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Events
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Resilient Beauty In The Garden
Zilker Botanical Garden 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX, United StatesAs seasonal transitions and climatic extremes continue to challenge Central Texas gardens, it becomes more important than ever for gardeners to explore the question: “How do plants thrive in the wild without our help?” Matt Welch, a horticulturist, farmer, and plant ecologist, spends entirely too much time pondering this very question. Join us for the monthly Garden Club of Austin meeting as he shares his best answers, exploring the hidden ways the incredible plants and plant communities of the Hill Country survive the seasons, and how you can take cues from these tough Texas plants to build wild beauty and resilience in your own garden. Matt Welch has spent the last 35 years enamored, mystified, perplexed and often confounded by the plant kingdom. He has worked in orchards, nurseries, botanical gardens, academia, and now lives and works on the Pedernales River, canoes to work every day, and is learning how to farm vegetables and grow cut flowers. An East Texan by birth and by disposition, Matt left Nacogdoches for Austin in 2005 after working several years at the SFA Mast Arboretum and the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, two gardens affiliated with Stephen F. Austin State University, where he received his BS in Horticulture a hundred years ago. While there, he happened upon the only thing he’ll be remembered by, a pink fruited form of American Beautyberry, known in the trade as Callicarpa americana ‘Welch’s Pink.’ This will take place in the auditorium. Open to the public, free to attend.
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Webinar: Everything Everyone Should Know About Butterflies
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension 1600 Smith Road, Austin, TX, United StatesJoin Molly Keck, Entomologist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service discuss butterflies and what you should know about them to attract and keep them in your garden. Molly Keck is a Senior Program Specialist in Integrated Pest Management and a Board-Certified Entomologist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Bexar County. This free Zoom webinar is open to the public. Join Molly for this series of informative seminars on the 15 bugs everyone should know about and their impact in our homes and landscapes. Join Zoom Webinar Meeting ID – 863 6857 1398 Password – 15BUGS
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Austin Herb Society Monthly Meeting
Zilker Botanical Garden 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX, United StatesSince 1983, the Austin Herb Society has been educating members and the community about herbs, including propagation, landscaping, history, folklore, and culinary, medicinal, and decorative uses of herbs. While our members are united by an interest in herbs, they are also a diverse group of individuals: from gardeners and herbalists to cooks and business owners. AHS members design and maintain the Zilker Herb Garden-a dazzling landscape of color and fragrance that has become a centerpiece of Zilker Botanical Garden. Here, visitors can touch, taste, and smell they way through nearly 200 varieties of herbs, depending on the season. Bees and butterflies dot the beds of basil, lavender, and calendula. There are classic culinary herbs like rosemary, mint, and thyme alongside herbs revered for their health attributes, including aloe and echinacea. In addition to hands-on learning in the Zilker Herb Garden, members enjoy: Monthly meetings with expert speakers on diverse topics (currently via zoom) Educational workshops and seminars throughout the year Study groups focused on culinary herbs and herbal products Field trips to unique gardens and herb-loving businesses Delicious herbal refreshments at our in-person meetings Fellowship with interesting and informed herb lovers Please join us in exploring the wonderful world of herbs! You can also find us on Facebook
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Blanco Lavender Festival
Blanco Lavender Festival Blanco, TX, United StatesJoin us for the Blanco Lavender Festival held annually in June in historic Blanco, TX. Take a tour of the Hill Country Lavender farm or stroll the Lavender Market, on the grounds of the historic Blanco County Courthouse. Both of these options are always a must-see highlight of the festival. At the Lavender Market, select artists and craftspeople from across Texas and beyond will offer the finest lavender-related pleasures and treasures. Hill Country Lavender Farm Owner Tasha Corradini has been involved with the farm since 1999 when the first lavender sprig was planted at the original location, owned at the time by National Geographic photographer Robb Kendrick and author Jeannie Ralston. After serving as the farm’s manager for several years, Tasha purchased Hill Country Lavender and relocated to the corner of FM 2325 and 165. The new farm is a boutique farm sitting on 2.75 acres of land. The field is split into two sections, featuring over 8 different types of lavender. Visitors are invited to visit the farm and enjoy the beauty of the lavender field in and out of bloom. Hill Country Lavender’s product line include more than 75 products, offering a variety of soaps, lotions, sprays, as well as a full line of culinary items. Products are all small batch, handmade by the owners. All products are also available year-round at Brieger Pottery on the Blanco Square. Lavender Market Hours: Fri 12 - 6 / Sat 9 - 6 / Sun 10 -4 Hill Country Lavender Farm Hours: Fri 10 -5 / Sat 9 - 5 / Sun 10 - 4 (festival weekend only)
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Class: Snakes of Central Texas
The Natural Gardener 8648 Old Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX, United StatesJoin the Austin Reptile Society with Austin Reptile Service for a fun, family friendly event about snakes in Central Texas on Father’s Day weekend. Learn how to safely identify venomous snakes, and see some nonvenomous snakes in person.
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Austin Pond Society Monthly Meeting
Zilker Botanical Garden 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX, United StatesThe Austin Pond Society is a nonprofit organization made up of more than 100 members dedicated to increasing awareness of water gardening and to distributing information on pond construction, maintenance, water lilies, and Koi keeping. The APS is composed of people from all walks of life and ages who are interested in backyard ponds, streams, fountains, waterfalls, Koi, goldfish, plants, and all the things it takes to make your own little bit of paradise in your own backyard.
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Class: Tree Care for Homeowners
The Natural Gardener 8648 Old Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX, United StatesLearn about Tree Care for Homeowners with Guy Leblanc of Arbor Vitae Tree Care. Get all the info for basic care and how to restore trees after ice or storm damage.
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Webinar: Native Host Plants for Texas Pollinators
Lakeway Garden Club Lakeway, TX, United StatesEmbark into the fascinating world of pollinators with experts Lynne and Jim Weber, authors of "Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies" and "Native Host Plants for Texas Moths". This webinar delves beyond the beauty of blooming flowers, illuminating the vital role of native host plants in supporting the lifecycle of our local pollinators. Learn about the fundamental yet often overlooked aspect of pollinator conservation — the provision of safe havens for egg-laying and nourishing larval food sources that fuel the metamorphosis into the winged marvels we cherish. Learn practical strategies to incorporate these vital plants into your own garden, transforming it into a nurturing sanctuary for pollinators. This isn't just about beautifying your yard; it's a call to contribute to the sustainability of our local ecosystem. Join us and become an active participant in preserving Texas' diverse and remarkable biodiversity. Presented by Bee City Austin. Register online to attend this webinar.
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Class: Growing Citrus in the Summer
The Natural Gardener 8648 Old Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX, United StatesDo you know how to keep citrus happy and healthy in the Texas heat? Attend this class and you will! Learn everything about growing citrus like lemons, limes and oranges in the summer. Also learn about common pests, watering, and fertilizing schedules with Scott Blackburn.
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Learn about Bats in the Garden with Dr. Tuttle
Lakeway Activity Center 105 Cross Creek, Lakeway, TX, United StatesFor more than 60 years Dr. Tuttle has studied and photographed the world’s most amazing bats on every continent where they occur. His work has been featured in leading publications worldwide, including five articles in National Geographic. And he has spoken at most of the world’s leading institutions of science, from Harvard and the Smithsonian to the British Museum. He will show bats as cute as any panda and as strange as any dinosaur, bats worth billions of dollars annually to human economies and bats that are vital to whole ecosystems, from deserts to rain forests. He will show giant flying foxes with nearly six-foot wingspans and tiny bumblebee bats that weigh less than a U.S. penny. His photos document bats capturing insects, centipedes, fish, and frogs, pollinating incredible flowers, dispersing seeds, and coming to his hand on call. Most importantly, Dr. Tuttle will document a long history of bats proving themselves to be safe and invaluable neighbors and may even convince you to put up a bat house! You won't want to miss this free and family friendly event!
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Class: Seed Saving
The Natural Gardener 8648 Old Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX, United StatesCome and learn how to save your own vegetable seeds to save money, preserve genetic diversity, and ensure you’ll never be without that favorite vegetable variety! Presented by Colleen Dieter.
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