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News & Blog

Habitat Hikes

May 6, 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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#HoustonArboretum

Seeing Scaly-breasted Munias bathing by the front Seeing Scaly-breasted Munias bathing by the front door of the Nature Center building or along the Buttonbush Trail always gives mixed feelings. They’re adorable birds, they make cute beeping sounds, and they are sweet to watch in their social flocks. Unfortunately, they’re also not native to Houston. Originally from India and Southeast Asia, Scaly-breasted Munias have become popular pets and are transported around the world. They are often accidentally or even intentionally released, creating feral populations that thrive in grassy areas near water. Preliminary studies suggest that munias aren’t a huge threat to native bird species since they prefer heavily human-disturbed habitats – especially bird feeders – but at the Arboretum we do observe them feeding in the same grasses as native Indigo Buntings and sparrows during fall and winter. That is why programs like our monthly Second Saturday Bird Survey are so important: the data we collect helps track munia population numbers and spread, allowing scientists to determine potential risks to native birds. If you’re concerned about munias, you can help reduce their impact by keeping your bird feeders very clean (since large munia flocks can spread disease), growing lots of native grasses (to provide more food for native birds), and supporting the protection and restoration of wild spaces away from human disturbance (providing a refuge for native birds). #BeakOfTheWeek #WildlifeWednesday 

📸 Rosemary Brooks
It’s strange to think of a “cutesy” bird of prey, It’s strange to think of a “cutesy” bird of prey, but the Broad-winged Hawk comes pretty close! These petite soaring hawks have an average wingspan of only 35 inches and weigh less than 1 lb. Compare this to a Red-tailed Hawk with an average wingspan of 49.5 inches and weight of 2.5 lbs. Broad-winged Hawks even have adorable voices: they sound like a toy whistle making one short and one long squeak. These little raptors take a wide variety of prey, but they especially favor small frogs, mammals like shrews, lizards, and snakes. They are strongly migratory and pass through coastal Texas in huge numbers every fall. We’re already starting to find them soaring over the Outer Loop, so keep your eyes and ears to the skies! #BeakOfTheWeek #WildlifeWednesday 

📸 Manjith Kainickara
It seems early to think about fall, but we’re alre It seems early to think about fall, but we’re already seeing a few migrants! Late summer is an interesting time for birds: some are still nesting, some are relaxing and recovering after a hard nesting season, and some are already starting migration. Male birds often leave their nesting territories earlier than females, and Orchard Orioles are a good example. Males like this one are already gorging themselves on insects, fruit, and nectar as they travel south through Texas towards their winter range in southern Mexico and Central America. Orchard Orioles LOVE getting nectar and insects from orange Trumpet Creeper flowers, so look for these birds near flowering vines high up in the trees. #BeakOfTheWeek #WildlifeWednesday 

📸 Francesco Veronesi
It's time for another Free Second Sunday! Whether It's time for another Free Second Sunday! Whether you're exploring the trails, making memories on the Nature Playscape, or learning in the Discovery Room, enjoy free parking at the Arboretum all day this Sunday, July 12.

If you can't make it this weekend, remember that Arboretum Members get free parking every day, and Free Second Sundays run through March 14, 2027 thanks to a generous grant from The John M. O'Quinn Foundation.

Learn more at https://houstonarboretum.org/free-second-sundays/
Looking for a way to give back and learn more abou Looking for a way to give back and learn more about the natural world? Adult Volunteer Applications are now open! Volunteers support Houston Arboretum & Nature Center's dual mission of conservation and education through hands-on trail work, engaging visitors on and off site, supporting educational programs and events, and so much more.

Adult Applications are open to individuals ages 16+ who have weekday availability.

To learn more and apply, visit https://houstonarboretum.org/volunteer/

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