With leadership from Commissioner R. Jack Cagle, Mercer Botanic Gardens is a Harris County Precinct 4 Parks facility one mile north of FM 1960 at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road in Humble, 77338. To register, seek additional information or request special assistance for any of the following programs, contact Mercer at 713-274-4160 or mercerbotanicgardens@hcp4.net. Visit Mercer online at www.hcp4.net/parks/mercer.
December
Cooking Thyme. Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Children from 6 to 8 will prepare Brussels sprout chips during this session of Cooking Thyme. Children explore fresh food with all five senses during the Cooking Thyme program at Mercer Botanic Gardens. They will learn the connections between cooking and plants. This free, hands-on opportunity allows children to prepare and taste foods and equips them with the knowledge to make healthy food choices. Registration is required, and space is limited. Parents or guardians must accompany children. Recipes are subject to change based on the availability of seasonal fruits and vegetables from Mercer’s Vegetable Garden. Volunteer opportunities are available.
Lunch Bunch: A Winter Wonder Garden. Wednesday, Dec. 11, starting at noon. Winter gardens are colorful and structurally intriguing. Learn which plants add life to a winter garden and the proper care for these plants. Enjoy a garden tour focusing on winter flowering and fruiting plants at Mercer. Participants should bring a lunch and dress for the weather. Lunch Bunch is a free program offered at Mercer’s East Side Gardens and is recommended for participants 12 and older. Registration is required.
Christmas Bird Count. Saturday, Dec. 14, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Meet up for an early morning bird count along the Spring and Cypress Creek greenways. Participants should meet in the Cypress parking lot of Mercer’s West Side Arboretum at 8 a.m. The count continues north to experience Pundt Park and a variety of other parks along the Spring Creek Greenway. Feeder watchers are also encouraged to participate. Collected data will be reported to the Audubon Society. Bring your binoculars, field guide, and bird identification book. For more information, contact compiler Claire Moore at cdmoore3i@gmail.com.
Holiday in the Gardens. Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate the holiday season with music, food, shopping, crafts, and more! This free, family-oriented event offers a holiday market, festive children’s crafts, live music, and food trucks. Find the perfect gift for someone special at the holiday market with a myriad of local vendors. Say hello to Santa and Mrs. Claus as they visit the gardens from noon to 2 p.m. Tap your toes to musical melodies from local musicians and choirs, including The Houkelele Strummers and Houston Grand Opera. Satisfy your hunger – visit The Mercer Café, Super Pizza, Mingo’s Latin Kitchen, and Simply Sweet Kettle Corn. Then take a leisurely stroll along the garden paths to take in the beauty of the winter landscape.
Cooking Thyme. Wednesday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Children from 9 to 11 will prepare Johnnycakes during this session of Cooking Thyme. Children explore fresh food with all five senses during the Cooking Thyme program at Mercer Botanic Gardens. They will learn the connections between cooking and the plants that grow in the garden and on the farm. This free, hands-on opportunity allows children to prepare and taste foods and equips them with the knowledge to make healthy food choices. Registration is required, and space is limited. Parents or guardians must accompany children. Recipes are subject to change based on the availability of seasonal fruits and vegetables from Mercer’s Vegetable Garden. Volunteer opportunities are available.
Ongoing Events
Garden Tours. Tuesday and Thursday mornings. When planning a visit to Mercer Botanic Gardens, include a guided garden tour in your itinerary. Stroll through the gardens with a garden docent or staff member as they highlight seasonal color, perennial favorites, and more. Tours are scheduled on Tuesday or Thursday mornings beginning at 8:30 a.m. Guided tours are provided for groups of 10 to 30 people and must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. Call 713-274-4160 to schedule.
North Side Greenhouse Team. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Join a plant committee and grow plants year round for events and sales or help with various projects from construction to irrigation. Please contact Mercer’s volunteer coordinator at 713-274-4160 to schedule your visits.
Gardening – Tropical. Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Volunteers 16 and older can join a Mercer horticulturalist in the Tropical Garden to work with palms, plumerias, bamboo, and special collections. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a wide-brim hat, sunscreen, and water. Tools and gloves will be provided. Those between 12 and 15 may volunteer with parent or guardian participation. Please contact Mercer’s volunteer coordinator at 713-274-4160 to schedule your visits.
Gardening – Natives and Shakespeare. Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Volunteers 16 and older can join a Mercer horticulturalist in the Native and Shakespeare Gardens for planting, grooming, pruning, weeding, and mulching. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a wide-brim hat, sunscreen, and water. Tools and gloves will be provided. Those between 12 and 15 may volunteer with parent or guardian participation. Please contact Mercer’s volunteer coordinator at 713-274-4160 to schedule your visits.
Lunch Bunch. Second Wednesday of the month from noon to 2 p.m. Join fabulous speakers at these free presentations covering diverse topics. Participants should bring a lunch and dress for the weather. Lunch Bunch is a free program offered at Mercer’s East Side Gardens and is recommended for participants 12 and older.
Storytime in the Gardens. Every Monday at 10:30 a.m. In partnership with Harris County Public Library, Mercer invites parents and children to listen to a unique story in the natural setting of Mercer. Storytime garden locations may vary each week. Call 713-274-4160 to find out the location or to check for cancellations due to weather or holidays. Volunteer opportunities are available.
Mercer Ambassadors. Saturdays and Sundays, shifts are from 10 a.m. to noon and noon to 2 p.m. Starting this fall, Mercer will launch the Ambassador program on weekends under the staff building. Current or new volunteers who enjoy visiting with garden guests are encouraged to investigate this new program. Orientation, training materials, and more will be provided.
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