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Greetings!
Here are some quick rose care tips as we near Valentine's Day:
You want to prune roses before the first signs of spring growth. Remove dead canes and prune for desired shape. Now's the time to remove crossing canes so that they don't injure the shrub. Clean shears with rubbing alcohol between shrubs to prevent diseased material from spreading. For that matter, don't be afraid to prune throughout the year if there is diseased material or dead/dying canes. After you prune, incorporate compost into the soil around the plant. The compost feeds the soil biology, which then feeds the plants. Compost also retains moisture, and roses like well drained but moist soil. You'll want to add compost three times throughout the growing season. A few weeks after pruning, look for red growth at the tips of the canes, the sign of a healthy plant. Want to learn more and see pruning in person? Don't miss Sunday's Rose Pruning Demonstration and Workshop with Dr. Peter Schaar! See the events block below. 
Want to keep track of 2012 in TDG style? Check out our brand new calendar--it's now available in our gift shop and contains great gardening tips along with gorgeous photos.
The calendar is only $10, and proceeds support Texas Discovery Gardens. Want us to mail you a copy? Call Kerry in our Gift Shop at (214) 428-7476 x343. It's just $15 with shipping and handling.
Happy Gardening,
Texas Discovery Gardens staff
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February/March Calendar 
Rose Pruning Demonstration & Workshop
Sunday, February 12, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Attend a rose pruning demonstration and learn common pruning practices, such as where to cut, how much to cut, which tools to use for correct cuts and more. Join rose garden expert Peter Schaar in our canopy room following the demonstration and learn more about caring for roses. Included with the cost of admission ($8/adults, $6/seniors, $4/children 3-11).
Love Bugs 
Tuesday, February 14, 6 pm to 8 pm
Join us for chocolate covered insects, truffles, wine and cheese and a stimulating Valentine's Day talk on insect behavior and reproduction with John Watts, Entomologist. From 6 pm to 7 pm, enjoy a stroll through our lobby, gallery and butterfly house at your leisure. The talk starts at 7 pm. $25 ea. or $40 per couple. $20 TDG Member or $30 per Member Couple. Register in advance.
Biology of Butterflies - New!
Saturday, February 25, 10 am to noon
Go beyond the Butterfly Basics! An advanced look at the world of butterflies: their biology, behavior and adaptations to the environment with Entomologist John Watts. $15; $10 for TDG Members. Register in advance.
March
Butterfly House Discovery Tour
Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 11 am
Join us for a family friendly guided tour of the butterfly house and get a behind the scenes look at these fascinating insects. Included with admission.
Books 'N Bugs
Thursday, March 8, 2012 from 11 am to noon
Come join the Butterflies & Bugs for storytime! We'll make crafts, read the book and have a themed snack! The session ends with our daily noon butterfly release. $10 per Child; $8 per TDG Member Child. Adults pay regular admission. Register online!
Spring Break Blitz March 12-16, 2012 from 11 am to 3 pm daily
Get out of the house and into the gardens with your family during Spring Break. Enjoy discovery-themed family friendly activities. Included with admission.
Modern Victory Gardens: Spring/Summer Veggie Gardening
Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 9 am to noon
Join a growing trend and learn how to create a bountiful organic community or backyard vegetable garden with Director of Horticulture Randy Johnson. We cover hands-on seasonal gardening topics. $25; $20 for TDG Members. Register in advance.
Organic in the City Fashion Show
Friday, March 23, 2012 from 6 pm to 9:30 pm
Discover cutting edge sustainable and organic fashion with Texas Discovery Garden's fourth annual Organic in the City Fashion Show and Eco Boutique. Ticket and show details are online soon!
Plant Propagation Workshop - New!
March 24, 2012 from 9 am - Noon
Grow your own plants from cuttings and seeds and save money! Learn easy to implement techniques from an expert in plant propagation, Director of Horticulture Randy Johnson. $25; $20 for TDG Members. Register in advance.
Want our entire 2012 spring calendar? See it here!
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Education Spotlight
 Who Lives in Leaves?
Materials needed: Popsicle stick, leaf covered area, white plate
If you have a corner of your lawn that never got raked this fall, there may be a whole ecosystem right at your child's level! This activity works best after rain, but you can also wet the area down with a spray bottle 2-3 hours before.
With your child, head out to the leaf-covered area and slowly use your popsicle stick to move the debris around. It is surprising how many critters live in the leaf litter if you take the time to look for them. Put your new found friends on a white paper/plastic plate to see them easier.
On a recent leaf investigation, I found fly larvae, grubs, a beetle, earthworms and roly-polies in about 5 minutes! Popsicles sticks are a great excavation tool because they can't dig easily, so it encourages digging through the leaves and not into your lawn!
Post pictures of your activity on our Facebook page!
Erin Shields,
Education Manager |
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Volunteer at Texas Discovery Gardens
We love our volunteers at Texas Discovery Gardens! Do you want to get more involved and help out with our EarthKeepers Educational Programs, working in the greenhouse, insect lab, or conservatory, or helping with special events? Several training dates are just around the corner during the last week of February. Contact Marisa Hettinger, Volunteer and Program Manager, at Volunteers@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org or (214) 428-7476 x 240.
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Art Exhibition
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Forgotten-Remembered, Then, Now, Forever Acrylic on Canvas 84" x 81" |
Echoes of Remembered Gardens, by Susan Lecky, livens up our winter landscape with vibrant, geometric patterns and colors. Working with both acrylic on canvas and colored pencil on paper, Lecky hints at natural patterns and botanic prints.
An 84" by 81" six panel piece, Forgotten-Remembered, Then, Now, Forever, greets visitors as they walk in the two story lobby, with smaller works on canvas and paper in the Discovery Gallery. The Exhibition runs through April 29, 2012. Texas Discovery Gardens admission applies. $8/adults, $6/ages 60+, and $4/ages 3 to 11. Free for members or on Tuesdays (butterfly house admission regular price). Our exhibitions are curated by Janet Reynolds. |
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Help us grow our membership base to 1,000 members!
There is still time to get a family membership to Texas Discovery Gardens for just $45! Help us reach our goal of 1,000 members by March. Members keep Texas Discovery Gardens going, and we're happy to have many new member specials and events this year. Another good reason to buy: Reliant Energy partnered with Texas Discovery Gardens for our Membership Drive! For new and renewed memberships sold by May, 2012, Reliant Energy will donate matching funds of up to $5,000 to the Gardens. Become a member here! |
 Donor Spotlight
Work is well on the way at our Dallas County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden! Thanks to the hardworking volunteers who have been landscaping, planting, hardscaping, and weeding. Stay tuned for the official unveiling.
We extend a big thanks to the Founders Garden Club for donating funds for our second Community Garden. Work on the first garden, at Conner Elementary School, has already started.
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Books
'N More
Blowout |
We love sharing our knowlege of organic gardening and the natural world. We've put a large selection of our favorite books at 50% off, plus an additional 10% for members! Drop by our Gift Shop and enjoy interactive kid's books, references, photo books and more. We've also slashed prices on great gift items, so stock up on birthday presents and help support Texas Discovery Gardens at the same time. | | Stop by our Gift Shop to purchase. Open Daily 10 am - 5 pm. |
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