TCEQ Public Sunset Hearing
2022-03-21 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | 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, 2022-04-08 - 2022-04-10, 2022-04-15 - 2022-04-17
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

Bluebonnet Photography Workshop
2022-04-09 10:00 - 12:00
Watch your images blossom in this special outdoor floral photography workshop at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Join master photographer Tim Babiak with Precision Camera to learn how to photograph bluebonnets and other wildflowers while enjoying the natural beauty of the Wildflower Center.
This class is targeted for all levels of photographers who love the outdoors and want to improve their nature photography skills.
April 9, 10 a.m. – noon.
This class will take place in person at the Wildflower Center. Space is limited and registration is required.
Find out more
$99 per person

Drop-in & Discover Nature with iNaturalist
2022-04-09 10:00 - 12:00
Join us in the gardens on select Saturdays to play, learn and discover. Enjoy different themed family-friendly activities designed for all ages. Drop-in programs are designed for guests of all ages to learn, create and explore the gardens together.
This is a free drop-in program and will be held outdoors in the Luci and Ian Family Garden. Please come dressed for the weather and don’t forget your water bottle!
Select Saturdays, 10 a.m. – noon.
April 9 – Discover Nature with iNaturalist
Grab your smart phone and head outdoors to observe, record and share your plant and wildlife sightings here at the Wildflower Center. Join fellow nature enthusiasts as you gather data to share through iNaturalist. No experience is required. Participants will only need a smart phone with the free iNaturalist app installed. An on-site expert will guide and assist all with app installation, photo tips and more.
The drop-in program will take place in person at the Wildflower Center.
This program is free with regular garden admission (and does not require separate registration). Presently, admission is open by reservation. Reservations can be made up to seven days in advance. Admission is always free for members!
Make a Reservation
Reservations open 7 days in advance
PHOTO John W. Clark

Discovery Green's Earth Day Houston Celebration 2022
2022-04-10 12:00 - 17:00 | TX
Presented in partnership with the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Discovery Green’s citywide Earth Day celebration is designed to educate, inspire and encourage action. The event features displays, exhibits, and booths on topics ranging from alternative energy to recycling and composting, a foodie farmers market, live music, recycling, earth-friendly crafts, and more.
Exhibitor spaces are available starting at $150 for nonprofit organizations. Register here Early bird fees end and fees increase after March 10!
We plan to have 250+ volunteers for the event! We are looking for corporate and teams of volunteers, along with individuals, to help with the event. If you have a team of volunteers willing to commit to ~3 hours, please email earthday@cechouston.org.

Migratory Birds in the Landscape
2022-04-14 08:00 - 10:00
Join birders from Travis Audubon and horticulturists from the Wildflower Center on a morning walk. Your guides will help identify migratory birds and the native plants they rely on for food and shelter. Bring binoculars to see what feathered friends are passing through.
This class will take place in person at the Wildflower Center. Space is limited and registration is required. Face masks are optional. Please review our Safety Guidelines before your visit.
Offered on the second Thursday of each month, March – June, 8 – 10 a.m. (individual sessions, not a series)
Find out more
$15 per adult and $8 per child (non-members)
FREE for Wildflower Center members*;
FREE for Travis Audubon members*
*Advance registration is still required.

Foraging for Native Edibles
2022-04-16 09:00 - 11:00
Fruits and flowers everywhere, but not a bite to eat? This class will help you reconnect with the land by learning foraging skills and how to ID native plants that are safe for your palate, such as prickly pear and Texas persimmon. Not only will you be primed to dress your salad and fill your snack bag with local native plants, but learning to forage will make your forays into nature richer as you tune in to the land around you.
Include Eric and Stacy Coplin’s new book, Foraging Texas: Finding, Identifying and Preparing Edible Wild Foods in Texas, with your registration! As the perfect companion to this immersive class, this new book will serve as a continuous guide to identifying, preparing and appreciating the wild bounty of native plants throughout Texas.

April 16, 9 – 11 a.m.
This class will take place in person at the Wildflower Center. Space is limited and registration is required.
Find out more
$25 per person (book not included)
$55 per person with book included

Earth Day Discovery Cart in the Garden
2022-04-22 13:00 - 14:00
Spend Earth Day at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and engage with native plants and our natural world. Drop in for fun in our Family Garden with nature themes and self-guided activities. Play and learn outdoors!
Friday, April 22, 1 – 2 p.m.
Registration not required, all ages welcome
FREE with admission

Earth Month Prairie Planting
2022-04-23 09:00 - 11:00 | star
Make a hands-on difference for Galveston Bay this Earth Month! Help restore coastal prairie habitat and plant a bioswale at Galveston Bay Foundation’s headquarters in Kemah. All ages are welcome; children under 18 must have an adult guardian participate with them. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required to participate.
Click for Event Link
For more information contact Emily Ford, Volunteer Engagement Manager, eford@galvbay.org.

Birding at Devil's River Corridor - Zoom Presentation
2022-04-26 18:45 | Zoom
Presentation: Birding the Devil’s River Corridor

Speaker: Romey Swanson, Director of Conservation Strategy at Audubon Texas

In southwest Texas, far from all cities and most people, lies one of the most pristine rivers in Texas. Clear spring-fed water tumbles past rugged ridges, scenic canyons and brushy banks. It’s not easy to get here, but it’s worth the effort. Framing the luminous Devils River, lies a rich biological crossroads where the Hill Country, Chihuahuan Desert and South Texas Brush Country landscapes converge. From rolling hills of juniper to the sycamore-lined river itself, the scenery is as diverse as the birds. Rare birds recorded here in the past include breeding rufous-capped warbler, common black hawk, and many neotropical migrants.

Zoom Meeting – Send requests for a link to ptaszoom@gmail.com with your name and postal address.

Victoria Winter Hummingbirds - Zoom Presentation
2022-04-27 18:30 | Zoom
Dr. Brent Ortego, a retired biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, spent 34 years working on non-game and endangered species issues in Texas. He began banding birds under a permit held by Dr. Ross Dawkins from San Angelo in 1995. One of his projects was banding hummingbirds at his home in Victoria County from 1995 – 2010. During the first winter, he banded 14 hummingbirds, which eventually led to a peak wintering population of 160 birds. During his presentation to BAS, Dr. Ortego will discuss these amazing birds, and how that remarkable increase of Victoria winter hummingbirds occurred. Approved for AAMN AT hours.
Zoom Meeting – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83264419488?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 832 6441 9488
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Bayou Wonderland - Themed Gala
2022-04-27 18:30 - 21:30 | entrance sign with rudbeckia and coneflowers
We are excited to announce Bayou Wonderland, Bayou Preservation’s upcoming themed annual gala. The event will take place at Houston Botanic Garden on April 27th. Join us for a magical evening of celebrating our bayous in 2022.
Tickets on sale on our website. Individual tickets start at $300.

Bayou Wonderland Gala
2022-04-27 18:30 - 21:30 | entrance sign with rudbeckia and coneflowers
Don’t be late for a very important date!
We are excited to announce Bayou Wonderland, Bayou Preservation’s upcoming themed annual gala. The event will take place at Houston Botanic Garden on April 27th. Join us for a magical evening of celebrating our bayous in 2022.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit here.

Family-friendly riding on hike & bike trails
2022-05-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Roy G. Guerrero Park Plaza, Grove Blvd, Austin, TX, 78741, United States
WHAT: A morning of biking and planting, brought to you by the Parents’ Climate Community, Ecology Action, Ghisallo Cycling Initiative, and Get There ATX.

Family-friendly riding on hike & bike trails, followed by planting of native trees, grasses, and perennials in Guerrero Park with Ecology Action.

WHEN: Sunday, May 1st, 2022, 10am – 12pm

WHERE: Meet at Roy G Guerrero Park Plaza. Grove Blvd, Austin, TX 78741

Click Here to RSVP

RIDING LEVEL: All ages and abilities welcome! We’ll be staying within the park area and trails.

WHAT TO BRING: A bike and helmet, water bottle, comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes, and sunscreen. If you do not have a bicycle of your own, a bicycle and helmet can be provided to you for use during the event. Please make note in the form below.

HEALTH/SAFETY: Our ride will be fully outside. Please bring masks if you’d like to wear one during the event. If you do not feel well leading up to the event, it’s best to sit this one out!

CONTACT: briana.cohen@ghisallo.org with any questions.

Walk and Talk on the Violet Crown Trail
2022-05-13 07:50 - 09:15 | Violet Crown Trail, Dick Nichols Park, Austin, TX, 78749, United States
Hill Country Conservancy invites you to join us for an informative stroll along the Violet Crown Trail! On this exclusive tour of the trail, we reveal behind-the-scenes stories and share insights that you won’t find elsewhere. This is your opportunity to learn and to ask questions about anything regarding the trail, Hill Country Conservancy, or the Hill Country in general.

Please RSVP using the “register” button. You will receive a confirmation email upon submission and an informational email the week of the hike.

Please wear closed-toe shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
BYOWB (Bring Your Own Water Bottle)
This is a family-friendly event.
Dogs are welcome on this section of the trail but must remain on a leash.
Anticipated time on the trail is 1-1.5 hours.

For more information, please contact info@hillcountryconservancy.org

Saturday Morning Bird Walk at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Sanctuary
2022-05-14 08:00 - 09:30 | Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Pl, McKinney, TX, 75069, United States
Second Saturday Bird Walks in the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary are offered by Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society (PTAS) members. These bird walks are intended to help beginning and intermediate birders with bird spotting and identification techniques. There are also plenty of opportunities provided for participants to ask questions from experienced birders. Prairie, woodland, and wetland habitats are included in these walks.

Just show up. Send questions to aftpresident@gmail.com
