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News & Blog

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May 29, 2023

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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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Birding as Citizen Science

The Global Big Day is a challenge to bird watchers everywhere: see as many bird species as possible in 24 hours. Will you join the challenge?

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Earth Month Wrap-up

Thank you all for joining us during Earth Month! Just because April is almost over doesn’t mean that you have to stop helping the Earth. There are tons of great environmentally-friendly things for you to do all year.

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#HoustonArboretum

Today’s prescribed fire was a success! Active igni Today’s prescribed fire was a success! Active ignition is complete, however the fire itself will continue overnight and the Arboretum’s southern trails will remain closed until further notice. @houston_fire_department personnel will be stationed on site overnight to monitor the area. 

Many thanks to HFD and all of the other partners that make these urban prescribed fires possible. We are especially excited to be the first site to implement a prescribed fire in a woodland setting within the City of Houston and cannot wait to see the positive impacts this fire will have on native plants and wildlife at the Arboretum. 

While active ignition is over, visitors over the next few days may still encounter smoke in the area or smoldering logs within the burn unit just south of the Meadow. These areas will continue to be closely monitored by Arboretum staff and will be extinguished if they pose any threat to surrounding areas.
Thanks to favorable weather conditions, the Arbore Thanks to favorable weather conditions, the Arboretum and @houston_fire_department will be moving forward with the planned prescribed fire today, Wednesday, March 18!

❎ The 610 Entrance is closed - please use the Woodway Entrance
🚷 Parts of the Inner and Outer Loop trails are closed 
🔥 If you encounter smoke in the area, DO NOT call 911
✅ Areas closed due to the burn will reopen Thursday morning
 
To learn more about prescribed fires at the Houston Arboretum, visit https://houstonarboretum.org/prescribed-fire/
This week we’re celebrating the fire bird: the Red This week we’re celebrating the fire bird: the Red-headed Woodpecker! These woodpeckers overwhelmingly prefer to nest and forage in recently burned areas, taking advantage of clear, open understory where they can more easily find food and spot predators and freshly dead trees and limbs where they can easily excavate nest cavities. Unfortunately, this kind of habitat is increasingly difficult to find due in large part to fire suppression. It is critical for conservation organizations like the Arboretum to perform regular prescribed fires to maintain healthy habitat for species like Red-headed Woodpeckers. 

Historically, fire has been a natural part of Houston’s landscape and benefits birds in many ways. Fires keep grasslands from turning into forests, so they are vital for birds that only live in prairies and savannas. In woodlands, regular low-intensity burns maintain understory health by reducing plant competition, removing invasive plants, fertilizing the soil for new seedlings, and creating open micro-habitats for birds. The key is regular, low-intensity fire. If fire is suppressed for a long time, woody debris builds up, increasing the risk of prolonged and intense wildfires that can be dangerous for trees, wildlife, and people. 

While fire and smoke can be temporarily damaging, prescribed fires are overwhelmingly beneficial. Many birds are attracted to fires, feasting on insects and small animals seeking refuge from the flames. Resident birds benefit from a clearer understory where they can better spot predators and the flush of new plant growth that attracts insect prey. Arboretum staff have monitored bird activity during and after past prescribed burns and have spotted minimal disturbance. For example, an active Carolina Chickadee nest was unaffected by the low flames that passed by quickly during a savanna burn. Mere minutes after another burn, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird was able to reach a patch of flowers that had previously been blocked by woody debris. #BeakOfTheWeek #WildlifeWednesday 

📸 Cameron Kirkpatrick
This Wednesday, March 18, the Arboretum will be wo This Wednesday, March 18, the Arboretum will be working with @houston_fire_department and @houston_parksrecreation to conduct a prescribed fire in a 20-acre woodland area just south of the Meadow. 

❎ The 610 Entrance and the majority of the trails south of the Nature Center building will be closed for the duration of the burn.

If you decide to visit the Arboretum this Wednesday, please use the Woodway Entrance and be aware that you may see or smell smoke during your visit. If you encounter smoke on or near the Arboretum grounds, please do not call 911.
 
Learn more about the safety and ecological benefits of prescribed fires as well as the extensive planning that goes into them at https://houstonarboretum.org/prescribed-fire/
This year's Spring Plant Sale is just one week awa This year's Spring Plant Sale is just one week away, and we finally have what everyone's been waiting for: the plant list! With almost 200 different species of native plants available, the Houston Arboretum's Spring Plant Sale is a great place to stock up on natives for your yard, garden, or patio. 

Please note that the list is subject to change and that quantities may be limited. Plants are available on  a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure to get to the Sale early!

To view the full list and get more Plant Sale info and tips, visit https://houstonarboretum.org/event/spring-plant-sale/

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The Arboretum conducted a prescribed fire on Wednesday, March 18. Active ignition is complete, however the fire is still active. Houston Fire Department is on site to monitor the area and the Arboretum's southern trails remain closed.Click here to learn more about the prescribed fire. You may see or smell smoke in the area as logs and trees continue to smolder. Please do not call 911.
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