Nature-friendly activities in DFW this week
▪ Attend a free, 30-minute bird ID workshop sponsored by the city of Kennedale and Friends of the Southwest Nature Preserve in Arlington at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Kennedale City Hall Conference Room, 405 Municipal Drive. Afterward, join a bird-watching walk at the nearby Southwest Nature Preserve, 5201 Bowman Springs Road, Arlington.
▪ Take a family-friendly hike with a staff naturalist at 10 a.m. Saturday along the paths of the River Legacy Living Science Center, 703 N.W. Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. RSVP to 817-860-6752. www.riverlegacy.org.
▪ Teach kids ages 6-9 how to be “knee-high naturalists” during a program 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. At 1 and 2 p.m. Sunday, learn about summer constellations and other celestial objects during a program led by a staff naturalist. These activities are free with paid admission ($2-$5). 9601 Fossil Ridge Road, Fort Worth. 817-392-7410; www.fwnaturecenter.org.
▪ Kids can build cup rockets at a come-and-go craft time, 6-7 p.m. Thursday at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Center, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. The activity is free and craft supplies are provided. Meet in the garden center courtyard. Picnicking is encouraged. 817-392-5510; http://fwbg.org.
▪ The Botanical Research Institute of Texas and the city of Fort Worth’s rain barrel and compost bin sale begins Friday, July 17. For more information and to order, visit www.rainbarrelprogram.org/britfortworth.
▪ Take the kids on an easy, educational nature hike with master naturalist Leigh Langford at 3 p.m. Friday, July 17, and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at the Bob Jones Nature Center, 355 E. Bob Jones Road, Southlake. The hike, which will study animals and their habits, is free for kids 12 and younger, $5 for adults. Hiking boots recommended. 817-491-6333; www.bjnc.org.
▪ Get your gardening questions answered with a call to the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association help desk, 817-884-1944. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
▪ Johnson County Master Gardeners also answer gardening questions and give advice 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays. Call the Johnson County Extension Office at 817-556-6370 and ask to speak to a master gardener.
Mark your calendar …
▪ For a free Composting 101 workshop with Tarrant County master gardener Charlie Shiner, 10-11:30 a.m. July 18 at the Bob Jones Nature Center, 355 E. Bob Jones Road, Southlake. Call 817-491-6333 or email admin@bjnc.org to register.
Send announcements of local home and garden happenings (including retail news) at least two weeks in advance to Places to Go, Features Department, Star-Telegram, Box 1870, Fort Worth, TX 76101, or send an email to scline@star-telegram.com with “Places to Go” in the subject line.
This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 1:40 PM with the headline "Nature-friendly activities in DFW this week."