What are the opening hours?

Monday 7am - 7:30pm Tuesday 7am - 7:30pm Wednesday 7am - 7:30pm Thursday 7am - 7:30pm Friday 7am - 7:30pm Saturday 7am - 7:30pm Sunday 7am - 7:30pm

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

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Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

a 155-acre nature sanctuary with educational programs and 5 miles of walking trails.
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08/14/2026

Do you love nature, working with kids, and volunteering? The Houston Arboretum is currently expanding our team of Volunteer Docents and we would love for you to join! Docents are specially trained to engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds as they explore the Nature Center and the surrounding trails.

Learn more at our upcoming Docent Open House & Recruitment Breakfast on Thursday, August 20 from 10:00-11:30 am. This is a free event open to interested individuals ages 21 and up.

RSVP at https://houstonarboretum.org/event/docent-recruitment-open-house-breakfast/

08/12/2026

Blue Jays need no introduction…because they’re happy to introduce themselves! Love them or hate them, jays are fascinating birds. Very intelligent and highly social, these small members of the Crow Family use complex (and usually very loud) vocalizations to communicate. Aside from their namesake “JAY! JAY!” call, they also make a squeaky, metallic “queedle,” a raspy, rattling, snoring sound, a high-pitched whine, and a wide array of mimicry. At the Arboretum we’ve heard them mimicking the sounds of Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, and Cooper’s Hawks, as well as Mississippi Kites. Scientists aren’t sure exactly why they mimic birds of prey so often. It could be to scare away other birds from food sources, or to warn other birds that predators are near, or even to impress potential mates with their vocal skills. Listen for Blue Jays anywhere at the Arboretum, but especially along the Ravine and Outer Loop trails.

📸 Rosemary Brooks

08/07/2026

Our August Free Second Sunday is here! This Sunday, August 9, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center parking is FREE all day. Come out and watch the goats at work, take a stroll on the trails, or explore the Nature Center and get a break from the heat.

If you can't make it this weekend, remember that Arboretum Members get free parking every day, and Free Second Sundays run through March 14, 2027 thanks to a generous grant from The John M. O'Quinn Foundation.

Learn more at https://houstonarboretum.org/free-second-sundays/

08/06/2026

If you're an Arboretum Member who wants even more goat-y fun, join us this Friday, August 7 from 10 am - 12 pm for Meet the Mowers! This fun, free, Members-only drop in event will allow you to get up close with the herd, enjoy a Trail Mix Grazing Station, and chat with Arboretum staff about this important (and cute!) conservation tool.

Learn more or become a Member at https://houstonarboretum.org/event/meet-the-mowers/

📸 Anthony Rathbun Photography

08/05/2026

They may not be the most colorful fall migrants, but Black-and-white Warblers are some of the earliest and most striking! These bold little birds are some of the first species to head south on migration, and many reach their South American wintering grounds by the end of August. They’re also one of the easiest warblers to spot. They act more like a nuthatch or woodpecker than a warbler, climbing up and down tree trunks and probing for insects in the bark. This behavior has led to some excellent nicknames like Pied Creeper and Creeping Warbler. Males sing a weak and squeaky song that sounds like “weesy-weesy-weesy,” giving rise to another old nickname: Scrannel (an old English word for a weak and squeaky sound). Look for these tree-climbing warblers along the Outer Loop or at our bird drips.

📸 Kelsey Low

08/04/2026

Today's the day - Fall Children's Program registration is now open to Houston Arboretum Family Tree Members and above! Whether you're bringing out your brand new Hatchling, getting your home schooler signed up for monthly classes, signing your technologically inclined teen up for Project Nature, or locking down Winter Camp plans, there's something great for every age at the Arboretum this fall.

Not a Member? Become a Member today for discounts and immediate access to priority registration. Nonmember registration opens next Tuesday, August 11.

08/03/2026

Have you *herd* the news?! Goats will be gracing (and grazing) the grounds at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center starting this Tuesday, August 4! This year, the grazers will be on site for approximately one week and will be focusing on 7 acres in the Arboretum's northwest corner near the Ravine Trail.

Curious what they'll be snacking on? We're hoping that these hungry herbivores will help us clear out our dense understory made up of invasive plants such as privet, air potato, and Mexican hydrangea, along with overgrown natives like cherry laurel, yaupon, and elderberry.

If you're planning a visit to see the goats, here are some helpful tips:

🐐 Park at either entrance and look at the Goat Visit Map (found in the link below) to plan your walk.
🐐 Stay on sidewalks and trails.
🐐 Keep children and dogs away from the fence – it is electrified to keep predators out.
🐐 Do not feed or pet the goats.
🐐 Take photos and tag us

Learn more at https://houstonarboretum.org/event/goats-at-the-arboretum/

📸 Anthony Rathbun Photography

07/29/2026

Seeing Scaly-breasted Munias bathing by the front door of the Nature Center building or along the Buttonbush Trail always gives mixed feelings. They’re adorable birds, they make cute beeping sounds, and they are sweet to watch in their social flocks. Unfortunately, they’re also not native to Houston. Originally from India and Southeast Asia, Scaly-breasted Munias have become popular pets and are transported around the world. They are often accidentally or even intentionally released, creating feral populations that thrive in grassy areas near water. Preliminary studies suggest that munias aren’t a huge threat to native bird species since they prefer heavily human-disturbed habitats – especially bird feeders – but at the Arboretum we do observe them feeding in the same grasses as native Indigo Buntings and sparrows during fall and winter. That is why programs like our monthly Second Saturday Bird Survey are so important: the data we collect helps track munia population numbers and spread, allowing scientists to determine potential risks to native birds. If you’re concerned about munias, you can help reduce their impact by keeping your bird feeders very clean (since large munia flocks can spread disease), growing lots of native grasses (to provide more food for native birds), and supporting the protection and restoration of wild spaces away from human disturbance (providing a refuge for native birds).

📸 Rosemary Brooks

Address

Houston, TX

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 7:30pm
Tuesday	7am - 7:30pm
Wednesday	7am - 7:30pm
Thursday	7am - 7:30pm
Friday	7am - 7:30pm
Saturday	7am - 7:30pm
Sunday	7am - 7:30pm

Telephone

(713) 681-8433

Website

http://www.houstonarboretum.org/

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