Digging in the dirt

The Mary Howell Garden Club invites the community to attend their fourth annual “Wine & Weed” event Thursday, March 28 and help maintain the Beaumont Botanical Gardens at Tyrrell Park.

“Tyrrell Park is such a beautiful and amazing place to see,” said Lynda Kay Makin. “It’s very tranquil and relaxing. This is a free event for everyone to enjoy such a great place.”

Located at 6088 Babe Zaharias Drive, the Beaumont Botanical Gardens dates to 1951 and has since become a 23-acre garden of ever-changing beauty located within the 500 acres of Tyrrell Park. It is also home to the Bert and Jack Binks Horticultural Center and the Warren Loose Conservatory, the second largest conservatory in a public garden in Texas. Stroll the paved walkway connecting the themed gardens that showcase camellias, modern and antique roses, bromeliads and many native plants as well as a waterfall with fish in the pond, rose garden and an eclectic collection of flora and fauna including many varieties of butterflies and birds.

Volunteers will work to remove invasive weeds from the gardens from 5-6:30 p.m. No experienced green thumb is necessary – garden gloves and trowels will be provided – but wear closed-toe shoes or boots and clothes than can get dirty. For adults, the wine social is 6:30-7:30 p.m.

“This year, we will have some Lamar University and high school students join us,” said Makin. “We would love to have the entire community involved. It’s lots of fun and so calm and relaxing. Come join us if you have never been to the Beaumont Botanical Gardens. It’s like you are stepping into another world.”

The event will be rescheduled if raining.