Nature-friendly activities in DFW starting May 14

▪ The Botanical Research Institute of Texas’ Prairie Day will be 9 a.m.-2 p.m. May 14 at the BRIT campus, 1700 University Drive, Fort Worth. Activities include tours, walks, composting demos, children’s crafts, solar oven cooking, face painting and balloon twisters. Live animal presentations include birds of prey, bats and reptiles. www.brit.org.

▪ Let a pro explain how leaves, coffee grounds, vegetable scraps and more will benefit your lawn and garden during a composting workshop at 9:30 a.m. May 14 at the Bob Jones Nature Center, 355 E. Bob Jones Road, Southlake. 817-491-6333; bjnc.org.

▪ The Fort Worth Bonsai Society’s annual raffle and auction will be 10 a.m. May 14 at the Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. Items include trees, pots and books.

▪ Learn how to use colorful, flowering plants in containers for the yard, porch and patio during a class at 10:15 a.m. May 14 at all area Calloway’s stores. calloways.com.

▪ Join a drop-in backyard composting class with city of Arlington Master Composters, 9-11 a.m. May 14, at the River Legacy Living Science Center in Arlington. Participants get a free book. At 10 a.m., kids can join a nature walk on the trails surrounding the center. The activity is free, but RSVP required; call 817-860-6752, ext. 102. 703 N.W. Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. riverlegacy.org.

▪ Learn about dragonflies and take a hike to learn about the many species that call the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge home, 1-3 p.m. May 14. It’s free with admission ($2-$5).

On May 15, join Canoe Fest, noon-4 p.m., and learn about canoeing with all the equipment provided. It’s first come, first served and $5 with paid admission. Meet in the Big River parking lot.

Also, beginning at 8 p.m. May 20, join a full-moon paddle on the West Fork of the Trinity River. It’s $20, and registration is required.

The refuge is at 9601 Fossil Ridge Road, Fort Worth. 817-392-7410; www.fwnaturecenter.org.

▪ The 13th annual Hidden Gardens of Fort Worth Tour in the Mistletoe Heights neighborhood will be noon-6 p.m. May 15. Tickets are $20 at Historic Fort Worth, 817-336-2344 or online at www.historicfortworth.org; Archie’s Gardenland, 6700 Camp Bowie Blvd.; and C.C.’s Touch of Nature, 3912 W. Vickery Blvd. They will be $25 on tour day.

▪ Jim Frisinger will talk about the history of the 58-acre Southwest Nature Preserve at 7 p.m. May 17 in the Community Room at the West Arlington Police Service Center, 2060 W. Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. The program is sponsored by Friends of Southwest Nature Preserve. www.swnp.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 volunteer planting day at the Bob Jones Nature Center in Southlake, beginning at 8:30 a.m. May 21. Call 817-491-6333 or email admin@bjnc.org for more information.

▪ For the Greater Fort Worth Herb Society’s herb festival, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 21 at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Center, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. Plant sale, crafts, food. Lecture topics include companion planting, 10:30 a.m., and vertical gardens, 1 p.m. Admission is $4, 12 and younger free. www.GFWHS.org.

▪ For the Viridian BioBlitz, in cooperation with River Legacy Parks in Arlington, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 21. Bird walks, moth trapping, kite demonstration and more. Viridian Lake Club, 1200 Viridian Park Lane, Arlington.

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Nature-friendly activities in DFW starting May 14."