Members Only: Conservatory Grand Re-Opening

Celebrate the re-opening of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's Conservatory! GROW Patron to Sustainer-level members are invited to attend this ribbon cutting and behind-the-scenes tour. Light hors d'oeuvres and wine available.

Patron to Sustainer-level member benefit only

Location: Fort Worth Botanic Garden Conservatory

Registration Deadline: February 14. Space is limited.

RSVP: Katherine Campbell, Director of Membership at 817-332-7518 or kcampbell@brit.org.

Not sure if you're a member? Contact the membership office at 817-332-4441 or membership@fwgrow.org.

What's happening around me? 

Click here to learn more about the series. 

Girl Scouts earn badge work while exploring natural systems and their needs. Scouts also get to investigate and create their very own take-home terrariums! 

**Please note, petals or badges are not available on site; they can be purchased at the GS store or online.** 

Event Details: 

• Location: BRIT (1700 University Drive Fort Worth, TX 76107)
• Parking: BRIT (Free)
• Cost: $10/Scout - Unfortunately, registration for this event is now closed as we have reached full capacity. 
• Age: Brownies - Ambassadors

You can complete work towards these badges:

• Brownies: Bugs, Senses, Hiker, & Outdoor Art Creator part 2
• Juniors: Animal Habitat, Digital Photographer, Eco Camper, Flowers, Gardening, & Outdoor Art Explorer part 2
• Cadettes: Trees, Eco Trekker, Digital Movie Maker, & Outdoor Art Apprentice part 2
• Seniors: Eco Explore & Outdoor Art Expert part 2
• Ambassadors: Photographer, Outdoor Art Master Part 2, & Eco Advocate part 2

Unfortunately, registration for this event is now closed as we have reached full capacity. 

Butterflies in the Garden (BITG) Field Study Trips are two-hour, immersive experiences led by our amazing GROW educators. Students enjoy TEKS based, nature-inspired activities at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and explore the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's Conservatory with live butterflies! 

Unfortunately, registration for these field trips is now closed as we have reached full capacity for our allotted time slots. Registration for GROW-Guided Field Study Trips at the Botanic Garden, however, is still open! Learn more here!

Click here to download our Butterflies Field Study Trip Guide for further details on experiences and pricing. 

Please contact Michelle Schmidlkofer at mschmidlkofer@brit.org with any questions or concerns about Field Study Trips.

GROW-Guided Field Study Trips are two-hour, immersive experiences available at both BRIT* and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden campuses, led by our amazing GROW educators. Students can become scientists in our herbarium of over 1.5 million plant species, explore the many areas of the gardens, and learn about botany in TEKS based, nature-inspired field study trips! 

FWBG Experiences:

• Pre-K - 2nd: Super Seeds
• 3rd - 5th: Texas Ecoregion Roundup
• Middle & High School: Spectacular Systems

* Because the activities for Butterflies in the Garden take place on the BRIT campus, there is not a separate GROW-Guided experience available at BRIT during this time. BRIT experiences will resume in May.

Available : Tuesdays - Fridays, 10 am – 12 noon (exceptions upon request)

$7 /student and $5 /registered adult

$140 minimum for groups of 20 or fewer.

Any unregistered adult joining on the day of a Field Study Trip at the Garden will pay the regular garden admission of $12.

Click here to download our Spring 2020 Field Study Trip Guide for further details on experiences and pricing. 

Submit an inquiry form to request a date for your Field Study Trip!

Please contact Michelle Schmidlkofer at mschmidlkofer@brit.org with any questions or concerns about Field Study Trips.

Butterflies in the Garden (BITG) Field Study Trips are two-hour, immersive experiences led by our amazing GROW educators. Students enjoy TEKS based, nature-inspired activities at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and explore the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's Conservatory with live butterflies! 

Unfortunately, registration for these field trips is now closed as we have reached full capacity for our allotted time slots. Registration for GROW-Guided Field Study Trips at the Botanic Garden, however, is still open! Learn more here!

Click here to download our Butterflies Field Study Trip Guide for further details on experiences and pricing. 

Please contact Michelle Schmidlkofer at mschmidlkofer@brit.org with any questions or concerns about Field Study Trips.

Waterlilies of Australia

A Brown Bag Lecture by Dr. Barre Hellquist

New BRIT Research Associate Dr. Barre Hellquist will share his past work on the waterlily genus Nymphaea. Waterlilies in Australia have received much attention in the past 20 years. Originally 6 native species were known from Australia. Today the number is 18, plus 4 introduced species. This is mainly due to extensive work by the late Surrey Jacobs and byJacobs and Hellquist.

Meet Edgar Miller in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Conservatory to photograph Butterflies in the Garden!  We begin in the classroom, where you will learn the techniques and settings that will allow you to capture these ephemeral beauties in both the controlled environment of the conservatory and in open local flowerbeds.  Afterward, you’ll enjoy a full hour of private time in the exhibit, allowing you to practice what you have learned without worrying about the crowds. You will leave with amazing photos and knowledge to use on future butterfly “catching” expeditions! Bring your cameras, lenses, and tripods to create lasting memories. This workshop takes place both indoors and out. Comfortable clothes are recommended. Participants are encouraged to share their photos by using #britAdultEducation.

Instructor: Edgar Miller is a commercial and fine art photographer and educator, having earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He has taught photography and art for the last 20 years and is always looking for new ways to help his clients learn. His work has been shown and awarded in several Texas and national exhibitions, and he is a member of the Texas Photographic Society and the Texas Artists Coalition. Influenced by his late father and his college photography professor, Edgar continues to find interesting light on interesting subjects.  

Wednesday, March 4, 2020 (8:30 – 10 am) [If you can't make this session, a repeat session will be offered on March 28. Details here.]

Registration Deadline: February 27         

$38/$28 member

Location: FWBG

Supplies: Bring your cameras, lenses, and tripods.

Register here!

Butterflies in the Garden is back!

Join us for this special event as we explore the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's beautiful conservatory full of live, tropical butterflies! Students will spend half of this program in the conservatory, and the other half at BRIT participating in engaging pollinator activities. All grade levels welcome. We have a limited number of spots open for this event so register quickly!

Unfortunately, registration for this event is now closed as we have reached full capacity. Tickets are still on sale for the Butterflies in the Garden exhibit here.

Butterflies in the Garden is back!

Join us for this special event as we explore the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's beautiful conservatory full of live, tropical butterflies! Students will spend half of this program in the conservatory, and the other half at BRIT participating in engaging pollinator activities. All grade levels welcome. We have a limited number of spots open for this event so register quickly!

Unfortunately, registration for this event is now closed as we have reached full capacity. Tickets are still on sale for the Butterflies in the Garden exhibit here.

Join Bella for this recurring Family Nature Club! Families enjoy story time and nature based explorations in our indoor and outdoor classrooms. Participants in Bella’s Book and Nature Club will create take-home projects, as well as contribute to ongoing experiments in the Tree House Classroom. Parents will receive family friendly extensions to continue the fun and learning at home.This month we will be reading "A Butterfly is Patient spring" by Dianna Hutts Aston!

• Location: BRIT (1700 University Dr. Fort Worth, TX 76107)
• Parking: BRIT Parking Lot (Free)
• Age: Catered to 18 months to 6 years, all ages welcome
• Price: $10/Family & Free for GROW members
• Register in advance. 

Click here to register!

*No programs in July, December, & January*

Self-Guided Explorations provide the freedom to explore the Fort Worth Botanic Garden at your own pace. GROW Educators will not be present during this experience. 

Available: Year-Round,  Monday - Friday 9 am - 3 pm 

$6 /participant (students & registered adults)

Minimum of 20 participants to qualify. 

Any unregistered adult joining on the day of a Self-Guided Exploration will pay the regular garden admission of $12.

Self-Guided Exploration pricing is available for schools, homeschool groups, and after-school programs for children Pre-K-12th grade only. If you want to register a college class or an adult group to visit the garden, please contact Stephanie Sellers for group rates: stephanie.sellers@fortworthtexas.gov

Fill out our quick inquiry form to request a date for your exploration!

Please contact Michelle Schmidlkofer at mschmidlkofer@brit.org with any questions or concerns about self-Guided Explorations. 

All-level member benefit. All GROW members are invited to attend Butterflies in the Garden for free during this time. Walk among exotic Butterflies, including the extraordinary blue morphos. Space is limited. 

Registration information coming to member e-mail early February and March. Members can also contact the membership office at 817.463.4103 to reserve tickets.

Location: Fort Worth Botanic Garden Conservatory

Not sure if you're a member? Need assistance with registration? Contact the membership office at 817-332-4441 or membership@fwgrow.org.

Can't attend this opportunity? Contact the membership office to upgrade your membership to Supporter-level and attend for free on March 10 from 9 - 10 a.

In this imaginative watercolor class, butterflies are the inspiration for unique paintings informed by a variety of styles. Discover your own approach to capturing this beloved pollinator in color. Each student will take home a unique piece of butterfly-inspired art, as well as inspiration to carry them to their next watercolor project. Materials not included, but a supply list is provided.

Instructor: Swetha Kalluri of Printable Ink Art lives in Frisco and is committed to providing students with fun and valuable workshops. Formerly working in the financial sector, she left to pursue her dream of teaching and inspiring creativity. Swetha teaches students how to paint in watercolor and practice modern calligraphy. She has also carefully curated her popular signature watercolor and Modern Calligraphy kits, which help students use the knowledge and inspiration they gain in class.

Saturday, March 7, 2020 (10 am – noon)

Registration Deadline: March 3         

$40/$35 member

Location: BRIT

Supplies: A supply list is available here. 

Register here!

Do you have a garden, but want to strengthen your vegetable gardening skills? You’ll learn how to be successful this season in your garden with this mix of presentation and hands on seminar. A wide range of topics will be covered including site selection, irrigation, soil biology, specialty gardens like herb, salad and salsa gardens, and much more!

Instructors: Kim Martin and Laurie Bostic, owners of Barking Cat Farm, focus on growing high quality crops in an organic and sustainable manner. Brix testing is done regularly to monitor the nutritional quality of the produce and compost, and compost teas are applied to the soil to ensure that the soil biology is constantly improving. Both Laurie & Kim have their Permaculture Design Certificate from Geoff Lawton’s Permaculture Design Course. Both have studied under Dr. Elaine Ingham and are working towards becoming Certified Soil Life Consultants. They offer permaculture design and soil biology consulting services to other growers and gardeners.

Saturday, March 7, 2020 (10 am – 3 pm)

Registration Deadline: March 3         

$75/$65 member

Location: BRIT

Register here!

Explore the pollination dance of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in this hands-on photography class on Fort Worth Botanic Garden and BRIT grounds. Pollinators are both a calming and enlivening sight and capturing their dance brings new challenges to many photographers. Join Edgar Miller to learn tools to photograph the variety of pollinators visiting our gardens. Starting in the classroom, you will learn the techniques, settings, and equipment needed to capture the vibrant promenade of winged friends. Afterward, venture into the gardens to practice what you’ve learned. You will leave with exceptional photographs and knowledge to use on your solo adventures! Bring your cameras, lenses, and tripods and create lasting memories. This workshop takes place both indoors and out. Comfortable clothes are recommended. Participants are encouraged to share their photos by using #britAdultEducation.

Instructor: Edgar Miller is a commercial and fine art photographer and educator, having earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He has taught photography and art for the last 20 years and is always looking for new ways to help his clients learn. His work has been shown and awarded in several Texas and national exhibitions, and he is a member of the Texas Photographic Society and the Texas Artists Coalition. Influenced by his late father and his college photography professor, Edgar continues to find interesting light on interesting subjects.  

Saturday, March 7, 2020 (10:30 am – 12:30 pm)

Registration Deadline: March 3          

$35/$30 member

Location: FWBG / BRIT grounds

Supplies: Bring your cameras, lenses, and tripods. 

Register here!

Children ages 18 months to 6 years and their families join Bella the Begonia for story time and self-guided activities on BRIT’s First Saturday events. After story time, join Bella in the Tree House for nature explorations! This month we will be reading "A Butterfly is Patient" by Dianna Hutts Aston!

• Location: BRIT (1700 University Drive Fort Worth, TX 76107)
• Parking: BRIT Parking Lot (Free)
• Age: Catered to ages 18 months to 6 years, all ages welcome
• Price: Free to the public!
• No registration required. Check-in with a GROW teammate upon arrival. 

*No programs in July, December, & January*

Meeting the first Saturday of each month, our Mindfulness Meditation classes invite you to slow down, release the stresses of everyday life, and tune in to the serenity of the natural world. With plants all around, explore the grounds of BRIT and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden as you learn mindfulness practices and techniques from meditation instructor Lisa November, M.A. Ed. Lisa leads her students in unique, hour-long mindfulness meditations, always attuned to the surrounding natural world. Classes often take place outdoors, weather permitting.   

Instructor: Lisa November is a meditation teacher based in Fort Worth. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history and communication from the University of Northern Iowa in 1982 and her Master of Arts in Special Education-Moderate Needs from the University of Northern Colorado in 1992. She is a life-long teacher and learner and has been practicing mindfulness based meditation since 1996. Most recently, she has received the 14 Mindfulness Trainings in the Order of Interbeing, Tiep Hien, Ordained Students of Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh in August of 2019. She is also a student of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a proven heath and wellness program from the Oasis Center at the University of Massachusetts.

Saturday, March 7, 2020 (2 pm – 3 pm)

Registration Deadline: March 5         

$10/$8 member

Location: FWBG / BRIT

Supplies: If you have a mat or cushion, you are welcome to bring it. 

Register here!

Supporter to Sustainer-level member benefit only. GROW Supporter-level members and higher are invited to attend Butterflies in the Garden for free during this time. Walk among exotic butterflies, including the extraordinary blue morphos.

Registration information coming to member e-mail early February and March. Members can also contact the membership office at 817.463.4103 to reserve tickets.

Location: Fort Worth Botanic Garden Conservatory

Not sure if you're a member? What to upgrade your membership? Need assistance with registration? Contact the membership office at 817.463.4103 or membership@fwgrow.org.

Come enjoy a WATERful spring day in the Garden as a family! Join us for the morning session to enjoy a science-based art program lead by a local artist. This year’s focus is all about water so come work your magic and create beautiful art using nature's greatest solvent. Attend the afternoon session for an exciting mystery activity that will take you on an adventure through the Rock Springs Garden. Discover where water comes from, where it’s going, and how plants help it get there. See you soon!

Age: Catered to ages 12 and under, all ages welcome

Click here to register!

Sessions:

• March 10 Morning: 10 AM - 12 PM
• March 10 Afternoon: 1 PM - 3 PM
• March 11 Morning: 10 AM - 12 PM
• March 11 Afternoon: 1 PM - 3 PM

Pricing:

• $12/session per non-member child
• $10/session per member child

Parents are free and do not have to register. (Limit of 2 parents per camper.) Please email Rachel at rlincoln@brit.org with any questions or concerns. 

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BRIT is partnering with Nanda Yoga, the children's yoga community of Fort Worth, to provide Storytime Yoga once a month. Your child will learn calmness, breathing, and mindfulness, while developing strength, flexibility, and focus. Storytime Yoga provides a space where children can experience integrated learning.

Your child is given the opportunity to explore and challenge their bodies, expand and connect physical movements to themes and stories, and increase their vocabulary which allows them to better express themselves both physically and emotionally. Storytime yoga is a great way to connect with your child and enjoy some mindful moments!

Join us for February's FREE preview session!

• Price: $10/member family & $15/non-member family
• Park: BRIT Parking Lot
• Location: BRIT (1700 University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76107)
• Register in advance.

Click here to register!

Butterflies in the Garden is back!

Join us for this special event as we explore the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's beautiful conservatory full of live, tropical butterflies! Scouts will spend half of this program in the conservatory, and the other half at BRIT earning badges through engaging pollinator activities. All scouting levels welcome. We have a limited number of spots open for this event so register quickly!

** Due to the limited capacity of the conservatory, all participating individuals must register. This includes all students, adults, and younger siblings. **

• First Date: March 12, 2020
• Time: 10 AM- 12 PM
• Second Date: March 21, 2020 Unfortunately, registration for MARCH 21st is now closed as we have reached full capacity. March 12th is still open for registration.
• Time: 3 PM - 5 PM
• Ages: All levels welcome
• Price:
  • $7/participant (includes siblings and parents) 
  • Siblings under 5 years of age are free
• Registration Deadline: 9 days prior to event

Unfortunately, registration for MARCH 21st is now closed as we have reached full capacity. March 12th is still open for registration.

Register here!

Butterflies in the Garden is back!

Join us for this special event as we explore the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's beautiful conservatory full of live, tropical butterflies! Scouts will spend half of this program in the conservatory, and the other half at BRIT earning badges through engaging pollinator activities. All scouting levels welcome. We have a limited number of spots open for this event so register quickly!

** Due to the limited capacity of the conservatory, all participating individuals must register. This includes all students, adults, and younger siblings. **

• First Date: March 12, 2020
• Time: 10 AM- 12 PM
• Second Date: March 21, 2020 Unfortunately, registration for this event is now closed as we have reached full capacity. 
• Time: 3 PM - 5 PM
• Ages: All scouting levels welcome
• Price: $7/participant (includes siblings and parents) 
• Registration Deadline: 9 days prior to event

Unfortunately, registration for MARCH 21st is now closed as we have reached full capacity. March 12th is still open for registration. 

Register here!

If you’ve always wanted to attract these beautiful pollinators to your garden, this is the class for you! Join one of Fort Worth’s favorite Master Gardeners to learn what you need to build a successful and fun Butterfly Garden.

Instructor: Theresa Kay Thomas is a TCMGA Master Gardener, NC NPSOT Member, and Cross Timbers Master Naturalist. She is Co-lead at the Southwest Regional Library Native Plant Demonstration Gardens.

Saturday, March 14, 2020 (10 am – noon)

Registrations Deadline: March 12      

$25/$20 member

Location: FWBG

Register here!

Come join GROW Girl for a fun, hands-on family hike every second and fourth Saturday of the month! Each family receives a botanist backpack to use during their hike filled with scientific tools. Work together to complete activities while GROW Girl guides you through a different part of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden each month! This program lasts for 1 hour and each hike is about a ½ mile long. There will be tons to discover so come and GROW with us! This location is ADA accessible. You do not need to register for this event. 

• Time: 10 AM - 11 AM
• Dates: March 14 & March 28
• Parking: Botanic Garden Welcome Center (Free)
• Hike Location: Lower Rose Garden & Lower Rock Springs Garden
• Tram Drop-Off Location: Shelter House 
• Pricing: Free to the public! (includes garden admission)
• No registration required. Check-in with a GROW teammate at hike location.  

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Please enter through the Garden Center (Welcome Center) and let the front desk know you are there for GROW Family Hike. There will be a free tram service to transport you and your family to this program! We recommend arriving 15-20 minutes early to account for tram transportation time.

*No programs in July, December, January, & February.*

Find out what it takes to exhibit tropical butterflies in the Conservatory! Following a lecture presentation on butterflies and the exhibit we will visit the Pupae Preparation Lab and explore the Conservatory. This is your chance to learn from the Botanic Garden's own entomologist, Gail Manning, and see Butterflies in the Garden from a special perspective.

Instructor: Gail Manning, Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Saturday, March 14, 2020 (1 – 3 pm)

Registration Deadline: March 10     

$38/$28 member

Location: FWBG

Register here!

Explore the Texas Native Forest Boardwalk to learn about the Garden and enjoy science-based activities that are fun for the whole family. Themes and topics change monthly. 

• Time: 1 PM - 2 PM
• Dates: March 14 & March 28
• Parking: Botanic Garden Welcome Center (Free)
• Location: Texas Native Forest Boardwalk
• Pricing: Free to the public! (includes garden admission)
• No registration required. Check-in with a GROW teammate upon arrival.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Please enter through the Garden Center (Welcome Center) and let the front desk know you are there for Exploration Stations. The Texas Native Forest Boardwalk is a quick walk from the Garden Center. Please refer to #11 on this map for further directions. 

*No programs in July, December, January, & February.*

Butterflies in the Garden is back!

Join us for this special event as we explore the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's beautiful conservatory full of live, tropical butterflies! Learners will spend half of this program in the conservatory, and the other half at BRIT participating in engaging pollinator activities. All grade levels welcome. We have a limited number of spots open for this event so register quickly! We are partnering with TCC to provide sign language interpretation during this experience. 

** Due to the limited capacity of the conservatory, all participating individuals must register. This includes all students, adults, and younger siblings. **

• Date: March 16, 2020
• Time: 10 AM - 12 PM
• Ages: All ages welcome
• Price: 
  • Free for deaf community members
  • $8/accompanying participants (Includes siblings and adults)
  • Siblings under 5 years of age are free
• Registration Deadline: 9 days prior to event

Register here!

Longlisted for the 2019 Wainwright Golden Beer Book Prize for Nature Writing

“This must be the most inspirational nature book of the year . . . a narrative of conservation, courage, vision and miracles…”  Bel Mooney, 'The Year's Best Books on Nature' - Daily Mail

In Wilding, Isabella Tree tells the story of the ‘Knepp experiment’, a pioneering rewilding project in West Sussex, using free-roaming grazing animals to create new habitats for wildlife. Part gripping memoir, part fascinating account of the ecology of our countryside, Wilding is, above all, an inspiring story of hope.

Forced to accept that intensive farming on the heavy clay of their land at Knepp was economically unsustainable, Isabella Tree and her husband Charlie Burrell made a spectacular leap of faith: they decided to step back and let nature take over. Thanks to the introduction of free-roaming cattle, ponies, pigs and deer – proxies of the large animals that once roamed Britain – the 3,500 acre project has seen extraordinary increases in wildlife numbers and diversity in little over a decade.  Wilding is an astonishing account of the beauty and strength of nature, when it is given as much freedom as possible.

Explore the outdoors with your children ages 18 months to 6 years at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Spend your morning outside in the Backyard Veggie Garden as we enjoy story time and activities with Carlos the Cactus! Hope to see you there!

Book and Garden Club families receive a Nature Box to collect treasures in along with extension activities to continue the learning at home. 

• Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
• Location: Backyard Veggie Garden
• Parking: Botanic Garden Welcome Center (free)
• Tram Drop-Off: Circle drive by the Backyard Veggie Garden
• Age: Catered to children 18 months to 6 years old
• Price: $10/ Non-Member Families, FREE for GROW members!
• Register in advance. 

Click here to register!

Free (including garden admission) for all children under 6 years old and accompanying caregivers (limit 2 adults). Regular admissions rates apply to all additional individuals.  

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Please enter through the Garden Center (Welcome Center) and let the front desk know you are there for Little Sprouts. There will be a free tram service to transport you and your family to this program at the Backyard Veggie Garden! We recommend arriving 15-20 minutes early to account for tram transportation time.

*No programs in July, December, & January.*

Explore the outdoors with your children ages 18 months to 6 years at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Spend your morning outside in the Backyard Veggie Garden as we enjoy story time and activities with Carlos the Cactus! Hope to see you there!

• Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
• Location: Backyard Veggie Garden
• Parking: Botanic Garden Welcome Center (free)
• Tram Drop-Off: Circle drive by the Backyard Veggie Garden
• Age: Catered to children 18 months to 6 years old
• Price: FREE! (Includes garden admission)
• No Registration Required. Check-in with a GROW teammate at beginning of program.

Free (including garden admission) for all children under 6 years old and accompanying caregivers (limit 2 adults). Regular admissions rates apply to all additional individuals.  

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Please enter through the Garden Center (Welcome Center) and let the front desk know you are there for Little Sprouts. There will be a free tram service to transport you and your family to this program at the Backyard Veggie Garden! We recommend arriving 15-20 minutes early to account for tram transportation time.

*No programs in July, December, & January.*