Calendar
Friday, Starting at 4 p.m. – TMS Member Shopping
Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Public Shopping
All ages; no registration required.
Celebrate Earth Day with Mercer Botanic Gardens! April is the best month for planting and celebrating Mercer Botanic Garden planet! Pick out a new tree to fill out your yard or add some flowering shrubs like Hibiscus! Choose from a variety of choice plants including trees, flowering shade and sun perennials, shrubs, herbs, and more to fill out your garden beds!
Shop this online-only sale at https://themercersociety.square.site/ All orders are pickup only; plants cannot be shipped. Plant pickup is off-site at The Mercer Society’s Horticultural Propagation Center, located approximately one mile from Mercer at 3602 Hirschfield Road in Spring, TX. For more information, call The Mercer Society at 713-274-4166.
To become a TMS member, or to renew your membership, visit https://themercersociety.org/get-involved/membership/ today!
Trail maintenance, volunteer work crew, and garden group.
For information on volunteer opportunities at Kleb Woods, contact Megan Ahlgren
VMS CODE: RM: Kleb Woods
It’s time to volunteer again! You know you want to, but you know there are rules, right? So here they are:
- Only a certain number of people will be allowed in each garden area. Be prepared to grow where you’re planted (work where you’re most needed)!
- You must supply your own gloves and tools.
- Park at the education building, not in front of the office.
- If you are more comfortable wearing a face mask, you are more than welcome to.
- Limits on the number of people should allow for 6 feet social distancing. Be mindful of the distance.
- As always, bring adequate sun protection and water.
- If you have been exposed to COVID-19, please quarantine for 14 days before joining Texas Master Naturalists – Heartwood Chapter at the Forest.
Volunteer slots begin at 9 am and end at noon. Contact heartwoodvsp@gmail.com for the latest plans.
VMS: RM: WG Jones State Forest (Specify garden or nursery maintenance)
Interested in volunteering? Stop by the Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center for a casual gathering with staff and volunteers to learn about the variety of rewarding volunteer opportunities.
Ages 16+ or accompanied by an adult. Families are welcome. Please contact volunteer coordinator Brent Wilkins at 281-446-8588 or bwilkins@hcp4.net for more information and to RSVP.
In 1996, a cross-section of stakeholders came together in Pittsburgh for the very first federally co-sponsored National Brownfields Training Conference. Now join National Brownfields Conference as we celebrate the 19th event from September 27th–30th, 2021, in Oklahoma City, OK at the Oklahoma City Convention Center!
Cosponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Brownfields Training Conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing formerly utilized commercial and industrial properties. Mark your calendars for three days of training, networking, and business development!

ABOUT AMERICA RECYCLES DAY
It is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States! Held on and around November 15, America Recycles Day educates and encourages individuals on how to be more mindful of what they consume, where and how to properly recycle, and to pledge to recycle more and recycle right in their everyday lives.
Focusing on individual action, the day highlights the actions we can all take to collectively address the challenges facing our nation’s recycling system. Through ARD, Keep America Beautiful and its partners inspire communities and individuals to recognize the economic, environmental, and social benefits of recycling. Keep America Beautiful urges people to pledge to reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle in every aspect of their life. The #BeRecycled pledge is a promise to actively choose to live a recycled lifestyle by:
- Recycling at home, work, school and on the go;
- Buying products made with recycled content; and
- Educating and encouraging friends, family, and neighbors to take the #BeRecycled pledge
Aside from the #BeRecycled Pledge, people can be part of the recycling solution by participating or hosting their own America Recycles Day event. Events can be scheduled at any time during the fall leading into the official America Recycles Day celebration, Nov. 15. Keep America Beautiful encourages all participants and event organizers to follow state and local health guidelines pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Join us for the 4th Annual Wild About Houston Green Film Festival, showcasing more than a dozen short films from the Greater Houston Area that tell the story of local environmental issues, their champions, and how you can make a difference.

Join other Christians to celebrate Earth Day by participating in a streamed pre-recorded creation-focused worship service. Listen to the wisdom, song, and stories from our fellow Creatures, human and non-human. The Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos will share the message of the day. This 45-minute worship service is in English with full Spanish translation, and does not include communion. Observe Earth Day by praising the Creator and giving thanks for God’s good creation in worship on April 22! Register to participate at www.eventbrite.com at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creation-focused-worship-for-earth-day-tickets-301138712997?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.

Experience forest bathing, led by a certified guide, followed by practice of the Christian spiritual discipline of the Earth Examen. Forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan, involves taking in, in all of one’s senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest. Forest bathing has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood and focus, enhance creativity, and lead to an increased sense of calm and altruistic behavior, in addition to other benefits such as boosting the immune system and lowering blood pressure. As Christians, we understand that God is present in God’s creation, and after our guided forest bath, we’ll spend some time considering the Earth Examen as we reflect both on our time spent forest bathing and on our relationship with all creation. This activity is for a small group and space is limited. Please register at www.eventbrite.com. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.