PARROT TALK VISITOR INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS (no reservations needed) 1:30 pm, Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays, Check in Visitors Center for location. Included in General Admission!

BIG BLOOM Plant Sale! Saturday, April 7, 9am-5pm DOLLAR DAY! (Members Early Entry 8-9am)

Our spring garden festival and only Plant Sale of the year! Kids activities, Orchid Sale, specialty vendors, butterfly releases in the Butterfly House, ladybug releases, reptile shows, Parrot Talk, food trucks and more . . . plant experts on site. Texas Master Naturalists—nature trail ‘walk and talk’ tours, kids ‘touch & learn’ tables in EcoFun Tent, and birding scopes on Wetlands Boardwalk. Buy a NEW membership at 10% off; get discounts on plants and Nature’s Boutique purchases. FLORA, FAUNA, affordable FAMILY FUN!

BIRDIEST FESTIVAL IN AM ERICA April 19-22, 9-6; Optional Field Trips The annual BIRDIEST FESTIVAL IN AMERICA features Birding & Birding Photography field trips throughout South Texas for some of the best bird sightings in the country. Weekend also features presentations, birding workshops, trade show, Raptor Project shows, Family Fun Day, Arts & Crafts Show, and a whole lot of Texas Hospitality. Talks, vendors, demonstrations. See why Corpus Christi was named Birdiest City in America for a decade. For detailed information, including registration, visit www.birdiestfestival.org .

ORCHID & ROSE EXHIBITION Saturday/Sunday, March 24/25, Education Station. Top Coastal Bend orchid growers and the Corpus Christi Rose Society combine to present a joint Orchid & Rose Show, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, March 24 and 25, filling South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center’s Education Station, 8545 S. Staples St. Visitors will see beautiful specimen plants from Coastal Bend’s orchid aficionados’ private collections in the meeting room area; and in the conference room, spectacular blooms from top local rose gardeners. Anyone may exhibit plants, with no exhibition fees. Orchid entries must be submitted Friday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and rose blooms between 8 and 9 a.m. Saturday, March 24. Show admission is free, with general admission applying to visit the rest of the Botanical Gardens). FMI: Sam Jones, Orchid Curator, 361-290-7429; Jan Shannon, Corpus Christi Rose Society, 361-944-9243.

MOMS GET IN FREE! Friday, Saturday, Sunday, May 11-13. MOTHERS DAY FREE WEEKEND

Celebrate National Public Gardens Day with us and the American Public Gardens Association, on Mothers’ Day Weekend! At Visitors Center Check-in, all a mother needs to say is “Moms Love Flowers!”, and she gets in free. Sorry, the rest of the family pays general admission. (Of course, members always get in free.) SPECIAL MOMS DAY DEAL: Buy Mom a membership this weekend, at 20% off for a year’s worth of free admission, Nature’s Boutique, Turner’s Gardenland and other discounts, plus 250 Reciprocal Gardens!

FATHERS’ DAY FREE WEEKEND aturday & Sunday, June 16 & 17 S

Just say, “It’s Fathers’ Day,” and Dad gets in free Saturday & Sunday Fathers’ Day weekend! Be “Buds” with Dad, enjoy Parrot Talk, gardens, resident reptiles, Gator Lake, trails, other guy stuff! Sorry only dads are free—all other non-members pay general admission!

MOONLIGHT IN THE GARDENS Friday, October 12, Solomon P. Ortiz International Center

Botanical Gardens signature fundraiser, with Vulcan Valet, Astronomical Appetizers, Stellar Spirits, Best Steak on the Planet, Saturn’s Sweets—Aphrodite’s Patio Party, Martian Music Bar, Silent, Grand Galaxy and brief live auction, Pictures with Parrots, Wine-Pull, “Butterfly Release, Nep-tunes and dancing with Flashback! Sponsorships from $350 to $10,000 available; Individual Seating--$125 per person, $100 members. Reservations required. Information, 361-852-2100.

BOTANICAL GARDENS ‘BUCK’ DAY! Saturday, November 3, 9 am to 6 pm.

Before the Plumeria are tucked away for winter, while tropicals are in top form, while butterflies are in abundance, everyone can visit the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center--enjoying the FLORA, FAUNA AND FUN--for just $1 per person! See the Rose Garden, Orchid Conservatory, Bromeliad Conservatory, ‘artful’ Sensory Garden . . . meet Resident Reptiles and exotic parrots, enjoy a butterfly release in the Butterfly House, explore trails and wetlands, shop Nature’s Boutique.

Joan Batman Nature’s Boutique MEMBERS HOLIDAY SALE!

Saturday, November 15, through Monday, December 31. All your favorites, and generous selection of new merchandise and books—all 20% off for members. Beat Black Friday, avoid Holiday shopping crowds, find unique merchandise in relaxed, intimate setting with reasonable prices! NOT A MEMBER???? Purchase your membership before you shop. GIFT MEMBERSHIPS make great gifts to enjoy all year. Open daily 9am to 6pm, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas.

EVENTS

EVENTS ADULT CLASSES BIRDING/NATURAL HISTORY KIDS STUFF 8545 S. Staples St. Corpus Christi, TX 78413

361-852-2100 www.stxbot.org South Texas BOTANICAL GARDENS & NATURE CENTER

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ORCHIDOLOGY 1st Thursday of each month, 7 pm On-going Orchid monthly class series and information exchange, for novice to experienced growers, with Orchid Curator Sam Jones, in the Education Station classroom. Monthly topics range from different orchid genera to specific orchid culture techniques. FREE for all orchid lovers! Orchids for sale at most meetings. For information, call 361-290-7429.

WINTER LECTURE SERIES From 10 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesdays, January 17 through March 14. A variety of unique nature and horticultural topics which define and explain our unique South Texas Environment. For Winter Texans, other travelers and Coastal Bend residents. Make some new acquaintances and have a cup of coffee at these enjoyable morning sessions.

Jan 17 Grow Local South Texas Aislynn Campbell, Executive Director, Grow Local Jan 24 Rainwater Harvesting Carlos Valdez, Rainwater Harvesting Specialist Jan 31 Sensational Succulents Merlien Wilder Feb 7 Wildflower Legends & Lore Betty Whitt, Nueces Master Gardener Feb 14 What Type of Rose Do I Need? Jan Shannon, Corpus Christi Rose Society Feb 21 Raptor Rehab at Texas Sea Life Center Amanda Terry, Director of Rehabilitation, Texas Sea Life Ctr. Feb 28 Worm Composting Rosemary Plank, Nueces Master Gardener Mar 7 Ranch Hand Cooking Karen Howden, Nueces County Historical Commission Mar 14 Home Hydroponics Systems Gabriel Vega, BotaniCo RELAXING HERBAL TEA REMEDIES Saturday, January 20, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Susan Sparks, owner Chiron Holistic, shares which herbs to grow, and simple recipes for various remedies, enjoyment.

CHICKEN COOPS FOR BACKYARD EGG PRODUCTION Saturday, February 3, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Learn the egg-cellence of cooking fresh eggs every day, local regulations, resources, techniques, and not so normal chicken coo p construction to make poultry feel at home in your backyard, from Aislynn Campbell, Executive Director, Grow Local South Texas.

ENSURING SPRING VEGETABLE GARDEN SUCCESS Saturday, February 17, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nueces Master Gardener Deb Holliday gives great gardening guidelines for planning, preparing and planting a super spring garden including advantages of both seeds and transplants. Discover what, when, where, and how to plant, with demonstrations of proven planting techniques, and variety of charts and instruction sheets available.

PROPAGATING MEXICAN SPICES FOR FLAVORFUL SPRING COOKING Saturday, March 3, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Preparing for spring gardens, expand your menu with cuttings and seeds of favorite herbs used in true Mexican cooking and even so me medicinal varieties! Attend the Propagating Mexican Spices for Flavorful Spring Cooking seminar and interactive presentations, with Nueces Master Gardener Certified Propagation Specialist Rosemary Plank. Help Rosemary prepare Ensalada de Frutas, a mixture of Mexican spices and fruit, including papaya and chili pepper; and leave with cuttings or seeds—such as pablano, jalapeno, Mexican oregano, cilantro, tomatillo--to start your own Mexican herb garden! ATTRACTING BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR GARDEN Saturday, March 17, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Learn necessary components of a Butterfly Garden from “Butterfly Lady” Brenda Dziedzic, author of Learn about Butterflies in the Garden. Want Monarchs, Giant Swallowtails, or Cloudless Sulphurs in your landscape? Choose butterflies you want and learn the right plants to draw them to your yard.

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGNING LANDSCAPE CURB APPEAL Saturday, May 5, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Learn from Gill Nursery landscape designer Kathy Hubner the basic principles of designing curb appeal into your landscape—type of plants, colors, groupings, size, textures, curves (etc) for admiration of neighbors, other observers.

MARVELS OF PURPLE MARTINS Saturday, May 26, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

On Memorial Day Saturday, Purple Martin Conservation Association retiree Louise Chambers, shares insights of how to draw colonies of popular mosquito-eating Purple Martins to your back yard, their ideal housing, and lets you peak into the Botanical Gardens Martin “apartments” as she conducts nest checks for hatchlings.

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, Class fees included in general admission; FREE for members! With exception of evening classes, check in at Visitors Center for class location.

ADULT CLASSES . Education Calendar sponsor

LOCAL PLUMERIA PASSION GROWS! Saturday, July 14, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Botanical Gardens plumeria enthusiasm has spread throughout the South Texas, and Plumeria Society of South Texas veteran Frank Eicholz tells current and would-be growers secrets of obtaining starts, planting, care, winter storage, plus Plumeria Garden tour.

PLUMERIA SALE, PLUMERIA SOCIETY OF SOUTH TEXAS Saturday, July 21, 10 am to 1:30 pm, Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely. Attend this fabulous sale of plumeria starts and potted plants from Plumeria Society of South Texas members’ own collections. Entrance to the sale is free, with proceeds benefiting plant care and maintenance of the South Texas Botanical Gardens beautiful Plumeria Garden, with treetop level Viewing Platform. FMI: Frank Eicholz, 361-991-4376. (MORE EDUCATION CLASSES to be announced . . .)

(see below for GENE BLACKLOCK Birding/Natural History Education; & KIDS LEARNING FUN!)

BIRDS OF SOUTH TEXAS, NATURAL HISTORY & IDENTIFICATION Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Feb. 13, 15, 16 Studying Waterfowl, Shorebirds and Finches (Identification, Basic Plumage), with Gene Blacklock. Feb. 13: Class, 9-11:30 a.m. Field Trip 1:30-5 p.m. Feb. 15: Field Trip, 7:45-11:30 a.m. Class, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Feb. 16: Field Trip, 7:45-11:30 a.m. Class, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Visiting: Hazel Bazemore Park, Polliwog Pond, Blucher Park, Tule Lake, Indian Point, Sunset Lake Park. $95 members, $110 others. Prepaid Registration required by Feb. 9. INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD OF BIRDS, IDENTIFICATION, MORE Saturday, Feb. 24 Class, 8:45-11:30 a.m., Education Station; Field Trip, 1:30-4:30 p.m., Botanical Gardens & Nature Center trails. Basic introduction designed for beginning birders with little or no experience in birding. Study some of the 450+ known bird species in South Texas. $45 members, $60 others. Prepaid Registration required by Wednesday, February 21. EXCITING WORLD OF HAWKS AND THEIR IDENTIFICATION Friday & Saturday, March 30 & 31 Class: Friday, 6:15- 8:30 pm, Education Station. Field Trip: Saturday, 9:45 a.m.-noon, Hazel Bazemore Park. $45 members, $60 others. Prepaid Registration required by Tuesday, March 27.

Gene Blacklock is an acclaimed birder, naturalist, author and educator. For curriculum questions, call him at 361.558.1829. IF PREPAID REGISTRATION REQUIRED, CALL OR COME BY THE BOTANICAL GARDENS: 361-852-2100

Bring to Birding Classes: ‘NORTH AMERICAN FIELD GUIDE’ (available in Nature’s Boutique); BINOCULARS.

South Texas BOTANICAL GARDENS & NATURE CENTER 2018 Birding & Natural History Calendar CalCALENDAR 2017

TAMAULIPAN BIOTIC PROVINCE SAFARI (Lower Rio Grande Valley) your unique opportunity to . . .

Travel & Learn with entertaining educator, birder, naturalist, author Gene Blacklock!

CLASS Monday, November 19, 6:15-9:15 pm, Botanical Gardens Education Station.

TRIP November 27-December 1, including travel days. Meet at La Quinta – Harlingen at 1 pm, November 27.

COST $495 members; $530 non-members (includes individual Botanical Gardens membership). (Housing, meals, transporation are NOT included. Individuals are responsible for transportation to headquarters hotels, and safari stops.)

Safari Reservations: 852-2100, or email kathie@stxbot.org

Safari Headquarters Hotel: LaQuinta Harlingen, 1002 S Expressway 83, Harlingen, TX 78550. Phone: (956) 428-6888. Participants must make their own hotel reservations, preferably several months in advance, so that everyone can stay in the same hotel. Explore the unique habitats and birding sites of the Rio Grande Valley with author and noted South Texas naturalist Gene Blacklock, gleaning expertise and insights from his years of birding experience in this region.

Sites of interest: Laguan Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge; Port Isabel and boat ride; South Most Audubon Sanctuary, Old Fort Brown, Brownsville, Estero Llano Grande State Park; Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, and San Yanacio.

Birds of Interest: Hook-billed Kite (+/-), Zone-tailed and Gray Hawks, Aplomado Falcon, Ringed Kingfisher, Chachalaca, Green Parakeet, Clay-colored Thrush, Altamira Oriole, Blue Bunting (+/-) and White-collared Seedeater.

For more information: Gene Blacklock, 361-558-1829 or blacklockg@gmail.com

K I D S L E A R N I N G NATURE “CSI” 3-DAY SPRING BREAK CAMP Monday-Wednesday, March 12-14, 9 a.m. to noon. Kids ages 8-13, investigate different “Nature Crime Scenes” with Field Biologist/Youth Education Coordinator Brenda Ermis, learning investigative techniques to explore the mysteries of nature, with a different “case” to solve each day, with intriguing nature activities. $50 Members, $60 others. Prepaid registration required by March 9.

ANATOMY OF A BUTTERFLY Saturday, March 17, 2:30 p.m. Kids of all levels are taught unique characteristics of butterflies, touching and seeing different stages of the butterfly life cycle, with “Butterfly Lady” and author, Brenda Dziedzic.

TEENS, TWEENS MEET PARROTS AND REPTILES UP CLOSE Saturday, May 19, 10:30 a.m.

Animal Care Specialist Rich Hafemeister and Master Naturalist Chad Huckabee take youth deep into the habitats, habits and humor of Botanical Gardens most personable exotic parrots, and fascinating Resident Reptiles, and how they made their way into these popular Gardens exhibits. Under age 12 need accompanying adult.

T-A-G (trail and garden) TIME! SECOND SATURDAYS: September 8, October 13, November 10--2:15 pm (following Parrot Talk) Children ages 5-10, with an accompanying adult, experience FITNESS combined with TRAIL AND GARDEN activities, such as planting plants, stick stacking, wheelbarrow push, using gardening tools—plus hula hoops, ring toss, sensory and compass games. Lead by Education Coordinator/Field Biologist Brenda Ermis.

STORYTIME WITH PARROTS THIRD MONDAYS: March 19, April 16, May 14, August 21, September 17, October 15, November 19—11 am. Parrots may live to be 100, but never grow up; and like children, love to be read to! Kids of any age, just bring a storybook with pictures, your favorite adult if under 12, and pull up the floor for Storytime with Parrots, with education staff and parrot trainers!

All camps are half-days, 9 am to noon. All campers should wear closed-toed shoes, cap or hat, sunscreen, sun glasses; and bring a water bottle and snack. Camp registrations must be prepaid, with applications completed with parent/guardian signature prior to camp week.

AGES 5-7 June 18-22 Nature Shutterbugs $125 members, $135 others Using, Gardens’ digital cameras and microscopes, campers will photograph plants, animals, animal homes, and create photo opportunities, which will be printed for framed pictures, journals and a camp t-shirt. Instructors are Education Coordinator Brenda Ermis, and Wildlife in Focus educator Susan Chilcoat.

June 25-29 Feathers & Scales $80 members, $95 others Campers will learn to feed, care for and correctly handle our resident parrots and reptiles, compare habitats, eggs and body structures, creating take-home projects daily. Instructor is Education Coordinator Brenda Ermis, assisted by our three Animal Care Specialists/Trainers.

July 9-13 Tiny Houses for Critters $80 members, $95 others Campers will investigate natural habitats and behaviors of bugs, worms, spiders and more, using field biology kits provided for camp use, and building a “tiny house” for an adopted critter to take home. Instructor is Education Coordinator Brenda Ermis.

AGES 8-12 July 16-20 Who (or What) Done It / Nature “CSI” $80 members, $95 others Campers will use investigative techniques (i.e. fingerprinting, skin and fur analysis), laboratory equipment and chemistry to solve “crimes” such as The Missing Mouse, creating take-home projects daily. Instructor is Education Coordinator Brenda Ermis.

July 23-27 Feathers & Scales $80 members, $95 others Campers will learn to feed, care for and correctly handle our resident parrots and reptiles, compare habitats, eggs and body structures, creating take-home projects daily. Instructor is Education Coordinator Brenda Ermis, assisted by our three Animal Care Specialists/Trainers.

July 30-Aug 3 Nature Shutterbugs $125 members, $135 others Using Gardens’ digital cameras and microscopes, campers will learn to photograph plants, animals, animal homes, and create photo opportunities, which will be printed for framed pictures, journals and a camp t-shirt. Instructors are Education Coordinator Brenda Ermis, and Wildlife in Focus educator Susan Chilcoat.

AGES 5-10 August 6-10 Plants on a Plate/Taste & Grow $80 members, $95 others Campers safely will have opportunities to taste roots, stems, leave, fruits and seeds, learning types and parts of plants both in nature and gardens, and choosing to plant a pizza, mint or tootie fruitie dish garden to take home.

KIDS FUNNER SUMMER CAMPS !

Unless otherwise noted, class fee included in general admission, members free!