Events

TWU students from Arts & Sciences, along with representatives from the North Texas Blue-Green Infrastructure Network (BGIN) present their designs and information for TWU’s future pollinator rain garden coming to campus in Spring 2027.   Community volunteers are welcome to attend.

Register for this event at TWU RAIN GARDEN STUDENT COMMUNITY SHOWCASE

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwk3H6tSEthDvoUbPyjxQQeBkNrjfQ_0WlWYQzU0MvukcJtw/viewform

Visitor parking options for the Arts & Sciences Building (ASB) include the Oakland Complex Garage located at 1201 Oakland St which is directly across the street from the ASB or the Administrative Drive Guest Lot at 304 Administrative Dr which is a short walk to the ASB.  Both parking options require payment in advance using the ParkMobile application.  ParkMobile allows visitors to park in any designated ParkMobile visitor pay lot or garage level on campus and pay directly through their smartphone.  Alternatively, if you prefer a physical Daily Guest Permit, you can create a guest account on the TWU Parking Portal to buy one online or purchase it in person at the Welcome Center at Brackenridge Hall (Suite 100).  Daily Guest Permits for Maroon Surface Lots: $10 per day;  Denton Maroon Garages: $16 per day

Coming in Spring 2027, the TWU Rain Garden project combines resources from the Environmental Science department with an award from the Texas Master Naturalist and H-E-B Grocery company in a collaboration to create a pollinator friendly, native plant, rain garden.  The garden will be incorporated into the green stormwater infrastructure on TWU’s Denton campus within the master planned Creek Zone near the new Health Sciences Center.  The garden demonstrates how to incorporate native pollinator plants into green infrastructure to preserve, conserve and restore natural resources, contribute to improved water quality, and provide productive pollinator habitat.  Quarterly education and outreach events will inform Texans about how they can restore biodiversity for pollinators on both public and private lands.  The garden will be designated as the Outdoor Water Learning Laboratory (OWLL).

The project will take about a year to complete.  The kickoff event was a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department iNaturalist BioBlitz across the TWU Campus on October 18 to set a baseline inventory of species found.  On November 13, 2026, an interdisciplinary group of TWU students from the arts and science classes (Sustainability, Scientific Illustration, Water in a Changing Environment and Biology) will present their rain garden design to the community.   Community volunteers are invited to help install the pollinator rain garden.   Save the date: March 20, 2027, for the TWU rain garden installation date. 

To volunteer or obtain additional information, contact [email protected]

Planting native species is an important step toward creating habitat, but how can you tell what’s working, what’s missing, and where to focus your efforts next?

Join Wild Ones and Wildr Places for The Habitat Check-up, a free webinar exploring a practical, science-informed approach to evaluating your home landscape. Presenter Zoe Evans will introduce five key areas to consider when assessing habitat and share how thoughtful observations can help guide your next steps.

Whether you’re just getting started with native plants or have been gardening for years, this webinar will help you look at your landscape through a new lens.

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

Registration link coming soon. 

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.