Gardeners Invited to Join Houston Zoo for Horticulture Day

By Brian Hill

Houston, TX - Calling all green thumbs! Join Houston Zoo for Horticulture Day on Saturday, October 10, 2009 as Zoo Horticulture Manager Joe Williams leads a two hour guided tour of the Zoo’s lush and diverse array of tropical and native plants, flowers, trees and ground coverings.

On Horticulture Day, The Houston Zoo opens its gates 90 minutes early at 7:30 a.m. allowing ticket holders to take advantage of the cooler weather to get the scoop about the Zoo’s landscape history and maintenance. Each year the Houston Zoo’s team of one dozen horticulture professionals invest more than 20,000 hours caring for the Zoo’s wide variety of flora, keeping it healthy, vibrant and colorful for our animals and guests.

A continental breakfast and all-day access to the Zoo is included with your Horticulture Day admission. For more information and to purchase tickets on-line, visit the Houston Zoo on the Web at http://www.houstonzoo.org/horticulturetour/.

Horticulture Day Fast Facts

Saturday, October 10, 2009
A two hour guided tour with Houston Zoo Horticulture Manger Joe Williams. Continental breakfast and all-day access to the Zoo included.
Admission: Member $25; Non-Member $30; Child/Student/ Senior Member $15; Child/Student/Senior non-Member $20
Recognized by Parents magazine as one of the Ten Best Zoos for Kids, the Houston Zoo is an exciting live animal adventure that provides a unique educational and conservation resource serving 1.7 million guests annually. Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Zoo is home to more than 4,500 exotic animals representing more than 800 species. Operated by the not-for-profit Houston Zoo, Inc., the Houston Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species, the provision of engaging educational opportunities and the creation of stimulating exhibits that broaden the experiences of our guests and encourage their curiosity.

The Houston Zoo is located at 6200 Golf Course Drive in beautiful Hermann Park. The Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during Central Standard Time (last admission at 5 p.m.) and from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. during Central Daylight Time (last admission at 6 p.m.). The Zoo is closed Christmas Day. Regular admission is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors, $6 for children ages 2-11 and FREE for children under 2. Visit the courtesy booth at your neighborhood Fiesta Mart and purchase an adult Zoo admission for $8 and a child Zoo admission for $5. Zoo memberships start at only $55. For information on all the great benefits of becoming a Zoo member call (713) 533-6713 or visit our Web site at www.houstonzoo.org.

Ride METRORail to the Houston Zoo from the Fannin South Park and Ride lot. With frequent service, METRORail is a convenient answer to traffic congestion in the Texas Medical Center/Hermann Park/Museum District corridor. For METRORail information, visit www.ridemetro.org.

The Houston Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information visit www.aza.org.

To view Houston Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-727-Houston_Zoo

Photo:  Shot of Joe Williams, working on one of Houston Zoo's topiaries