October 2016
Water Wise Landscape Tour
Visit beautiful, maintainable and sustainable Plano landscapes that thrived in the summer heat! Discover attractive, drought-tolerant plants that will inspire you to give them a try! The WaterWise Landscape Tour is a FREE event. You are invited to tour five Plano yards and the Environmental Education Center on Saturday, October 15, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tour at your own pace, and visit as many – or as few – stops as you would like. Pick up a tour…
Find out more »Landscape for Life
We'll show you how to work in cooperation with nature, no matter where you are. By working with nature, you'll save time, energy, money and, most important for Texans - water. This hands-on, 10-hour, 5-class series covers the role of successful soil practices, water capture and conservation, as well as plant material selection in a sustainable, eco-friendly garden design. Class meets every Wednesday. October 19 - November 16, 7:00pm - 9:00pm All sessions meet in the Environmental Education Center 4116…
Find out more »Compost Operations Tour
Where does our garbage go? Find the answers at our guided tour of at the Regional Composting facility that makes Texas Pure Products and at the North Texas Municipal Water District' landfill. This rare tour of how the professionals process our waste will amaze you. Limited seating on the tour van is available. You may also meet us at the Regional Composting Facility. Saturday, October 29, 2016 9:00am - noon* City van departs 8:00am Environmental Education Center 4116 W. Plano…
Find out more »All About Butterflies Family Event
Join us for a morning of FREE family fun as we celebrate the timely theme of monarch butterfly migration and learn about butterflies in our area! Join us at 10:30am for a special talk about butterflies with Melanie Schuchart, a Texas Master Naturalist. Enjoy kids activities that include trying nectar, making butterfly feeders, and identifying local butterflies and their favorite plants. Become a citizen scientist and help count pollinators in our garden. Come in costume and join our butterfly parade…
Find out more »Landscape for Life
We'll show you how to work in cooperation with nature, no matter where you are. By working with nature, you'll save time, energy, money and, most important for Texans - water. This hands-on, 10-hour, 5-class series covers the role of successful soil practices, water capture and conservation, as well as plant material selection in a sustainable, eco-friendly garden design. Class meets every Wednesday. October 19 - November 16, 7:00pm - 9:00pm All sessions meet in the Environmental Education Center 4116…
Find out more »November 2016
Landscape for Life
We'll show you how to work in cooperation with nature, no matter where you are. By working with nature, you'll save time, energy, money and, most important for Texans - water. This hands-on, 10-hour, 5-class series covers the role of successful soil practices, water capture and conservation, as well as plant material selection in a sustainable, eco-friendly garden design. Class meets every Wednesday. October 19 - November 16, 7:00pm - 9:00pm All sessions meet in the Environmental Education Center 4116…
Find out more »Landscape for Life
We'll show you how to work in cooperation with nature, no matter where you are. By working with nature, you'll save time, energy, money and, most important for Texans - water. This hands-on, 10-hour, 5-class series covers the role of successful soil practices, water capture and conservation, as well as plant material selection in a sustainable, eco-friendly garden design. Class meets every Wednesday. October 19 - November 16, 7:00pm - 9:00pm All sessions meet in the Environmental Education Center 4116…
Find out more »Landscape for Life
We'll show you how to work in cooperation with nature, no matter where you are. By working with nature, you'll save time, energy, money and, most important for Texans - water. This hands-on, 10-hour, 5-class series covers the role of successful soil practices, water capture and conservation, as well as plant material selection in a sustainable, eco-friendly garden design. Class meets every Wednesday. October 19 - November 16, 7:00pm - 9:00pm All sessions meet in the Environmental Education Center 4116…
Find out more »All About Composting
Is your yard work piling up? Let it! Learn the basics of turning that garden debris and food waste into garden gold through different types of composting. We will cover the advantages and disadvantages of grasscycling, leafcycling, brown bagging, compost piles, trench composting and vermi-composting so that you can mix, moisten and manage your way to successful soil enrichment. If you are wondering which composting method suits your lifestyle, this is the class for you! Thursday, November 17, 2016 7:00 -…
Find out more »January 2017
Master Compost Training Workshops
Learn how to improve your soil's health by diverting valuable garden resources from the landfill back into your landscape. The 16-hour, four-class series is a unique opportunity to gain a more in-depth understanding of the composting process and insights on sharing this knowledge with others. Residents enrolling in Master Composter training are asked to complete 20 hours of community service to advance local composting efforts. Master Composter Training Thursday, January 26 7-9 p.m. Friday, January 27 7-9 p.m. Saturday, January…
Find out more »February 2017
Master Compost Training Workshops
Learn how to improve your soil’s health by diverting valuable garden resources from the landfill back into your landscape.The 16-hour, four-class series is a unique opportunity to gain a more in-depth understanding of the composting process and insights on sharing this knowledge with others. Residents enrolling in Master Composter training are asked to complete 20 hours of community service to advance local composting efforts. Master Composter Training Thursday, January 26 7-9 p.m. Friday, January 27 7-9 p.m. Saturday, January…
Find out more »March 2017
Compost Fair
Turn Brown Leaves and Green Grass into Garden Gold! Is your yard work piling up? Let it! Learn the basics of turning that garden debris into garden gold through composting. Rotate through 6 learning stations as you find out what to put in, what to leave out, and how to mix, moisten and manage your way to successful soil enrichment. This is a come-and-go event. Spend as much or as little time as you need talking with our composting experts. Registration…
Find out more »May 2017
Sprinker Spruce Up: Quick Fixes for Beginners (Plano)
Are you watering wisely or irrigating irrationally? When you hear "cycle and soak," do you think of your washing machine? Are you trying to figure out how to keep that sprinkler head from spraying your fence? If so, this is the class for you! Learn how and when to water your plants, how to make simple sprinkler repairs and where to go for help. Workshop Dates: - Tuesday, May 23, 6:30 PM - 8:00 p.m. - Tuesday, June 20, 6:30 PM…
Find out more »Sprinkler Spruce Up: DIY Drip Irrigation (Plano)
Considering installing drip irrigation in your landscape? Not sure where to begin? This workshop will explain the basics of drip irrigation, including the different types, necessary components and what questions to ask when requesting quotes or working with a licensed irrigator. Workshop Dates: - Thursday, May 25, 6:30 PM - 8:00 p.m. - Thursday, June 22, 6:30 PM - 8:00 p.m. Workshop Cost: FREE Workshop Location: Environmental Education Center, 4116 W. Plano Parkway, 75093 If the class you would like to attend…
Find out more »Sprinkler Spruce Up: Take Control of Your Controller (Plano)
Want to get to know the “brains” behind your sprinkler system? This class will demystify the sprinkler controller! You will learn how to make seasonal adjustments to your runtimes and how to master the “cycle and soak” method for maximum efficiency. Plus, you will also learn about new sprinkler controller technologies that aid in water conservation. Workshop Dates: - Wednesday, May 31, 6:30 PM - 8:00 p.m. - Wednesday, June 28, 6:30 PM - 8:00 p.m. Workshop Cost: FREE Workshop Location:…
Find out more »June 2017
Sprinkler Spruce Up: Quick Fixes for Beginners (Plano)
Are you watering wisely or irrigating irrationally? When you hear "cycle and soak," do you think of your washing machine? Are you trying to figure out how to keep that sprinkler head from spraying your fence? If so, this is the class for you! Learn how and when to water your plants, how to make simple sprinkler repairs and where to go for help. Workshop Cost: FREE Workshop Location: Environmental Education Center, 4116 W. Plano Parkway, 75093 If the class you…
Find out more »Sprinkler Spruce Up: DIY Drip Irrigation (Plano)
Considering installing drip irrigation in your landscape? Not sure where to begin? This workshop will explain the basics of drip irrigation, including the different types, necessary components and what questions to ask when requesting quotes or working with a licensed irrigator. Workshop Dates: - Thursday, May 25, 6:30 PM - 8:00 p.m. - Thursday, June 22, 6:30 PM - 8:00 p.m. Workshop Cost: FREE Workshop Location: Environmental Education Center, 4116 W. Plano Parkway, 75093 If the class you would like to attend…
Find out more »Sprinkler Spruce Up: Take Control of Your Controller (Plano)
Want to get to know the “brains” behind your sprinkler system? This class will demystify the sprinkler controller! You will learn how to make seasonal adjustments to your runtimes and how to master the “cycle and soak” method for maximum efficiency. Plus, you will also learn about new sprinkler controller technologies that aid in water conservation. If the class you would like to attend is full, please contact Katie Masucci at (972) 769-4216. Duration 1 1/2 hours Register
Find out more »October 2017
All About Butterflies Family Event (Plano)
Is it a monarch, a viceroy or a queen? Find out the differences in these and many other beautiful butterflies on Saturday, October 14, 10 a.m. - noon. Enjoy the free, family-friendly event All About Butterflies at the Environmental Education Center and sip nectar, create a butterfly feeder or make seed balls. Stroll through the gardens and learn how to turn your yard into a butterfly oasis. Register today!
Find out more »Fall in Love with Gardening
Autumn is the perfect time for planting because of cooler temperatures and fewer garden pests. Perennials and shrubs planted now have about six weeks to settle before winter. Not sure what to plant? Try Shade Gardening on October 28. Contemplating a garden makeover? Sign up for the Landscape for Life series starting October 25.
Find out more »March 2019
Learn to Fix a Leak for Free (Plano)
Save money and water by fixing indoor leaks with tips from the Live Green in Plano team. Nationwide, water leaks waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water every year. This means your money could be going right down the drain. Attend the free Fix-a-Leak Workshop on Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m.-noon. Get the scoop on how to identify leaky fixtures. Learn do-it-yourself tips and tricks. This hands-on workshop equips you for minor repairs and preventative maintenance of toilets, faucets…
Find out more »April 2019
Love Your Stormwater (Plano)
NEW! Multiple speakers will share tips and tools for landscaping in partnership with nature. You'll learn how to benefit from and protect our stormwater. Join Live Green in Plano as we host Patrick Dickinson, a horticulturist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas, staff from the City of Plano’s Environmental Quality Division and others. Topics include rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, responsible fertilizer and pesticide use, soil amendment techniques and more. After a series of short talks,…
Find out more »May 2019
Top 100 Plants for North Texas (Plano)
Join Live Green in Plano as we host Patrick Dickinson, a horticulturist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas, for this fabulous, information-packed learning opportunity. Are you a “Native Texan” or a transplant? Plants can be native or transplants too! Create a lush and vibrant landscape with our “Top 100” native and adapted plants, ideal for your North Texas landscape. You’ll also learn proper soil preparation, proper planting, how to choose the right plant for the…
Find out more »Sprinkler Spruce Up Series Part 1: Quick Fixes for Beginners (Plano)
Are you watering wisely or irrigating irrationally? When you hear "cycle and soak," do you think of your washing machine? Are you trying to figure out how to keep that sprinkler head from spraying your fence? If so, join us! Learn how and when to water your landscape, how to make simple sprinkler repairs and where to go for help. Register
Find out more »Smart Yards for North Texas: Talk & Tour (Plano)
Choosing Texas-friendly plants that are well-adapted to our area and weather conditions makes a big difference in the success of your landscape. Learn about soil preparation, and see which plants work best in our clay soil and our North Texas climate. After the talk, join us for a tour of our teaching garden to see the drought-tolerant, native plants up close. Register
Find out more »Sprinkler Spruce Up Series Part 2: DIY Drip Irrigation (Plano)
Are you curious about drip irrigation for your landscape? Not sure where to begin? Join us to learn the basics of drip irrigation, including the different types, necessary components, installation process and what questions to ask if you hire a licensed irrigator. Register
Find out more »Sprinkler Spruce Up Series Part 3: Take Control of Your Controller (Plano)
We'll demystify the sprinkler controller, your sprinkler system's "brain."You'll learn how to make seasonal adjustments to your run times and how to master the “cycle and soak” method for maximum efficiency. You'll also learn about new sprinkler controller technologies that aid in water conservation. Register
Find out more »June 2019
Sprinkler Fair (Plano)
Following the example of our highly-successful Compost Fair, we're bringing the station-based learning approach to the next level with sprinklers! This is your opportunity to learn basic irrigation skills in a friendly, hands-on environment. Rotate through stations with knowledgeable instructors, and you'll learn how to clean and replace nozzles, adjust spray patterns, program your controller and more. Join Live Green in Plano for this one-time-only opportunity, and you'll wow your neighbors with your new sprinkler smarts. Register
Find out more »August 2019
Shade Gardening (Plano)
Got shade? We've got solutions! When Mother Nature sends the message that even grass doesn't want to grow in your shady yard, it's time for a landscape update. Learn how to plan and plant an attractive oasis of foliage and texture to delight the eye - even under the arching canopy of mature trees. Weather permitting, we will take a stroll through the demonstration garden, so come dressed for the weather! Register
Find out more »September 2019
Live Green in Plano Champion Program (Plano)
Share your passion for the environment and Plano. Sign up for the Fall 2019 Live Green in Plano (LGIP) Champion program! Meet like-minded residents while learning how to care for the well-being of our community through sustainability. Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 10 through Sept. 19, 6-8:30 p.m. at the Environmental Education Center, 4116 W. Plano Pkwy. Experience interactive presentations, tours and class discussions on interesting topics such as: · Plano's residential recycling program, including a tour of the…
Find out more »October 2019
All About Butterflies (Plano)
Join us for a morning of FREE family fun as we celebrate the timely theme of monarch butterfly migration and learn about butterflies in our area! Enjoy kid-friendly activities that include trying nectar, making butterfly feeders and identifying local butterflies and their favorite plants. Become a citizen scientist and help count pollinators in our garden. REGISTER HERE
Find out more »January 2020
Success with Seeds (Plano)
Learn the secrets to successful seed sowing from VegetableGardener.com contributor and seed master, Greg Holdsworth. Come prepared to get your hands dirty and take home seedlings to care for. REGISTER
Find out more »Organic Vegetable Gardening (Plano)
Organic Vegetable Gardening Plano Community Gardeners will share their first-hand experience with soil, water and insects while producing lush organic vegetables. Learn how to set up your spring garden for maximum results. Thursday, January 16, 2020 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Class meets in Environmental Education Center 4116 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, TX 75093 Duration 1.5 hour class Register
Find out more »Master Composter Training (Plano)
If you're passionate about composting and enjoy sharing your knowledge with others, then become a State of Texas Master Composter volunteer. Learn how to improve your soil's health by diverting valuable garden resources from the landfill back into your landscape. The free 16-hour, 4-class series is a unique opportunity to gain a more in-depth understanding of the composting process and insights on sharing this knowledge with others. Residents enrolling in Master Composter training are asked to complete 20 hours of community…
Find out more »Recycling 102 (Plano)
Every day in the United States each person throws away almost five pounds of garbage. Where does it all go? Find out about municipal waste programs, the local landfill, the work that goes into disposing our waste and why it is important to reduce, reuse and recycle. Tuesday, January 28, 2020 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Class meets in Environmental Education Center 4116 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, TX 75093 Duration 1.5 Hour class Register
Find out more »February 2020
Food Waste Composting (Plano)
Don't let the worms crawl in and out! Put them to work! We'll teach you to use specialized red worms to compost your plant-based food waste. Then use their waste as a fertile soil amendment to benefit your plants. Learn to set up and maintain a worm bin, and to harvest and use the worm castings. Saturday, February 1, 2020 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Class meets in the Environmental Education Center 4116 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, TX 75093 Duration 2…
Find out more »March 2020
Shade Gardening (Plano)
Got shade? We've got solutions! When Mother Nature sends the message that even grass doesn't want to grow in your shady yard, it's time for a landscape update. Learn how to plan and plant an attractive oasis of foliage and texture to delight the eye - even under the arching canopy of mature trees. Weather permitting, we will take a stroll through the demonstration garden, so come dressed for the weather!
Find out more »April 2020
CLASS: Smart Yards for North Texas (Plano)
Choosing Texas-friendly plants that are well-adapted to our area and weather conditions makes a big difference in the success of your landscape. Learn about soil preparation, light requirements, and which plants work best in our clay soil and our North Texas climate. Register
Find out more »May 2020
TOUR: Smart Yards for North Texas – Virtual Tour
MOVING TO ONLINE VIRTUAL TOUR - Click here for details Join us for a stroll through the city's demonstration gardens to learn which Texas-tough plants are well-adapted to our area and are the right choice for YOUR yard.
Find out more »June 2020
Community Conversations: Energy/Air Quality (Plano)
Community Conversations: Energy/Air Quality DUE TO PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS, THIS EVENT MAY BE CONDUCTED ONLINE. Please register to receive an invitation to the online presentation. Every day in the United States each person throws away almost five pounds of garbage. Where does it all go? Find out about municipal waste programs, the local landfill, the work that goes into disposing our waste and why it is important to reduce, reuse and recycle. Wednesday, June 17 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Wednesday,…
Find out more »