Due to our continuing water shortage (and to mitigate skipping 2025 Big Bloom), we’ve created the “WATER-SMART Plant Sale & Garden Fair,” 10 am-5 pm, Saturday, April 25—a $2 Community Day! Featuring plant and art vendors, it also includes traditional butterfly and ladybug releases, animal ambassadors, membership specials and food trucks. Raptor Project presentations and Exhibitor Tent offers more entertainment from “Birdiest Festival in America!” We’ve “re-shaped” the usual concentration of thirstier landscape plants to a water-thrifty inventory of natives, blooming nectar and larval pollinator plants, cacti, succulents, other low-water perennials; plus plumeria and orchids. Members enter FREE at 9 am. “People are going to buy plants; we’re teaching them the water-smart choices!”

PRIVATE ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS—parrots back! PRIVATE ENCOUNTERS now for longer time periods, either parrots or reptiles! Small groups can enjoy fun interactions with either THREE parrots or THREE reptiles with guests holding each animal, giving them snacks, taking photos in private setting. A great party, birthday, anniversary, or friend treat! Funds go to Animal Enrichment and Emergency Funds.

REGISTRATION and FULL SCHEDUE is now online, for Corpus Christi’s ninth BIRDIEST FESTIVAL in AMERICA, April 22-26! Birders have traveled from Alaska, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands for this festival, with species counts from 250-284 not counting 2 Pre-Trips or 1 Post-Trip! We proudly announce
personable veteran birder, author, guide and photographer DAVID SARKOZI as keynote speaker, April 24! Explore six exclusive Full Day field trips, 13 Half-Day trips, four U-Drives, guided bird walks, presentations, workshops and events at www.BIRDIESTFESTIVAL.ORG
and register today! Proudly presented by FLINT HILLS Resources.

FEBRUARY is time to tour Corpus Christi like a tourist! If a MEMBER of Art Museum, Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, Museum of Science & History, Aquarium, Lexington Museum, Asian Cultures Museum or Art Center of Corpus Christi–see the others for HALF-PRICE admission all month! See More for other discounts!

MOONLIGHT & MARIPOSAS in the GARDENS entertained more than 500 people, with comments like: “This is my all-time favorite event;” “What a perfect, enjoyable evening;” “So glad we came again after missing a couple of years;” “Congratulations, you did it again;” “We’ll definitely be back next year!” The Botanical Gardens thanks Presenting Sponsor CITGO, plus dozens of supporting sponsors you’ll see on large signs in the Gardens until MOOONLIGHT ‘26! Click SEE MORE for those generous sponsors, entertainers, our Event Chair Kitty Hommer, restaurant and beverage sponsors, plus volunteers. . . with new Moonlight slideshow in the works!

For your convenience, we’re providing a schedule of SATURDAY MORNING Horticulture & Environmental Education classes! All begin at 9:30 am, Education Station classroom, with spaced seating for 40. Unless noted, all are covered by that day’s general admission, membership, or $5 each. Educational, fun, meet new friends. Make your reservation at 361-852-2100.

This is a first! The Botanical Gardens is looking for VOLUNTEERS to work with Grounds Staff helping with daily hand-watering, mowing, weeding, edging! Coastal rains made the grass grow, and watering restrictions still make us hand-water! We’ll work with your schedule, except (watering must be done before 10 am), other work between 9 and 6. Please call Kathie for details, 361-852-2100, x 225.

Guests visiting Saturdays or Sundays are treated to REP-TALES,10:30 am, on the Festival Lawn. Meet and learn about some our Reptile Animal Ambassadors including tortoises, iguanas, snakes and other creatures (specific animal ambassadors and species vary daily). Included with membership or general admission. Feed these reptiles for additional fee.

Our annual Winter Lecture Series returns, Wednesday mornings, beginning at 9:30 am, in Education Station. Learn valuable, often unique lessons in South Texas horticulture and environment from experts–with a cup of coffee! Free with Membership, or General
Admission. $5 others. Reservations required, 361-852-2100. SEE MORE for list of these January and February classes . . .