The South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center - 852-2100

8545 S. Staples Street Corpus Christi, Texas 78413

The 180-acre South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, at 8545 S. Staples St., now offers 9 major floral exhibits, plus trails, birding overlooks and boardwalk through vast areas of protected natural wetland and native habitat.

Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the non-profit Botanical Gardens & Nature Center is one of Corpus Christi's major visitor attractions and a leading South Texas nature tourism destination, providing horticultural and environmental conservation education for residents and visitors. It is a member of the American Public Gardens Association, American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Gardens Program, and Texas Travel Industry Association.

Look for more information on www.stxbot.org.

For membership or visitor information, please call 361/852-2100.

You'll Love Every Bloomin' Thing !

F 361-852-7875

'Turf Talk' seminar May 3

If you want the grass to be greenest on your side of the fence, the Turf Talk seminar--from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 3, at the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center--is the solution! Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service horticulture agent Michael Potter will discuss turf choices, fertility, mowing, irrigation, fertilization, pest and disease control, and other best turf management practices for the greenest lawn on the block. Seminar fee is $6, $3.50 members, and covers Gardens & Nature Center admission. For seminar reservations, call 361/852-2100.

Free PROJECT LEARNING TREE one-day teacher short course May 10

The South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, in partnership with AEP Texas, offers a free Project Learning Tree one-day short course for elementary science and social studies teachers, kindergarten through eighth grades, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 10, at the Gardens & Nature Center, 8545 S. Staples.

Teacher tuition and box lunch is underwritten by AEP. Teachers from any area school district may enroll. (The course also will be offered Wednesday, July 2; and Saturday, September 6.) The Project Learning Tree short course provides 96 ready-to-go lesson plans for a hands-on interdisciplinary approach (Science, Math Social Sciences, Language Arts, Visual Arts, Physical Education) to science and environmental education activity lessons covering plant life wildlife, water, waste management, energy and many other biospheric environmental elements, introducing how-to-think, not what-to-think concepts.

The course, which includes teacher/student goals and a Teacher Guide, allows teachers to expand and facilitate science education beyond classroom textbooks. Lessons are correlated to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Each participant can attain six hours of continuing education credits; and six hours toward Texas Environmental Education Certification (TEEC). Class size is limited to 20 students. Instructor is STBGNC Executive Director, Michael Womack, Ed.D. Pre-registration is required. For information, call 361/852-2100.

May 17 'Orchids with Sam'

Did you buy an orchid at the BIG BLOOM? Or get one for your birthday? Do you want to keep it healthy, but don't know much about The South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center offers a seminar Orchids with Sam, from 10-noon, Saturday, May 17, in the Visitors Center, 8545 S. Staples. Sam Jones, well-known South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center Orchid Curator, says "you too can grow orchids!" Learn the basics of orchid culture made simple by Sam. Seminar fee is $6, $3.50 members. For reservations, call 361-852-2100.

Passion for Plumeria seminar June 21

The South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center and the Plumeria Society of South Texas present "Passion for Plumeria," seminar from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 21, Plumeria Society members will discuss tips on purchasing and raising these exotic, tropical beauties, lead a tour of the Gardens & Nature Center new 100-plant Plumeria Garden & Willoughby Viewing Platform, and preview the Society's July 19 sale to be held from 10 am to 2 pm, at the Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely. Seminar fee is $6, $3.50 for Botanical Gardens & Nature Center members, and includes admission. For seminar reservations, call (361) 852-2100.