The Big Bend Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will host an Earth Day program Saturday, April 18, at the Alpine Public Library, highlighting native plant conservation and regional environmental efforts.
The program is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon and is part of a broader day of Earth Day and Dark Sky celebrations taking place across Alpine.
Featured speaker Hannah Armstrong, lead horticulturist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, will present a behind-the-scenes look at the center’s work. Her talk will cover research initiatives, garden development, educational programming, plant collections and native plant propagation, as well as the role these efforts play in conservation across Texas and beyond.
Following the presentation, attendees are invited to tour the Patty Manning Pollinator Garden adjacent to the library. The tour will be led by Karen Little and will showcase the garden’s design and its importance in supporting pollinators.
Additional programs at the library that day include a 1 p.m. presentation on how light pollution affects bird migration, led by Dr. Maureen Frank of the Borderlands Research Institute; a 2 p.m. session on gems and minerals of the Big Bend region; and a 3 p.m. talk titled “Preserving Darkness in an Age of Light,” presented by Stephen Hummel of McDonald Observatory.
Organizers said a variety of other events will take place throughout the day as part of Alpine’s Earth Day and Dark Sky celebrations. A full schedule is available at visitalpinetx.com.
Community members are encouraged to attend and participate in the day’s educational and environmental activities.
