Texas botanists will collaborate with other U.S. institutions and international personnel to conduct research in threatened forests of Southeast Asia. FORT WORTH, Texas (August 28, 2018) – Researchers at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®) have received a $1.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct a project titled “Plant Discovery in the Southern Philippines.” Dr. Peter Fritsch, BRIT’s Vice President of Research, will head the team as Principal Investigator with co-Principal Investigators Dr. Taylor Quedensley (BRIT), Dr. Darin Penneys (University of North Carolina at Wilmington), and Dr. Daniel Nickrent (Southern Illinois University Carbondale). The project begins this month and field expeditions will begin in the spring of 2019. The Philippines...

In a historic vote today, the Fort Worth City Council approved a 20-year agreement for the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®) to manage the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, ensuring the Garden’s long-term sustainability and building upon a successful collaborative partnership built over the past several years. “ We are excited by the potential of working together with the staff, patrons and supporters of the Botanic Garden to make it an even greater resource and attraction for our City and the North Texas region," said Ed Schneider, president of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. After years of study, public involvement and task force recommendations, the BRIT Board of Directors saw the opportunity for significant growth and improvement through both organizations working toget...

Threatened plants and endangered habitats still need our protection. Children and families still need to be encouraged about the value of nature and being outside. In good times or bad, all of life depends on plants – without plants we cannot live. The COVID19 crisis has challenged the momentum of our work.Donations and memberships have nearly halted over the past month, threatening these crucial efforts. You have already been a part of the early successes achieved through the collaboration between BRIT and the garden. Now and through May 5, 2020 the BRIT and Garden community will come together for North Texas Giving Tuesday Now, an emergency giving opportunity to support nonprofits in our region. If you can, we are asking for your support on this emergency giving day. If you prefer to giv...

DR. ED SCHNEIDER RELEASED THE FOLLOWING TODAY: Dear Friends, As I write this, blooming bluebonnets and other wildflowers on the BRIT campus remind me that it’s spring, a favorite season for botanists and for all of us who love plants. Sadly, it has also become a season of crisis and caution due to the COVID-19 virus. Accordingly, following Tarrant County and City of Fort Worth mandates to curb the spread of the virus, BRIT will temporarily close beginning today through April 22. For their health and safety, all of our employees will be sheltering at home during this time. Just as the wildflower seasons come and go, we know that this season too will surely pass. Until then, please know this: We are in this thing together . We are in it with your families, friends and loved ones. We are in i...

After careful consideration the decision has been made to suspend all BRIT-side and Garden-side volunteer activities and educational programming through March 30. Please visit this site for further updates. For questions, please contact the appropriate department: Volunteer Opportunities – volunteer@brit.org Children & Families, Homeschool, Girl Scouts, Butterflies in the Garden programs – rlincoln@brit.org Community Education & Field Study Trips – mschmidlkofer@brit.org

Popular Local Event Returns Following Conservatory Renovation “Celebrate the Change” in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s recently restored conservatory and marvel at a multitude of butterflies during “Butterflies in the Garden,” the largest exhibit of live, exotic butterflies in north central Texas, starting Feb. 29, 2020 and running through April 12, 2020. The six-week exhibit will be open daily, including Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Beautiful, exotic butterflies of every hue and size will be flying in the conservatory,” said Gail Manning, Fort Worth Botanic Garden entomologist. “People will have a chance to walk among hundreds of fluttering butterflies from around the world, watch them land on tropical flowers and lush foliage — maybe even on their shoulders — and learn about the ama...

Crittenden Estate of Australia Wins Top Honors in 2020 BRIT/FIVS International Sustainable Winegrowing Competition Additional wineries from Chile, Portugal and the United States receive medals for their outstanding ground-to-glass sustainability programs. Jackson Family Wines receives special platinum multi-brand sustainable winegrowing award. FORT WORTH, Texas – The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) in partnership with FIVS, a global public policy federation serving the wine, spirits, and beer sectors, are pleased to announce the winners of their 2020 International Sustainable Winegrowing Competition. Topping this year’s competition is Crittenden Estate of Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia, based on the winery’s on-going programs addressing the three elements of sustain...

Today, the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo and Botanical Research Institute of Texas announced the winners from the 2020 FWSSR / BRIT™ Texas Sustainable Winegrowing Competition. Top honors were awarded to Bending Branch Winery in Comfort, Texas, in combination with Tallent Vineyards of Mason, Texas. Nice Winery in Houston, Texas won the Grand Reserve Champion award in combination with Alta Mira Vineyards of Anderson, Texas. The top winning wineries were awarded for their sustainable practices in the vineyard and other areas of operation in addition to the wines they submitted to a blind tasting. Bending Branch Tannat Rosé, Texas Hill Country 2018 Nice Winery Texas Blanc, Alta Mira Vineyard 2018 The inaugural wine competition of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo established a unique approach...