South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center facts for kids

South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center
Rose Garden Pavilion

The South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center is a fantastic place in Corpus Christi, Texas. It's a huge 180-acre area filled with beautiful plants and wild nature. This special spot used to be called the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. It's open every day, and you can visit for a small fee.

A Look Back: How It Started

The idea for these gardens began in 1987. That year, a small one-acre garden and a nature trail opened in Corpus Christi. The gardens you see today are on a different piece of land. This new location opened its doors in 1996. Since then, the gardens have grown a lot with many new areas.

What You Can Explore

The South Texas Botanical Gardens has many exciting areas to discover. Each part shows off different kinds of plants and natural beauty.

Amazing Plant Collections

• Arid Garden: This garden shows plants that love dry, desert-like weather.
• Exhibit House: Inside, you'll find cool plants like bromeliads, cycads, cacti, and succulents. These plants store water in their leaves or stems.
• Hibiscus Garden: See many colorful hibiscus flowers here.
• Hummingbird Garden: This area is designed to attract tiny, fast-flying hummingbirds.
• Orchid House: Get ready to be amazed! This house has over 3,000 different kinds of orchids. Orchids are known for their beautiful and unique flowers.
• Plumeria Collection: The gardens have more than 100 types of plumeria plants. These plants have lovely, fragrant flowers.
• Rose Garden: Enjoy the beauty of many different roses. There's also a large pavilion in this garden.
• Sensory Garden: This special garden lets you use all your senses. You can touch, smell, and hear the plants.
• Water Garden: See plants that grow in or near water, like water lilies.

Nature Trail Adventures

The center also has a mesquite nature trail. This trail goes through 30 acres of natural brush. It's a great place to see local plants and animals.

Plants on the Trail

Along the trail, you can find about 35 different kinds of woody trees and shrubs. You'll also see various herbs, grasses, and cacti. It's a perfect spot to learn about local plant life.

Wildlife You Might Spot

Keep your eyes open for animals living in this natural area. You might see graceful white-tailed deer. You could also spot collared peccaries, which look a bit like small wild pigs. Sometimes, you might even catch a glimpse of a coyote.

See also

In Spanish: Centro de la Naturaleza y Jardín Botánico de Corpus Christi para niños