Visit and Events

SFA Gardens will host its fifth Kiwifruit Field Day with presentations on the growing, research and marketing of kiwifruit. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 24 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. Lunch will be provided, followed by a tour of the kiwifruit field trials at SFA Gardens from 1 to 4 p.m.

Speakers will include Dr. David Creech of SFA Gardens, Tim Hartmann of Texas A&M University, Jay Spiers of Auburn University, David Anderson of Anderson Food Sales and Marketing in Nacogdoches, and economic analyst Alan Burnie. Topics include kiwifruit production in Texas and Alabama, growing potential for Texas farmers, kiwifruit market trends, and economic risks in kiwifruit production.

The cost of the field day is $45 per person. Advance registration is required, and the deadline to register is Sept. 20.

Our plant sales feature hard-to-find, Texas-tough plants grown by staff and volunteers. Proceeds from plant sales support SFA Gardens staffing and operations. Both sales run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches.

Plant sale dates and protocols are subject to change as COVID-19 guidelines continue to fluctuate. In-person events will be dictated by protocols set forth by the university and the state of Texas. Should protocols change, we will revert to a reservation system again, and likely adjust dates to accommodate our gardening friends! 

Membership has its privileges! Garden supporters who join at the $250 or higher level are eligible to shop a day early and beat the crowds. Join today!

2022

• Garden Gala Day – April 9-10
  • Plant list
• Fabulous Fall Festival – Oct. 8-9

There’s nothing like the sight of our Azalea gardens in full bloom. Join us during peak color season from mid-March through mid-April. Guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more with advance notice, and are $5 per person.  For more information and to reserve your spot, contact us at 936-468-4129 or at sfagardens@sfasu.edu. 
 
Be sure to check in with Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau to learn about other Nacogdoches Azalea Trail area events by calling 1.888.OLDEST.TOWN.

Lunch Bunch is a monthly social for garden-minded individuals where a variety of themed topics are presented. Bring your own lunch. Each event is noon to 1 p.m. at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches.

2021-2022 Lunch Bunch Dates and Topics

• Aug. 18, 2021 – Introduction and welcome back 
• Sept. 15, 2021 – Plant sale preview
• Oct. 2021 – Fall floral design 
• Nov. 17, 2021 – Tree planting and care
• Dec. 15, 2021 – Preparing for unexpected freeze
• Jan. 19, 2022 – Indoor plants
• Feb. 16, 2022 – Fruit varieties for East Texas
• March 16, 2022 – Plant sale preview
• April 20, 2022 – Pruning azaleas
• May 18, 2022 – Turf grass problem-solving
• June 15, 2022 – Summer break, no speaker
• July 20, 2022 - Summer break, no speaker
• Aug. 17, 2022 – Introduction and welcome back
• Sept. 21, 2022 – Plant sale preview
• Oct. 19, 2022 – Fall container combos
• Nov. 16, 2022 – Creating habitat for beneficial insects
• Dec. 21, 2022 – Greenery for the Christmas table

Saturday Seminars are three-hour, garden-related workshops held throughout the year with experts from the SFA Gardens staff and surrounding community. Each event is 9 a.m. to noon at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building, 2900 Raguet St. Cost is $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers.  

2021-2022 Saturday Seminar Dates and Topics

• Dec. 11, 2021
  Deck the Halls: Creating Evergreen Decorations for the Holidays — Join Dawn Stover, SFA Gardens research associate, to create elegant wreaths, garlands and centerpieces using materials from nature. Participants will take home several creations. 
   
• Feb. 12, 2022
  Gardening 101: Techniques for a Successful Home Landscape — Join Duke Pittman, garden manager for SFA Gardens, and his wife Dr. Jodi Pittman, owner of Pittman Labs, as they explore the basic steps to successful landscapes. Topics will include soil testing and amending, mulching and fertilizing techniques, and how to properly plant and prune landscape plants. 
   
• June 11, 2022
  Landscape Design — Join Ben Miller, landscape architect with Goodwin-Lasiter-Strong, as he explores the principles of landscape design. Participants will learn about site evaluation, practical space planning and the fundamental rules of form creation in landscape design. 
   
• Aug. 13, 2022
  Floral Design – Jordan Cunningham, SFA Gardens greenhouse technician, will explore the principles of floral design, including shapes, colors, materials and construction. Participants will create their own floral arrangement to take home. All materials will be provided.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is a free monthly lecture series featuring speakers from throughout the U.S. Each series event is 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches.

2021-2022 Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series Dates and Topics

• Sept. 9, 2021
  Plant Sale Preview with Dawn Stover and Jordan Cunningham
• Oct. 14, 2021
  All You Ever Wanted to Know About Growing Kiwifruit with Tim Hartmann
• Nov. 11, 2021
  Horticulture You Should Live Without with Carol Reese
• Dec. 9, 2021
  End of the Year Review with Dr. David Creech
• Jan. 13, 2022
  Garden Adventures in the Land of Crawfish and Creole with Mark Wilson 
• Feb. 10, 2022
  Conservation, Compromise, and Collard Greens: Finding Balance in a Hill Country Paradise with Matt Welch
• March 10, 2022
  The Oklahoma State University Campus with Steve Dobbs
• April 14, 2022
  Do We Need to be Scared of Crape Myrtle Bark Scale? with Dr. Mengmeng Gu
• May 12, 2022
  Favorite Perennials for Tough Conditions with Jennifer Buckner
• June 9, 2022
  Super Flowers, Super Shrubs and Super Trees for a Super Landscape with Allen Owings
• July 14, 2022
  Think BIG: Great Garden Ideas 2022 with Steven Chamblee
• Aug. 11, 2022
  Let’s have a Cup of Tea – New Adventure with an Interesting Plant with Dr. Yan Chen 
• Sept. 8, 2022
  Phase II of The Gardens at TAMU: Manifest Destiny in Action! with Dr. Mike Arnold
• Oct. 13, 2022
  Containing Edibles to Maximize Your Garden’s Beauty and Yields with Dr. Kathryn Fontenot
• Nov. 10, 2022
  A Path to Successfully Growing Mediterranean Plants in Southeast Texas with Dr. Fran de la Mota
• Dec. 8, 2022
  End of the Year Review with Dr. David Creech