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News & Blog

Cypress-Pond-Event-Lawn-Anthony-Rathbun

May 11, 2023

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2026 Alfresco Gala raises $500,000

Houston Arboretum’s 2026 Alfresco Gala, honoring Main Street Capital, raised $500,000 to fund conservation and education programs.

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Arboretum receives $50,000 grant from The John M. O’Quinn Foundation for free parking

The first Sunday of free parking is April 12, in honor of Earth Month. After that, free parking will be available on the second Sunday of every month through March 14, 2027.

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Houston Arboretum & Nature Center awarded Level 1 Accreditation by ArbNet Accreditation Program

The Houston Arboretum has been awarded a Level 1 Accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum.

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Richard King Mellon Foundation Awards $90,000 Grant for Fall 2025 Conservation Project

The grant will fund the removal of invasive plant species and support hiring Student Conservation Association program participants, who will help restore the Arboretum’s woodland habitats.

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Reflecting on 20 Years at the Arboretum

20 years ago, I stepped into my role at the Arboretum with a deep love for nature and a desire to help more people experience its beauty.

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Houston Monarch Story arrives at the Arboretum

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is excited to announce the opening of the Houston Monarch Story, an interactive art installation celebrating Monarch butterflies and their vital habitat.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Composting

If you’d like to do your part for the planet and begin composting, here are some simple steps to get you started. 

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Board Spotlight: Dr. Cullen Geiselman Muse

As her Board service draws to a close, it is with deep gratitude that we acknowledge the unparalleled leadership of Dr. Cullen Geiselman Muse.

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Inside a Prescribed Fire

Prescribed fire is vital for ecosystem health and community safety. Find out what is it like to be on the ground for one.

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The Great Owl Rescue

On a cool February morning, a visitor spotted three white puffballs. They were Great Horned Owl chicks, and they were in trouble!

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Experiencing Fall Migration

Happy Fall Migration! It may have just started to feel like autumn, but for birds, the subtle change in daylight hours at the end of August was enough to trigger their urge to travel.

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The Dog Days of Summer

We’re entering the Dog Days of Summer in a much more literal way this year – with multiple coyote and fox sightings!

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Get Social With Us!

#HoustonArboretum

Last month, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s 20 Last month, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s 2026 Alfresco Gala: An Evening Under the Oaks, honoring Main Street Capital, raised $500,000 to support environmental education, conservation, and the Arboretum’s continued growth as a place of connection and discovery for more than 600,000 visitors each year. 

We are especially grateful to our event co-chairs, Katherine and John Plumb and Katy and Sandy Shurin, for their leadership, enthusiasm, and advocacy, and to Main Street Capital, recipient of this year’s Greenleaf Award, for their support of the Arboretum and our community.  Main Street Capital has been a long-time, valued partner of the Houston Arboretum, supporting efforts to connect Houstonians of all ages to the natural world.

Read more about the evening at https://houstonarboretum.org/2026-alfresco-gala/

📸 @rathbun_photography
Red-headed Woodpeckers are one of our latest sprin Red-headed Woodpeckers are one of our latest spring migrants at the Arboretum, arriving just before the start of summer. These woodpeckers are more nomadic than migratory, searching wide areas for stands of recently burned woodland or wind-felled clearings where they can find food and nest sites. We're hoping that our recent prescribed burn has created ideal habitat for Red-headed Woodpeckers. We have been hearing their hoarse calls in the savanna and along the Muscadine Trail, so we're hopeful that we'll see nesting activity soon! #BeakOfTheWeek #WildlifeWednesday 

📸 Cameron Kirkpatrick
Even with all of the rain in the forecast, we hope Even with all of the rain in the forecast, we hope you still find some time to get outdoors this holiday weekend! If you're planning a trip to the Arboretum over the next few days, please be aware of the following closures:

🌱 Saturday, May 23 from 10 am - 12 pm - Nature Playscape Closed
🌱 Monday, May 25 - Nature Center Building Closed
Looking for a fun way to celebrate the summer sols Looking for a fun way to celebrate the summer solstice? Join us the day before on Saturday, June 20 for our Solstice Sip & Craft! Enjoy an adult beverage while you make crafts and décor like seasonal wreaths, ornaments, and beeswax candles using natural materials. 

Learn more and register at https://houstonarboretum.org/event/solstice-sip-craft/
Whee-EEP! This week we're hearing the cheerful whi Whee-EEP! This week we're hearing the cheerful whistles of Great Crested Flycatchers all over the Arboretum, especially near the Nature Playscape and Nature Center building. These large flycatchers migrate through in spring and fall, but some stick around to nest in hollow trees during the summer. Great Crested Flycatchers are striking birds with their lemon yellow belly, perky crest, and upright posture. They seem to stand to attention as they scan for flying insects, then leap out and snatch them from the sky before returning to their original perch. Flycatchers are also very feisty and vocal, so you're likely to hear their whistled songs and purring calls as they bicker with one another among the trees. #BeakOfTheWeek #WildlifeWednesday 

📸 Wildreturn

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