Flower Power

A groovy partnership between the Fort Worth Garden Club, Fort Worth Botanic Garden, and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas provides an opportunity for girls to complete badge work and enjoy nature-based activities together. Join us for some educational fun this year! 

• Time: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
• Audience: 2nd - 10th grade
• Price per session: $10 /participant per session

Sessions:

• February 27th: Heading to the Beach
• March 27th: Stick Design
• April 10th: Neato, Flower!

*Please note that the session themes have been updated and may differ from what you saw on this page previously. Dates and times remain the same.

 Click here to register! 

The safety of our staff and guests is very important to us. Because physical distancing is difficult to enforce when working with children, a mask requirement, even when outside is necessary for all children’s programming. If you or a family member needs to temporarily remove your mask during a program, designated spaces for this will be available. Activity spaces will be set up according to social distancing needs, and all activity supplies will be either disposable or be used only by one child, then removed for sanitization.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions on group size, it is important we maintain an accurate headcount of participating individuals. This includes both adults and younger siblings staying with the group during activities. Please be sure to include both when making your registrations.

Stickwork helps learners design and create through the STEM process with natural fibers 3D art. This experiential challenge focuses on how self-engineered art embodies ideas and celebrates nature.

*The safety of our staff and guests is very important to us. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on group size, it is important we maintain an accurate headcount of participating individuals. All participants must register. Unregistered individuals are not permitted to join activities. Masks should be worn at all times during the program.

Price: $10 / students and parents
Date: Tuesday, March 2
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: FW Botanic Garden
Registration Closes: Thursday, February 25

This event is now sold out. Click Here to see available Homeschool Days!

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact volunteers@brit.org.

Shirley C. Tucker Herbarium: A Past and Future Hub for Louisiana Botany

A Virtual Lunchtime Lecture by Dr. Laura Lagomarsino and Jennifer Kluse

The Shirley C. Tucker Herbarium at Louisiana State University recently doubled in size with the integration of several regional herbaria, including a repatriation set from BRIT of the University of Louisiana Monroe Herbarium (NLU).  Speakers will give an overview of the collection and discuss its support of current research.  Replete with historic specimens from Tulane University Herbarium and a new director, the scope of the herbarium has markedly expanded to include precious early Louisiana collections as well as a greater geographical reach into the tropical Americas. Come see a glimpse of Louisiana’s most active herbarium! 

Laura Lagomarsino is the Director of the Shirley C. Tucker Herbarium and Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at LSU. She has a PhD in Organismic and Evolution Biology from Harvard University and a BS in Genetics and Plant Biology from UC Berkeley. Her research has taken her on field expeditions throughout mountainous Latin America in search of bat and hummingbird pollinated plants. She is an advocate for the importance of collections in research and diversity in STEM. 

Jennifer Kluse is the Shirley C. Tucker Herbarium Collections Manager.  She has a background in a plant ecology and conservation with a master’s degree in from UC Berkeley.  While her family makes an annual migration to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory each summer, traversing a diagonal line through Texas, to sample field plots of plants and lichens, her primary habitat is in the climate-controlled recesses of the LSU’s herbarium from where she imagines the former longleaf pine savannahs and Gulf Coast marshlands while filing specimens. 

This virtual lecture will broadcast live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnAGMqXgYOQ. Watchers can use the YouTube chat for Q&A with the speaker. A link to the recorded lecture will be posted here a few days after the event ends.

Connect to nature with Bella's Book & Nature Club - back in person for Spring 2021! Join Bella at BRIT each month to discuss nature, read a story, sing and move, plus a family nature challenge! All activities take place outdoors. Spots are limited, register today!

March’s book is Round by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Lisa Congdon! If you can’t join us in-person, tune in to BRIT’s Facebook page, where we will be sharing the story-time portion of this program LIVE!

The safety of our staff and guests is very important to us. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on group size, it is important we maintain an accurate headcount of participating individuals. Registration for this program is by family, please put only 1 registration per family in your cart. Once you have done so, a form will pop-up for you to report the number of adults and children participating. Masks should be worn at all times during the program. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, inviting environment!

Date: Wednesday, March 3

Time: 10:30 – 11:30 AM

Location: BRIT

Registration Closes: March 1

Price: $10 /Non-Member family or $0 /Member family (Log in to receive Member benefits.) If you do not know your member login information, please call our Membership office at 817-332-7518 for assistance.

Click Here to Register in our New Webstore!

Due to inclement weather, this on-site class demonstration has been moved to March 6. 

Love your roses? Then help them to love you back! This blended class includes a pre-recorded lecture from resident rose expert, Jeffrey Myers, as well as a hands on pruning experience in the Rose Garden. The lecture will be sent to you a week prior to the hands on portion of the class, where questions will be answered, and roses pruned. 

Instructor: Jeffrey Myers has been the rose gardener at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden since December of 2008. A graduate of Penn State University, he received degrees in Agricultural Education and Horticulture.  After college, he taught high school agricultural science before joining the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society where he served as a community garden coordinator, senior education specialist, and Country administrator for the society’s neighborhood greening program, Philadelphia Green.  Jeff spoke to area garden clubs, presented workshops at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and appeared on HGTV’s Philadelphia Flower Show specials.  Jeff created a horticultural job skills training program and community kitchen garden for residents of a homeless shelter in Southwest Philadelphia. In Phoenix, Jeff worked for the Arizona Department of Agriculture as an inspector and the state’s Noxious Weed Coordinator, traveling throughout the state locating invasive plant species and working with area groups and agencies to control and remove the pest. Jeff also acted as the Department’s liaison to the Governor’s Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council. 

Saturday, March 6, 2021 (10 – 11:30 am)

Registration Deadline: February 24 

$28/$25 member

Location: The pre-recorded lecture will be sent to you a week prior to the live demonstration portion of the class; if you register less than a week before the live demonstration, you will receive the recording upon registration. All students will have access to the recorded lecture for one week following the class. You will receive emailed directions to the onsite pruning demonstration the day before the class. 

Can’t attend the live class? If you pre-register, you will be sent a link to the class recording (available for a limited time only) which you can view when convenient.

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 conversation. 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. This 5 hour seminar is split into two sessions.

Instructors: Instructors Kim Martin and Laurie Bostic, owners of Barking Cat Farm, teach others to grow high quality crops in an organic and sustainable manner, just as they do. 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 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.

Saturdays, March 6 & 13, 2021 (1 – 3:30 pm)

Registration Deadline: March 3

$75/$65 member

Location: This is an online class; you will receive an email the day prior to class with the Zoom class code and password. 

Can’t attend the live class? If you pre-register, you will be sent a link to the class recording (available for a limited time only) which you can view when convenient.

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: ssellers@brit.org 

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. 

Going back to school looks different this year and so do GROW Field Study Trips!

Registration is currently open for Virtual Field Study Trips for Kindergarten - 5th Grade. 

Registration for middle/high school Virtual Field Study Trips is coming soon. 

All Virtual Field Trips are priced for a single class with a maximum of 35 students. Payment must be completed before any materials can be shared.

Tree Level - $80 - Includes 1 Self-guided Activity with:

• Activity Pages with instructions, suggested vocabulary, driving questions, and more

• Pre-activity videos

• Post-activity videos

Grove Level - $120 - Includes 3 Self-guided Activities with:

• Activity Pages with instructions, suggested vocabulary, driving questions, and more

• Pre-activity videos

• Post-activity videos

• One 30-45 minute live video session with GROW Girl

Forest Level - $140 - Includes 6 Self-guided Activities with:

• Activity Pages with instructions, suggested vocabulary, driving questions, and more

• Pre-activity videos

• Post-activity videos

• Your choice of one or two 30-45 minute live video sessions with GROW Girl!

Click here to download the PDF guide to K-2 Virtual Field Study Trips.
Click here to download the PDF guide to 3-5 Virtual Field Study Trips.

Or click here to submit a request form now!

Schedule a day for your group of learners 18 months to 6 years old to join Bella the Begonia or Carlos the Cactus to discover nature, read a story, sing and move, plus take home a family nature challenge! All activities take place outdoors.

Ideal for groups of 10-20 individuals.

Email mschmidlkofer@brit.org to request a date. 

Inspired by our popular Homeschool Day events, Private Homeschool Days invite you to schedule a date for your group of 15 - 40 learners to make science and literacy connections through the guidance of our trained education staff and outdoor classrooms.

• All Private Homeschool Day experiences take place Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
• $10 /each: students and adults (siblings under 5 years free)
• Minimum 15 participants, maximum 40 participants.
• Payment in full is due 2 weeks prior to visit date.

Each experience is available for one month - the date of your scheduled visit will determine which experience you receive. The Spring 2021 experience schedule is:

March: Stickwork

Learners will design and create 3D art using natural fibers and STEM processes. Come join the challenge!

April: Topiary Terrain

Topiary Terrain plays with the imagination and will give learners and their families the chance to rethink the possibilities of forging shapes from plants.

May: Pollinator Pathway

Ready, Set, GO! It is time for Homeschool learners to do citizen science in the garden and learn about what makes insects so essential.

Please select one adult who will be responsible for organizing the group and being the primary point of contact with BRIT staff and have them submit an inquiry here. This individual will also be responsible for collecting money from the group in order to pay the complete total by the due date.

Submit your inquiry today!

This is a unique experience including an in-depth virtual guided tour of BRIT's LEED Platinum campus with over 20 videos and 360° views.

Students will explore inside and outside of our BRIT campus to make connections between the impact of a LEED Platinum building and the environment, then apply their knowledge to design their own sustainable buildings of the future.

$140 LEEDing the Way Virtual Package Includes:

• Pre-activity video

• Kuula virtual tour of BRIT

• Activity Pages with suggested vocabulary, driving questions, and instructions for the Engineering-Design Challenge

• 45 minute live video session with Education staff for students to share and discuss their designs.

All Virtual Field Trips are priced for a single class with a maximum of 35 students.

Payment or PO must be completed before any materials can be shared.

Live video sessions available Monday - Friday at 10 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, or 2 PM.

Click here to submit a request form now!

Click here to download the PDF Guide.

Butterflies bring beauty and the pollination of our fruits and flowers. And they need us to create ecosystems in our gardens to help them flourish. 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.

Wednesday, March 10, 2021 (10 – 11 am)

Registration Deadline: March 7

$25/$20 member

Location: This is an online class; you will receive an email the day prior to class with the Zoom class code and password. 

Can’t attend the live class? If you pre-register, you will be sent a link to the class recording (available for a limited time only) which you can view when convenient.

Oaxaca Journal 

Since childhood, Oliver Sacks has been fascinated by ferns: an ancient class of plants able to survive and adapt in many climates. Along with a delightful group of fellow fern aficionados—mathematicians, poets, artists, and assorted botanists and birders—he embarks on an exploration of Southern Mexico, a region that is also rich in human history and culture. He muses on the origins of chocolate and mescal, pre-Columbian culture and hallucinogens, the vibrant sights and sounds of the marketplace, and the peculiar passions of botanists. What other species would comb ancient Zapotec ruins on their hands and knees, searching for a new type of fern? Combining Sacks's enthusiasm for natural history and the richness of humanity with his sharp and observant eye for detail, Oaxaca Journal is a rare treat.

Connect to nature with Little Sprouts Book & Garden Club - back in person for Spring 2021! Join Carlos the Cactus in the Backyard Vegetable Garden each month to discover nature, read a story, sing and move, plus a family nature challenge! All activities take place outdoors. Spots are limited, register today!

March’s book is Grandpa Green by Lane Smith! If you can’t join us in-person, tune in to BRIT’s Facebook page, where we will be sharing the story-time portion of this program LIVE!

The safety of our staff and guests is very important to us. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on group size, it is important we maintain an accurate headcount of participating individuals. Registration for this program is by family, please put only 1 registration per family in your cart. Once you have done so, a form will pop-up for you to report the number of adults and children participating. Masks should be worn at all times during the program. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, inviting environment!

Date: Tuesday, March 16
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Location: BRIT
Registration Closes: March 14
Price: $10 /Non-Member family or $0 /Member family (Log in to receive Member benefits.)
If you do not know your member login information, please call our Membership office at 817-332-7518 for assistance.

Click Here to Register in our New Webstore!

Join us for Spring Break Family Camp and take a botanical art class or use science to solve a mystery, or better yet, do both! This program is the same on both days.

Morning session- Botanical Art
Get in touch with your inner artist by taking a class in botanical art. This nature-inspired, hands-on program is fun for the whole family, no matter what your skill level is.

Afternoon Session- Case of the Fallen Pollen
Work together as a team of detectives to solve the Case of the Fallen Pollen. Pollinators are now at risk more than ever and they need your help. What is causing their decline and who is the culprit? Use scientific tools to uncover clues throughout the garden to discover the mystery behind the fallen pollen.

Date: Wednesday, March 17 & Thursday, March 18
Time: Morning Session 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM; Afternoon Session 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Registration Closes: Wednesday, March 10

Non-Member Price: $12 /Adults and children ages 6+ 
Member Price: $10 /Adults and children ages 6+ (Login to shop.brit.org to receive Member benefits)
If you do not know your member login information, please call our Membership office at 817-332-7518 for assistance.

*The safety of our staff and guests is very important to us. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on group size, it is important we maintain an accurate headcount of participating individuals. All participants must register. Unregistered individuals are not permitted to join activities. Masks should be worn at all times during the program.

Click here to register in our online shop!

Can't make this date? We are offering a second class on Wednesday, April 7!

Explore the pollination dance of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in this hands-on photography class in our gardens. Pollinators are both a calming and enlivening sight and capturing their dance brings new challenges to many photographers. Join professional photographer and educator Edgar Miller to learn tools to photograph the variety of pollinators visiting our gardens. 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 outdoors. Comfortable clothes are recommended. 

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 shed interesting light on interesting subjects. His work can be found at Edgar Miller Images. 

Saturday, March 20 (10 am – 12 pm)

Registration Deadline: March 17   

$42/$37 member

Location: Pollinator Pathway & Fuller Garden

*This class will take place outdoors with space for 6' between participants. Class size will be capped at 15. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available. Mask use is encouraged. 

Supplies: Bring your cameras, lenses, and tripods. 

In the case of inclement weather, the rain date for this class is March 27 (10 am - 12 pm).

In the perfect class for beginners, students learn watercolor techniques including creating flat and graded washes, dry brushing, and basic color theory. We will cover foundational watercolor basics such as brush selection, color mixing, layering, and the interaction of paint, water, and paper. Enjoy the expertise of instructor and longtime watercolorist, Samantha Peters, and leave with inspiration to continue your journey in botanical watercolor. And don't miss your chance to continue skill-building with our intermediate class, Watercolor: Next Steps, on May 1.

Instructor: Instructor Samantha Peters is a science illustrator based in Dallas. She received her B.S. in Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology from the University of Texas at Austin and attended the School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, leaving once she realized illustrating her study guides was more fun than actually studying them. Afterwards, while living in New York City, she discovered a love of botanical art through classes at the New York Botanical Garden, and decided to pursue science illustration full time, attending the graduate program in Science Illustration at California State University, Monterey Bay. Samantha currently works in the graphics department at the Dallas Zoo and is the president of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Texas Group and a member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and the American Society of Botanical Artists.

Saturday, March 20, 2021 (12:30 - 4:30 pm)

Registration Deadline: March 17

$90/$75 member

Location: This is an online class; you will receive an email the day prior to class with the Zoom class code and password. 

Can’t attend the live class? If you pre-register, you will be sent a link to the class recording (available for a limited time only) which you can view when convenient.

Materials: A full list of necessary materials will be emailed upon registration. If you are interested in the class but would like more information on necessary materials, please email ewhite@brit.org. 

Image courtesy Samantha Peters

Join us for this six-week Vinyasa flow series, led by Fort Worth yoga instructor Julie Vitek. Take in the tranquil views of nature as you enjoy this slow, meditative yoga flow, connecting movement to the breath. You will leave each session feeling relaxed and refreshed, with a stronger connection to yourself and to the world. All levels are welcome. This is a series; single-classes are not available. 

Instructor: Julie Vitek has her Teacher Training Certification 200 hour Deep Study and Teacher Apprenticeship. She has studied pranayama, asana, meditation, and the chakra system. She teaches conscious, mindful, and joyful flow yoga connecting you to mind, body, and spirit.

Wednesdays, March 24, 31 & April 7, 14, 21 & 28 (9:30 – 10:30 am)

Registration Deadline: March 21

$75/$60 member 

Location: BRIT Terrace*

*Due to ongoing social distancing measures, this class will maintain 6' distance between participants and is held outdoors. Hand sanitizer and masks will be available for use while indoors, though masks are not required during the class. In the case of inclement weather, the class will be rescheduled.  

Materials: A yoga mat and any props you wish to use

In the case of inclement weather, individual classes will be rescheduled according to the instructor's availability. 

Twenty-twenty was a year of tumult, isolation, and upheaval. The instability which pushed us away from each other also serendipitously pushed many of us back into the arms of humanity’s great muse and long-time comfort: the natural world. Artists, in particular, have always sought inspiration and solace in the natural world, but in the unprecedented isolation of a global pandemic, the physical acts of painting and spending time in nature have become vital coping strategies. Staring uncertainty and bubbling social tension in the face, what was once a deep aesthetic appreciation has become an imperative, existential reminder: we are all, together, of the land.

Coming together as artists, Camille Warmington and Brenda Ciardiello share their visual meditations on finding renewal in nature in this exhibition titled Of the Land: Two Artists Find Renewal in Nature. Both artists create immersive natural scenes exploring personal connections to nature using original photographs they take while traveling. One working in acrylic, the other in watercolor, the two artists conjure scenes that evoke hope, comfort, memory while exploring the autographic marks that place makes on a person. These contemporary - almost surreal - botanical scenes are simultaneously striking and meditative; using perspective and abstraction, they ask questions about humans' role in nature, and how we can work to better coexist with ourselves and other species.

The opening of this exhibition will be celebrated during Spring Gallery Night, Saturday, March 27 (3 - 7 pm). Artist Brenda Ciardiello will be available to visit and talk with small groups about her work. Along with reduced gallery capacity, social distancing and masks are required.

Click More Info (below) for Exhibition Preview:

About the Artists:

Brenda Ciardiello is a Mexican-American artist and poet who paints contemporary landscapes, botanicals, and abstract art that deal with themes of personal connection to nature, as inspired by her travels. Almost all of her work focuses on using the unpredictable nature of water to depict the unique interplay of color, light and texture in otherwise fleeting elements: water, clouds, and flora. Brenda is heavily influenced by her bicultural and international experience of the world. Born in Mexico City but raised in Texas, she has also lived / studied in Mexico, Italy, the U.K., New York City, New England, the Rocky Mountains and the Middle East and, as part of her process, travels whenever possible to capture original source imagery for her work. Brenda currently lives and works in Fort Worth, Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Classical Civilizations from the University of Notre Dame, as well as a Master of Science in Education from The City College of New York. She is a 2021 Carter Community Artist with the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth. Her work can be found at her website. 

Camille Warmington is a painter whose work reflects on artifacts and their connection to memory and mortality, place and presence. She studied painting at the Glassell School of Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and earned a Bachelor of Interior Architecture from Kansas State University. Her paintings have appeared in national, regional, and local juried exhibitions, been featured in New American Paintings, and received a Hunting Prize nomination. A mother of three, Warmington was born in Massachusetts, grew-up in Dallas, and lives and works in Houston, Texas. Her work can be found at her website. 

Image courtesy Camille Warmington - Gulf Coast Groundscape No. 4, 2020, Acrylic on 9 Clayboard panels, 34 x 43 overall 

Fort Worth Botanic Garden-Botanical Research Institute of Texas (FWBG-BRIT) is proud to showcase a wealth of plant-inspired art by regional and international artists. Visit the BRIT building to see the verdant paintings of Texas-based artists Brenda Ciardiello and Camille Warmington in our  Madeleine R. Samples Exhibit Hall, then venture upstairs to enjoy an exhibition of historical botanical art of the 16th – 19th centuries. Afterward, stroll through our Fuller Garden to experience an original “stickwork” by renowned sculptor Patrick Doherty. Admission to the Fuller Garden is complimentary on Gallery Night only, while the Samples Exhibit Hall is always free.

Artist Brenda Ciardiello will be available on Gallery Night to visit and talk with small groups about her work. Along with reduced gallery capacity, social distancing and masks are required.

We are open for Spring Gallery Week Monday, March 29 – Friday, April 2 (10 am - 4 pm).

Image courtesy Brenda Ciardiello - Which Way is Up, 2021.

Topiary Terrain plays with the imagination as learners and their families rethink how art embodies ideas and celebrates nature. Through creative expression within the environmental STEM format experience students will re-imagine the possibilities of forging shapes with plants. Training plants in our garden is just the beginning since students take home their team created art living masterpiece. This homeschool day is about teamwork and how the environmental STEM process helps in the design.

*The safety of our staff and guests is very important to us. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on group size, it is important we maintain an accurate headcount of participating individuals. All participants must register. Unregistered individuals are not permitted to join activities. Masks should be worn at all times during the program.

Price: $10 / students and parents
Date: Tuesday, April 6
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: FW Botanic Garden
Registration Closes: Thursday, April 1

Click Here to Register Through Our Online Shop!

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact volunteers@brit.org.

Stock up on spring plants while taking advantage of Garden professional consultations if needed. Members receive early access on April 7 - 8 and 10% off on their online purchases through April 11. Click here for more plant sale details. 

Member discount applied by logging into your account on shop.brit.org. Not sure how to login? Click here for step by step instructions.

Not a member? Click here to become a member today.

Explore the pollination dance of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in this hands-on photography class in our gardens. Pollinators are both a calming and enlivening sight and capturing their dance brings new challenges to many photographers. Join professional photographer and educator Edgar Miller to learn tools to photograph the variety of pollinators visiting our gardens. 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 outdoors. Comfortable clothes are recommended. 

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 shed interesting light on interesting subjects. His work can be found at Edgar Miller Images. 

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 (10 am – noon)

Registration Deadline: April 4

$42/$37 member

Location: Pollinator Pathway & Fuller Garden

*This class will take place outdoors with space for 6' between participants. Class size will be capped at 15. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available. Mask use is encouraged. 

Supplies: Bring your cameras, lenses, and tripods. 

In the case of inclement weather, the rain date for this class is April 14 (10 am - 12 pm).

Connect to nature with Bella's Book & Nature Club - back in person for Spring 2021! Join Bella at BRIT each month to discuss nature, read a story, sing and move, plus a family nature challenge! All activities take place outdoors. Spots are limited, register today!

April’s book is Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Steve Jenkins! If you can’t join us in-person, tune in to BRIT’s Facebook page, where we will be sharing the story-time portion of this program LIVE!

The safety of our staff and guests is very important to us. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on group size, it is important we maintain an accurate headcount of participating individuals. Registration for this program is by family, please put only 1 registration per family in your cart. Once you have done so, a form will pop-up for you to report the number of adults and children participating. Masks should be worn at all times during the program. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, inviting environment!

Date: Wednesday, April 7
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Location: BRIT
Registration Closes: April 5
Price: $10 /Non-Member family or $0 /Member family (Log in to receive Member benefits.)
If you do not know your member login information, please call our Membership office at 817-332-7518 for assistance.

Click Here to Register in our New Webstore!

Evolutionary origins and species diversity in the wild blueberries (tribe Vaccinieae)

A (Virtual) Research Seminar by Dr. Peter Fritsch

Please join Dr. Peter Fritsch as he discusses his past work and future investigations on Vaccinieae. This 1-hour seminar includes a presentation followed by a Q&A session.

Dr. Fritsch is Vice President of Research and Director of the Herbarium at BRIT. Read more about his work here.

This virtual lecture will broadcast live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx9vktmdLxE. 

Watchers can use the YouTube chat for Q&A with the speaker. A link to the recorded lecture will be posted here a few days after the event ends pending permission.

Looking for a way to prolong your spring flowers and create art at the same time? Join Master Gardener Nancy Curl to create a lovely piece of fiber art on prepared fabric using natural pigments from flowers and leaves. Flower pounding is a wonderful way for gardeners to preserve the colors of the garden while relieving stress and creating beauty. This is an outdoor class and supplies are provided.

Instructor: Nancy Curl has been a Tarrant County Master Gardener since 2007. She has served on the board of the TCMGA for 4 years and as president for 2 years. She was named Tarrant County Master Gardener of the Year and State Master Gardener of the Year, large counties in 2012. As a Greenhouse, Oak Wilt, Propagation, and Rain Water Harvesting Advanced Trainer, she teaches gardening and garden-related topics at the Botanic Garden, TCC, Home & Garden shows, the Union Gospel Mission and garden clubs. She is the Education Coordinator for the TCMGA and the Water Works Learning Center at the Resource Connection of Tarrant County and she volunteers as a docent at the Japanese Garden, Butterflies in the Garden, and with adult education classes.

Saturday, April 17, 2021 (10 am - noon)

Registration Deadline: April 14

$35/$30 member

Location: BRIT*

Materials: All materials are provided. 

*This class will take place mainly outdoors with space for 6' between participants. Class size will be capped at 15. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available. Mask use is encouraged outdoors and required indoors (a small amount of time will be spent indoors). 

In the case of inclement weather, the rain date for this class is April 18 (10 am - 12 pm).

Think you can't draw? Let nature drawing change your mind! This workshop is an introduction to the art of nature drawing as a way to develop an informal art practice that connects us with the ecology of the places we inhabit. We'll cover the basics of nature sketching, play some games to sharpen our observational drawing skills, and set out to explore the natural world to fill our sketchbooks with a record of what we see and learn. Students should come prepared to explore the outdoors and be able to carry their art materials with them for sketching on the go. All skill levels are welcome!

Instructor: Owen Curtsinger is an art teacher and illustrator living in Fort Worth. He has taught middle school and high school art classes both in-person and virtually, and teaches independent virtual art classes to students around the country. He specializes in making educational comics and zines about scientific and research-based topics, and also holds a certificate in Natural Science Illustration from the University of Washington in Seattle. He is a firm believer in the intersection of scientific learning and art as a way of better understanding and appreciating our world.

Saturday, April 17, 2021 (1 - 4 pm)

Registration Deadline: April 14

$65/$55 member

Location: FWBG*

Materials: A full list of necessary materials will be emailed upon registration. If you are interested in the class and would like more information on necessary materials, please email ewhite@brit.org. 

*This class will take place outdoors with space for 6' between participants. Class size will be capped at 15. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available. Mask use is encouraged. 

In the case of inclement weather, the rain date for this class is April 18 (1 - 4 pm).

Image courtesy Owen Curtsinger

Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens  

As development and habitat destruction accelerate, there are increasing pressures on wildlife populations. In Bringing Nature Home, Douglas W. Tallamy reveals the unbreakable link between native plant species and native wildlife—native insects cannot, or will not, eat alien plants. When native plants disappear, the insects disappear, impoverishing the food source for birds and other animals.

But there is an important and simple step we can all take to help reverse this alarming trend: everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity by simply choosing native plants. By acting on Douglas Tallamy's practical and achievable recommendations, we can all make a difference.

Connect to nature with Little Sprout Book & Garden Club - back in person for Spring 2021! Join Carlos the Cactus in the Backyard Vegetable Garden each month to discover nature, read a story, sing and move, plus a family nature challenge! All activities take place outdoors. Spots are limited, register today!

April’s book is Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert! If you can’t join us in-person, tune in to BRIT’s Facebook page, where we will be sharing the story-time portion of this program LIVE!

The safety of our staff and guests is very important to us. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on group size, it is important we maintain an accurate headcount of participating individuals. Registration for this program is by family, please put only 1 registration per family in your cart. Once you have done so, a form will pop-up for you to report the number of adults and children participating. Masks should be worn at all times during the program. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, inviting environment!

Date: Tuesday, April 20
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Location: BRIT
Registration Closes: April 18
Price: $10 /Non-Member family or $0 /Member family (Log in to receive Member benefits.)
If you do not know your member login information, please call our Membership office at 817-332-7518 for assistance.

Click Here to Register in our New Webstore!

In this class you will learn different techniques for drawing foliage, texture, and value, all while sketching the elegant beauty of the Japanese Garden. Artist Erika Duque Scully will demonstrate how to achieve these techniques and will share examples of other artists’ works for further inspiration. You will be encouraged to draw loosely, sketching balanced and interesting compositions of trees and other plants with confidence. 

Instructor: Erika Duque Scully is a landscape and nature-based painter who lives and works in Fort Worth, TX. Scully received her BFA at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MFA in painting at Texas Christian University. She has been featured in over thirty solo and group shows throughout the Metroplex. In 2017, Scully was nominated by Ro2 Gallery for Rising Star Fundraiser at the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts. She is currently represented by Fort Works Art Gallery in Fort Worth.

Thursday, April 22, 2021 (10 am – 1 pm)

Registration Deadline: April 19      

$65/$55 member

Location: FWBG, Japanese Garden*

*This class will take place outdoors with space for 6' between participants. Class size will be capped at 15. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available. Mask use is encouraged. 

Supplies: Click here for the supply list. 

In the case of inclement weather, the rain date for this class is April 29 (10 am - 1 pm).