TDG – Public Workshops and Guided Garden Walks

See the Texas Discovery Gardens site for more info as the dates get closer.

Known Dates/Programs:
November 1, 2008 – Trees of Texas: A Native Primer
November 15, 2008 – The Modern Victory Gardens: Community Garden Educational Series (Registration required. To register, call Blake at (214) 428-7476 x 24)
December 6, 2008 – For the Birds (Garden Walk)
January 17, 2009 – Terrific Teas (Garden Walk)

Time: 10 – 11 AM
Where: 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fair Park, 75210 (map). Fair Park is two miles east of downtown Dallas just south of Interstate 30.

Integrated Pest Management (9/2/08)

From the Texas Discovery Gardens – Organic in the City site:

Got pests? Don’t despair! There are a growing number of low-impact insecticide products and methods to keep insects at bay.

Dr. Mike Merchant, entomologist with Texas AgriLife Extension, will show you an assortment of products that control pests while keeping you and your beneficial garden visitors safe. Come with questions about your toughest pest problems.

Dr. Merchant is the urban entomology specialist (a bug expert) at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas. He helped develop the Two-Step Method that is now being used throughout the South to control the red imported fire ant. Currently, Mike has several research projects attempting to find more effective methods for controlling subterranean termites, fire ants and venomous spiders.

Organic in the City is an urban environmental education series at Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park. Guests will get a behind-the-scenes look at the gardens (including an exciting look at our reconstruction of the Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium. Hors d’oeuvres and light refreshments will be provided.

When: September 2, 2008
Time: 6 – 8 PM
Cost: $10 ($8 for TDG members) – No advance registration required.
Where: Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park (map).

Texas Discovery Gardens – General Info

Texas Discovery Gardens (link), at historic Fair Park in Dallas, is a year-round urban oasis filled with natural wonders for visitors of all ages. Ten different themed areas include a butterfly habitat, native wildlife pond, scent garden, shade garden and heirloom garden.

At Texas Discovery Gardens, visitors discover a wealth of information on ways to restore, conserve and preserve natural environments in urban areas.

Texas Discovery Gardens’ 7.5 acres offer a wonderful diversity of garden styles and botanical collections. The Gardens feature native plants and plant species from other regions of the world that are adapted to the challenging climate and soils of North Texas. Plants are also selected for their benefits in providing habitat for native wildlife, including butterflies, bugs, and birds.

They have the first public garden in the state of Texas to be certified 100% organic by the Texas Organic Research Center. The gardens are maintained using sustainable methods that conserve water and help to protect the environment.

Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM, Monday – Saturday
Various Admission Rates: See site for details. Tuesday admissions are free!!
Location: 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fair Park, 75210 (map). Fair Park is two miles east of downtown Dallas just south of Interstate 30.