EarthShare Texas

9 Natives Showcase Garden Volunteer Day at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
2022-02-14 09:30 - 12:00, 2022-03-14 09:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | 9 Natives Showcase Garden, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
Interested in volunteering at the 9 Natives Showcase Garden at the Houston Museum of Natural Science? This monthly volunteer opportunity is the perfect way to get involved and support native plants in the heart of Houston!

On the second Monday of each month, volunteers will maintain the garden by pulling weeds, planting new native plants, and monitoring the garden’s growth. Volunteers of all ages and experience are welcome to join this come-and-go event.

Physical Requirements: Bending, kneeling, or sitting on the ground; some light lifting.
Recommended Clothing: Hat, closed toe shoes, and long pants.
What to bring: Water in a reusable water bottle, garden gloves (or the museum has disposable vinyl gloves), and any garden hand tools that you have such as pruners (or scissors), trowel, tool for weeding. KPC will also provide tools.

The 9 Natives Showcase Garden is located outside of the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the corner of Hermann Park Drive and San Jacinto Street. Three hour parking is available along Hermann Park Drive or in the parking lot with entrance from the circular drive around the statue of Sam Houston.

Contact Lan Shen, lshen@katyprairie.org, for more information.

Governor’s Community Achievement Awards Application Closes
2022-02-17 | TX
For more than thirty years, Keep Texas Beautiful, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), has awarded the prestigious Governor’s Community Achievement Awards to Texas communities for their outstanding overall efforts to keep their communities beautiful. This year, ten winning communities will share $2 million in landscaping awards from the Texas Department of Transportation, with the amount based on population size. The funds are used for landscaping projects along local rights-of-way. A community’s environmental program is judged on achievements in seven areas:

Community Leadership and Coordination
Public Awareness and Outreach
Environmental Education and Youth Engagement
Beautification and Community Improvement
Litter Prevention and Cleanup
Solid Waste Management
Litter Law and Illegal Dumping Enforcement

Application Link: https://ktb.org/gcaa

STAR Virtual General Council Meeting: Sustainable Purchasing
2022-02-17 12:00 - 13:30 | TX
STAR Central Texas Council
& STAR Circular Economy Education Working Group
February General Meeting
Join us for a conversation about sustainable purchasing featuring Karen Hamilton, Sustainable Purchasing Program Manager at King County in Washington State. King County has been a leader in the sustainable purchasing space and we are excited to learn from their experience. You can learn more about their sustainable purchasing program here.
This meeting is open to all STAR members and guests. We especially encourage procurement professionals to join us.
Please register to receive the Zoom link.
This meeting is a collaboration between STAR Central Texas Council and the STAR Circular Economy Education Working Group and is made possible by STAR’s Mission Partners.
Link to register

Invasive Plant Removal on Spring Lake
2022-02-19 08:00 - 12:00 | icon-flower
Paddle the pristine waters of Spring Lake, the headwaters of the San Marcos River and help remove invasive plant species. Volunteers can paddle or work on shore. Registration required.
Contact info@sanmarcosriver.org for more information

Citizen Science Water Quality Training
2022-02-20 10:00 - 14:00 | icon-flower
Become a state-certified water quality monitor and begin monitoring and collecting data on local creeks, lakes, and rivers in your watershed. Learn how to test for basic water parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and field observations. Data collected from monitoring is used to support research and inform policy.
Monthly trainings
Contact riverrangers@sanmarcosriver.org

Prairie and Timbers Audubon Society Meeting with Presentation: Sea Turtle, Inc.
2022-02-22 18:45 - 20:00 | TX
Sea Turtle, Inc.

Presented by: Hannah Catherman, Director of Education, Sea Turtle, Inc.

Learn about Sea Turtle’s effort to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured sea turtles, educate the public, and assist with conservation efforts for all marine turtle species. Hannah will spend time describing the herculean efforts of the organization during the catastrophic deep-freeze that Texas experienced in February 2021. Citizens and Sea Turtle volunteers combed the beaches and seawalls of Padre Island and found nearly 5,000 “cold-stunned” sea turtles to hopefully be saved.

Send email to ptaszoom@gmail.com with your name and postal address to register.

Ethnobotany and the Appreciation of Native Plants
2022-02-23 18:30 - 20:00 | TX
Presented by: Maeve Bassett, Conservation and Volunteer Programs Specialist, San Antonio Botanical Garden
Maeve Bassett will introduce applied ethnobotany and its application at the San Antonio Botanical Garden to garner a greater appreciation for plants, especially the often misunderstood and under-appreciated Texas Native Plants. The historical and contemporary relationships between a variety of Texas native plants will be covered and the importance of these plants to birds and butterflies. Approved for AAMN AT hours.

JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 827 6816 5969
Passcode: [REDACTED]
To call in, find your toll-free number here.

IMAGE: Gulf Fritillary on passiflora incarnata by Lora Reynolds at San Antonio Botanical Garden

Camp Wildflower Registration
2022-03-01 - 2022-03-14
Cultivate a Future Conservationist
Camp Wildflower registration is now open! Kids in grades K – 5th are encouraged to explore the great outdoors at this weekly day camp, led by Wildflower Center experts. Through hands-on activities, attendees will cultivate an interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). From “Plants & Pollinators” to “Wondrous Woodlands,” this year’s lessons will last a lifetime. Sessions start June 6.
Camp Wildflower is an immersive, nature-based learning experience for youth and is held mostly outside. By getting out of the classroom and into the garden, campers explore the world of native plants and become lifelong conservationists. Camp Wildflower is open to all youths in kindergarten through 5th grade learning levels. Campers can register for a single week or all eight weeks.
Mondays – Fridays
June 6 – July 29, 2022
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

50th Annual Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta
2022-03-05 07:30 - 14:30 | 7700 San Felipe, 7700 San Felipe St, Houston, TX, 77063, United States
Register for Texas’ largest canoe and kayak race, the 50th Annual Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta! Participants 12 and up are invited to paddle and support Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s efforts to revitalize Houston’s historic waterway.
Buffalobayou.org

Habitat Work Day - Audubon Texas
2022-03-12 08:00 - 11:00 | Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, 10750 Pleasanton Road TX, San Antonio, TX, 78221, United States
Join Mitchell Lake Audubon Center and other members of the community to help clean up our habitat! We depend on our amazing volunteers to help manage our habitat. This can involve tail maintenance, removal of invasive species, and planting native plants for birds and butterflies depending on the tasks of the day. All training provided.
Groups are welcome! All children 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
To register, click RSVP Link .

Stewardship Saturday
2022-03-12 09:00 - 11:00 | Indiangrass Preserve – Coastal Prairie Conservancy, 31975 Hebert Road, Waller, TX, 77484, United States
Looking for a way to get your hands dirty and help the prairie? Come join us for a STEWARDSHIP SATURDAY! Volunteers help manage invasive species, plant native plants, and restore prairie habitats. All ages are welcome to participate – no experience necessary!

Physical Requirements: Bending, kneeling, or sitting on the ground; some light lifting.
What to wear: Closed-toe shoes, tall socks, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, hat.
What to bring: Reusable water bottle, gardening gloves (we have pairs to borrow). All other tools are provided.

Contact info@katyprairie.org for more information

Unplugged Adventure: Kite Flying on the Prairie
2022-03-18 10:00 - 14:00 | Indiangrass Preserve – Coastal Prairie Conservancy, 31975 Hebert Road, Waller, TX, 77484, United States
Celebrate spring with us on the Katy Prairie! You can bring your own kite to enjoy the unmatched prairie breezes or get creative at our docent-led Kite Making Station! Bring a picnic to enjoy the wide open spaces. Additional activities will include: Insect and Pond Netting, Birding 101, and Prairie Bingo.

No registration needed. Open to all ages!

Contact info@katyprairie.org for more information

Invasive Plant Removal on Spring Lake
2022-03-19 08:00 - 12:00 | icon-flower
Paddle the pristine waters of Spring Lake, the headwaters of the San Marcos River and help remove invasive plant species. Volunteers can paddle or work on shore.
Registration required.
Contact info@sanmarcosriver.org for more informtation.

Tree Identification Hike with Ali Baucom - TreeFolks
2022-03-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Feb & Mar Events
Join TreeFolks‘ own Urban Forest Steward and Tree ID Docent, Ali Baucom, on a one-of-a-kind tree identification hike hosted in partnership with Texas Land Conservancy!

We’ll meet out at the esteemed Los Madrones Ranch in West Austin on Saturday, March 19, at 10:00 am to enjoy this amazing ecosystem firsthand. Register here to hold your spot: https://buff.ly/3JQjkKr

More details: This specific tree ID location is more of a hike than a stroll. Bathrooms are scarce and there is very little infrastructure on this ranch so please bring water, hiking shoes, long pants, and sunscreen, but also don’t forget your camera to capture some gorgeous hill country views!

Citizen Science Water Quality Training
2022-03-20 10:00 - 14:00 | icon-flower
Become a state-certified water quality monitor and begin monitoring and collecting data on local creeks, lakes, and rivers in your watershed. Learn how to test for basic water parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and field observations. Data collected from monitoring is used to support research and inform policy.
Monthly trainings
Contact riverrangers@sanmarcosriver.org for more information.

TCEQ Public Sunset Hearing
2022-03-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Hill Country Conservancy
Come share your thoughts about the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in a public hearing with members of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission.
The TCEQ is under Sunset review this year. To provide an opportunity for members of the public and community groups to share their experiences with the TCEQ to the Sunset staff, the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance is hosting this hearing for people in the greater San Antonio region. The Sunset commission staff will be in attendance to hear the public’s concerns.

Austin's Amazing Purple Martins - Zoom Presentation
2022-03-22 18:45 | Zoom
Presentation: Austin’s Amazing Purple Martins
Speaker: Shelia Hargis, Ex President of Travis Audubon and Texas Ornithological Society
Purple Martins and humans have a special connection that goes back hundreds of years. Purple Martins thrill people in a variety of ways throughout their life cycle. This presentation will cover that life cycle, dispel some of the myths surrounding martins, touch on some of the recent research findings, and highlight some of the ways that birders and non-birders alike can connect with this spectacular bird.
Zoom Meeting – Send requests for a link to ptaszoom@gmail.com with your name and postal address.

7-Class Series: Botanical Illustration
2022-03-23 10:00 - 13:00 | McDermott Learning Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX, 78739, United States
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is excited to continue a partnership with The Contemporary Austin Art School! Drawing and watercolor classes will be taught in our McDermott Learning Center, a beautifully restored 19th-century carriage house nestled in the gardens.
Enhance your drafting skills through drawing plant forms. Create detailed illustrations using a variety of papers with graphite, colored pencils, and ink. Enjoy and experience the native plants at the Wildflower Center by sketching flora in and out of the studio. Students will learn about the history of botanical drawing and benefit from demonstrations of various techniques. Prior drawing instruction is recommended.
A series of 7 classes
Wednesdays, March 23 – May 4
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Registration is required and space is limited.
Find out more
$228 per person for seven sessions (materials included)
Members receive a discount on classes.

Bexar Audubon Society Monthly Meeting
2022-03-23 18:30 - 19:30 | TX
The Edwards Aquifer and San Marcos Springs

Presenter: Gregg Eckhardt, Environmental Scientist

The Edwards Aquifer is a unique groundwater system and one of the greatest natural resources on Earth. In recent decades, demand for water in the region has increased well beyond the Aquifer’s capacity to provide for a growing population. Increasing concerns about the welfare of endangered species and regional economies that depend on springflows from the Aquifer have become defining issues for central Texas. Gregg Eckhardt will describe how it works and how it is managed, and discuss the environmental, social, and cultural importance of places like San Marcos Springs. Approved for AAMN AT hours.

Click here to join us on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 880 4575 3971
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Spring Native Plant Sale
2022-03-25 - 2022-03-27, 2022-04-01 - 2022-04-03
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Spring Native Plant Sale, held from March through May, feature a variety of beautiful, resilient Texas native plants. Get gardening with help from our experts and select your favorites from a variety of Texas natives, including perennial and annual flowers, grasses, wetland plants, shrubs and trees. Native plants conserve water; lower mowing costs; provide habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife; protect and enrich soil; and reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides. On top of all that, they’re beautiful and create a sense of place.
Fridays – Sundays
March 25 – May 8
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
* Members also get exclusive access from 9 to 10 a.m. every day of the sale. Become a member today! (https://www.wildflower.org/join)
Tickets
Plant sale tickets include admission to Wildflower Center. Tickets become available seven days before each plant sale weekend following this schedule:

April 1 – 3 on sale March 25
April 8 – 10 on sale April 1
April 15 – 17 on sale April 8
April 22 – 24on sale April 15
April 29 – May 1on sale April 22
May 6 – 8 on sale April 29

Pro Tips

Become a member to get first dibs on plants plus 10% off your purchase.
Please arrive at the Wildflower Center early enough to be through admissions and to the plant sale area by the time of your reservation. We recommend 15 minutes or longer before the time on your ticket. For your safety, capacity is limited. Punctuality will help us serve you and other shoppers better and maximize your time at the plant sale.
Bring your own cart to haul plants if possible.
Bring a refillable water bottle and wear a hat and sunscreen.
Make a shopping list using our plant list below.
Plan to make a day of it! After you purchase your plants, we can hold them while you explore and enjoy the Center, but plants must be picked up by 2 p.m.
Runners will bring your plants to our pickup area, which you can drive to when you’re ready to go. We’ll also help load your plants into your vehicle. (Bonus: That means there’s no need to fret if you can’t park right up front.)

Prices

General 4-inch pots: $3
Cacti 4-inch pots: $5
General 1-gallon pots: $9
Milkweed 1-gallon pots: $12
Most 5-gallon pots: $27

Select specialty and miscellaneous plants will be priced as marked. Members get 10% off. Credit cards only.
Plant List
We’ll release a list of available plants as the sale opens. (https://www.wildflower.org/plant-sales)

Rivers, Lakes, Bays and Bayous Trash Bash
2022-03-26 08:00 - 12:00 | impact-screenshot
Texas’s largest single-day waterway cleanup is excited to welcome back volunteers to the 28th annual event! Join hundreds of volunteers for the River, Lakes, Bays N’ Bayous Trash Bash as we work together to clean trash in and around the Armand Bayou waterway. Lunch is provided along with opportunities to win prizes and play games.
Click here for Event Link.
For more information, contact Emily Ford, Volunteer Engagement Manager, eford@galvbay.org.

Greens Bayou Volunteer Clean Up
2022-03-26 09:00 - 11:00 | 5100 Lauder Road, Houston, TX 77039, 5100 Lauder Road, Houston, TX, 77039, United States
Come help us clean up our corner of Houston! We will be cleaning up the banks of Greens Bayou from Sam Houston Tollway to W.E. Bill Crowley Park. Volunteer check-in begins at 8:30am at Bill Crowley Park. Look for the white pop-up tent in the parking lot.
Bill Crowley Park parking lot – located at 5100 Lauder Road, Houston, TX 77039. Updated information regarding the event will be posted to our Facebook page. Our current available information is available with this link https://fb.me/e/2acAsr0Wu.
Please contact marty.hughes@greensbayou.org for additional information and a liability release form.

Series: Easy Spring Gardening, the Basics of Native Plant Caretaking
2022-03-26 09:30 - 11:00, 2022-04-02 09:30 - 11:00
Time spent with your hands in the soil is time well spent, and you don’t have to be a studied horticulturist to enjoy it. Take the “work” out of yard work and unearth your inner green thumb as a pro gardener arms you with the basics of native plant caretaking. Instructor and Wildflower Center horticulturist, Leslie Uppinghouse, will get you growing in no time!
Taught as a two-part series in one and a half-hour installments, students will be able to practice techniques/complete homework assignments on their own and then bring questions back to share with the class each week.
Saturdays, March 26 & April 2, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
This class will take place in person at the Wildflower Center. Space is limited and registration is required.
Find out more
$30 per person for the series

Kickoff Luncheon - State of Texas Alliance for Recycling
2022-03-29 11:00 | register-screenshot
NTX 2022 Kickoff Luncheon (In-person)
Join the STAR North Texas Council for the 2022 Kickoff Luncheon!
It’s a new year, time to make new connections – all recycling and sustainability industry professionals are welcome!
All attendees will have an opportunity to introduce themselves to the group.
Proudly sponsored by Organix Recycling, SortSmart AI, and Community Waste Disposal.

STAR North TX 2022 Kickoff Luncheon
2022-03-29 11:00 - 13:00 | register-screenshot
Join the STAR North Texas Council for the 2022 Kickoff Luncheon!
It’s a new year, time to make new connections – all recycling and sustainability industry professionals are welcome!
Lunch is included and all attendees will have an opportunity to introduce themselves to the group.
Grapevine Botanical Garden at Heritage Park
Bessie Mitchell House
411 Ball St
Grapevine, TX 76051
Proudly sponsored by Organix Recycling, SmartSort AI, and Community Waste Disposal.

STAR Central Texas Council Meeting and San Marcos Tour
2022-04-01 13:00 - 17:00 | icon-flower
STAR’s of Central TX Tour of San Marcos (In-Person)
Join the STAR Central Texas Council for their first in-person meeting of 2022 plus a free tour of San Marcos’ exemplary recycling program.
STAR members and guests welcome.
1pm-5pm – full details TBA. Register to receive updates.
Registration is required. Clink here to register.

STARs of Central Texas Tour: San Marcos
2022-04-01 13:00 - 17:00 | TX
Join us in San Marcos for our first STARs of Central Texas Tour!
Friday, April 1 at 1-5pm
12:30-1:00pm – Registration/Sign-in at Rec Hall:
170 Charles Austin Dr., San Marcos
(next to Lion’s Club Tube Rental)
1:00-2:15pm – City of San Marcos Diversion Programs
2:15-2:45pm – Texas State University Bobcat Blend Compost Program
3:00-4:00pm – Tour of Green Guy Recycling
4:00pm – Happy Hour Networking! Location TBD.
This event is free, but requires registration.
Contact Amy Thomaides with any questions: AThomaides@sanmarcostx.gov
