Midwinter is a quiet time outside in the Garden, with most plants dormant until the days grow longer. But in the greenhouses devoted to the Garden’s Begonia Collection, excitement is growing as these remarkable plants get ready to bloom. Learn more about the incredible variety of begonias and get started growing your own.
Dog Days was introduced in 2022 and has been a howling success for canine fur babies and their human companions. This year, the Garden is expanding the program to one weekend a month, allowing pooches and their favorite people more opportunities to frolic on the grounds.
“Story time” has a magical sound. What can be better than sitting with a favorite adult and hearing a new story read with enthusiasm and love? Fostering this kind of positive experience with books is one of the goals of the new Saturday Storytime program, which will begin in February.
The herbarium is the heart of research at the Garden. A major priority of the herbarium is to digitize the collection by photographing the specimens and transcribing the related information recorded by botanists. Staff and volunteers made significant strides in reaching this goal last year. “The herbarium ended 2022 with complete transcriptions of 52,674 specimens,” says Herbarium Collections Manager Ashley Bordelon.
Botanist Sherwin Carlquist (1930-2021) was a legend in his field, a prolific researcher who made major contributions to plant systematics, plant anatomy, island biology and wood anatomy. He traveled the world collecting plant specimens, photographing plants in the field and collecting data about ecosystems. Hard work by our experts and volunteers means scientists interested in studying Carlquist’s work will soon have a new type of digital resource giving them unprecedented context for his findings: an extended specimen network. Assuming, that is, that they can decipher Carlquist’s handwriting.
Members of the Garden’s education team love nature, love books and love books about nature. Winter is a great time to snuggle down with your kids and a great story–and to look for gifts for the young readers and soon-to-be-readers in your life. We asked our educators for recommendations of new or favorite children’s books, and here’s what they suggested:
The much-anticipated Lightscape, presented by Bank of America, has been open for about three weeks—and has established its place in the hearts of area residents. Guests are taking to social media to describe their reaction to the immersive experience that takes its guests through a twinkling field of bluebonnets, a blazing fire garden and a cathedral of light, with stops along the way for hot cocoa and roasted marshmallows. Learn more and buy your tickets today.
The beauty of nature is extraordinary—but temporary. Botanical jewelry offers a chance to preserve the beauty of nature forever. A golden leaf or blooming flower can be crafted into pendants or earrings that can be worn and treasured for a lifetime. You can learn how to make your own botanical jewelry at a Dec. 10 workshop by nature artist Becky Nelson. At the end of the class, you’ll have a unique piece to give as a gift or wear yourself as well as the skills to explore this craft at home.
In stories of wizards and witches, transfiguration is described as the magic of turning one object into another. With the wave of a wand, a magician can turn a teacup into a hedgehog, a rabbit into a hat, or a human into a cat. Here in the real world, transfiguration remains impossible—mostly. One plant species seems to have the magical ability to transform into a bewildering variety of forms and shapes. You may have enjoyed one of these forms for dinner last night. You may be growing another in your flowerbeds. Brassica oleracea isn’t magic, but it may be as close as we muggles can get.
Snow globes are so simple but so mesmerizing. Most children love shaking the globes and watching sudden blizzards engulf whatever tiny worlds exist inside. This December, your family can build their own custom snow globes that will not only serve as cheerful outdoor decorations but also introduce the fundamentals of renewable energy.
FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN
3220 Botanic Garden Blvd
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
(817) 463-4160
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BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS
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We respectfully acknowledge that the Fort Worth Botanic Garden is located on traditional lands of Indigenous Peoples. We honor the ancestry, heritage, and gifts of all Indigenous Peoples who were sustained by these lands and give thanks to them. We are grateful that these lands continue to provide enrichment for many people today. [More…]
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