By Aiyana Baptiste

Discovery Green Conservancy is a 12-acre green oasis in the heart of Houston. The Conservancy is dedicated to bringing uncommonly beautiful and urban green space to the Houston area that serves as a green village to our city. One way this urban park brings together the community is through its landscapes, trees, and gardens. 

Discovery Green includes 12 gardens, each focusing on the uniqueness and beauty of Houston’s natural diversity. The Bernice Hevrdejs Butterfly Garden & Sanders Hummingbird Garden welcomes bright flowers such as Mealy blue sage (Salvia farinacea) and Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Mealy blue sage is a perennial flower, that produces violet-blue flowers from April to October. These decorative plants attract species like the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and Milkweed leaf beetle (L. clivicollis). 

The Mary Lents Native Plant Garden is another decorative garden that is a collection of Texas regional plants. These Texas native plants vary from Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa), Red Yucca, and Esperanza aka yellow trumpet flower. Another great garden to visit is the Jackie Family Scent Garden! The wonderful aromas vary from citrus to rosemary smells. Among these beautiful flowers are native grasses like Gulf Coast Panicum, Orange jessamines (Cestrum aurantiacum), and Purple Muley. Gulf Coast Panicum and Purple Muley absorb more carbon than other vegetation. This makes them a great addition to your personal garden and to the environment! 

The mission of Discovery Green is to “provide an uncommonly beautiful, urban green space in the heart of Houston that serves as a village green for our city, a source of health and happiness for our citizens, and a window into the incredible diversity of arts and traditions that enrich life in Houston.” To take part in the urban green space and green oasis, visit discoverygreen.com for more information about events for you, the whole family, and the incredible gardens! 

Photos by Aiyana Baptiste.