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News & Blog

Event Lawn – Anthony Rathbun

December 23, 2022

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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

We’re getting in a spooky mood for October with Bl We’re getting in a spooky mood for October with Black Vultures! While they look scary with their featherless, wrinkled heads and huge, dark wings, Black Vultures are actually wonderful birds. They are intelligent and highly social, living in extended family groups that form lifelong bonds. If you see a large flock of vultures gathered in a tree or on rooftops, it’s probably a “family reunion” where birds get together to preen, play, and rest. Vultures also perform essential work cleaning up the ecosystem. By eating dead animals, they help prevent the spread of disease. It may seem gross and unpleasant to us, but someone’s got to do it, and Black Vultures do it well! Look for these huge birds soaring high over the parking loops or the savanna. #BeakOfTheWeek #WildlifeWednesday 

📸 Rosemary Brooks
October may have only just begun, but we're alread October may have only just begun, but we're already thinking about Halloween! Celebrate with Pumpkin Planters at the Arboretum on Saturday, October 31. Come learn how to plan, plant, and care for three species of native plants in a cute artificial pumpkin container. You'll even get to decorate your mini-gardens with ribbons, glass pebbles, and more.

Learn more at https://houstonarboretum.org/event/pumpkin-planters/
If you've been wanting to become a Houston Arboret If you've been wanting to become a Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Member, now is the best time to join or renew! Members enjoy great perks like:

🚗 Free Parking
✨ Members-only Events
💲Discounts on Special Events and Adult Programs
🌱 Discounts on Nature Shop & Plant Sale Purchases
🎃 Free Admission to ArBOOretum
And more!

Higher level Memberships even get fun perks like priority and discounted registration for Children's Programs and Camps, Birthday Party savings, and free tickets to Adult and Family Programs!

Learn more at https://houstonarboretum.org/become-a-member/
You know it’s fall when the Sugarcane Plumegrass ( You know it’s fall when the Sugarcane Plumegrass (Saccharum giganteum) starts blooming! This gorgeous giant can grow to nearly 10 feet tall, towering above most other native grasses. It bears shimmering peach “plumes” of flowers (yes, grasses are flowering plants) that wave in the autumn breeze. Those flowers ripen into seeds that feed wintering birds like goldfinches and sparrows. If you’re looking for a dramatic statement plant for fall, Sugarcane Plumegrass would be an excellent choice for a sunny, moist-to-wet spot. 

📸 and observation by Senior Naturalist, Kelsey Low
Over 200 different species of native plants are ca Over 200 different species of native plants are calling your name! Head to the Houston Arboretum Friday & Saturday, October 2 & 3 for the Fall Plant Sale. Peruse native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, trees, and even multiple varieties of milkweed. You can plan your fall garden and support local conservation and environmental education efforts all at the same time!

Plant Sale Tips
⏰ Arrive early for your best chance at getting your desired plants
✅ Become a Member for discounts on Plant Sale purchases - all Memberships are 25% off during the Fall Membership Sale
🚗 Enter via the 610 Entrance and park along the parking loop for easy access to the Plant Sale
🛒 Bring your own cart if you have one! Limited carts will be available to transport plants at the sale.

Learn more and view the full plant list at https://houstonarboretum.org/event/fall-plant-sale/

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