 Annual Luncheon at River Oaks Country Club! Join us to hear from distinguished keynote speaker Jay Maddock, Ph.D., FAAHB, and support the Garden's growth and longevity.
Membership Perks
Exciting news: early member mornings are extended through the end of October!
Also, be sure to pick up your complimentary membership pin from the Ticket Window the next time you’re at the Garden.
On Sept. 10, our next generation and young professionals group will be hosting an exclusive Red, White, and Blue American picnic! The event will take place in the Garden’s Picnic Grove. Click below to join the Bloomers and attend!
