Texas Woman’s University (TWU) will host the 2025 Texas Wildflower Day on April 24-25, bringing together experts, educators, and nature enthusiasts to explore the theme "Time to Restore Pollinator Habitats." Taking place at the Ann Stuart Science Complex (ASSC) and the Butterfly Gardens on the TWU Denton Campus, the annual event will feature a keynote address by Douglas Tallamy, PhD, a renowned professor of entomology and wildlife biology at the University of Delaware and a leading advocate for native landscaping and conservation. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested.
Wildflower Day highlights the importance of restoring natural habitats for pollinators like butterflies and bees, which are essential to maintaining biodiversity. Tallamy’s work emphasizes the role of suburban and urban landscapes in conservation, and his presentation will focus on sustainable gardening practices that support wildlife.
Event Highlights
In addition to Tallamy’s keynote address, the two-day event will feature a variety of expert-led presentations, workshops, and interactive activities, including:
- Photography Workshop with Sean Fitzgerald, award-winning nature photographer
- "Time to Restore" presentation by David Gwin, Texas state coordinator for Time to Restore
- How to Make a Pollinator Garden by Sheli Petersen, TWU professor of visual arts
- "iNaturalist and Biodiversity" by Rachel Richter, urban wildlife biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife
- "Homegrown National Park" by Krista de Cooke, strategic partnership and science lead for Homegrown National Park
- Workshop: Get Your Garden on the HNP Map by Tom Kirwan, Trinity Forks chapter of the Native Plant Society
Additional activities include guided tours of TWU’s butterfly gardens, a social and networking session, and a special watercolor workshop in the garden led by Petersen and Jennie Wojtaszek.
Event Schedule
Thursday, April 24
4:30-5:45 p.m. – Photography Workshop with Sean Fitzgerald (Butterfly Garden)
6-6:30 p.m. – Butterfly Garden Visit
7:10-8 p.m. – Keynote Presentation by Douglas Tallamy, PhD
8-8:30 p.m. – Book Signing: Nature's Best Hope by Douglas Tallamy
Friday, April 25
7:30-8:30 a.m. – Breakfast & Networking (ASSC Lobby)
10:20-11 a.m. – How to Make a Pollinator Garden Presentation by Sheli Petersen
1:30-3 p.m. – Guided Tour of TWU Gardens
3-4:30 p.m. – Watercolor Workshop with Petersen & Wojtaszek
For a full schedule and event details and to RSVP for sessions, visit https://twu.edu/butterfly-garden/texas-wildflower-day/. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested.
New TWU Bilingual Book Inspires Young Gardeners to Help Pollinators
With spring in bloom in North Texas, TWU announces a new bilingual children's book, How to Make a Pollinator Garden (Cómo Hacer un Jardín Polinizador), written by Dr. Camelia Maier, TWU professor and molecular biologist. The book provides step-by-step instructions for creating pollinator-friendly gardens and is designed for children ages 6-12.
Coordinated by Sheli Peterson and illustrated by TWU graphic design students Chelsea Flores and Kathryn Kelly, the book is available in hardcover at twu.edu/butterfly-garden/news/twus-biology-visual-arts-produce-how-to-make-a-pollinator-garden for $21.39 plus shipping. All proceeds benefit the Dr. Bettye Myers Butterfly Garden at TWU, supporting ongoing conservation efforts.
Butterfly and pollinator gardens are crucial for many reasons, primarily because pollinators play a vital role in food production by pollinating crops. In essence, they help provide food. Unfortunately, pollinator populations are declining due to habitat fragmentation, pesticide use, and climate change. Every garden created helps expand and enhance their habitat. In urban areas, pollinator habitats are often fragmented by concrete, buildings, streets, and highways. These gardens not only support food production but also add beauty and bring vibrant greenery, flowers, butterflies, and bees to our surroundings.
Alongside the book, readers are encouraged to visit TWU’s two butterfly gardens—the Dr. Bettye Myers Butterfly Garden and the Carroll Abbott Memorial Wildflower Sanctuary. Both gardens feature native plants designed to attract and sustain pollinators, particularly monarch butterflies and native bees, and serve as living laboratories for sustainable gardening and habitat restoration. The Dr. Bettye Myers Butterfly Garden is recognized as an official Monarch Watch waystation, providing essential resources such as milkweeds and nectar plants that support monarchs throughout their migration cycle, as well as a certified Wildlife Habitat.
Located at TWU’s Denton campus, the gardens are open for group tours and educational classes, offering young nature enthusiasts and families a chance to learn hands-on about creating pollinator habitats.
About TWU
Texas Woman’s University is the nation’s largest woman-focused university system with campuses in Denton, Dallas, and Houston. Founded in 1901, TWU has built a reputation on contributions in nursing, healthcare, education, the arts and sciences, and business. TWU’s inclusive culture prioritizes experiential learning, leadership, service, discovery, and health and well-being, and national media have recognized the university as a top college for student-parents, veterans, and social mobility. In 2023, TWU publicly launched Dream Big, a fundraising effort that has raised more than $160 million to date to support programming, equipment, scholarships, and faculty. To learn more about the campaign or the university, visit dreambig.twu.eduor twu.edu, or connect with TWU on Facebook @TexasWomansUniversity, Instagram @txwomans, Twitter @txwomans, and LinkedIn @texaswomansuniversity.