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Houston Botanic Garden Celebrates One Year with Two Must-See Multimedia Exhibits

'Neon Strings,' part of the forthcoming 'Lightscape' exhibit at the Houston Botanic Garden

RECENT COOL FRONTS have heralded the arrival of fall in Houston, a time when it still kind of feels like summer, but definitely nothing like the heat and humidity we endure throughout the months of July and August. Coinciding with this beautiful weather is the one-year anniversary of Houston Botanic Garden and its first outdoor art exhibition, Art in the Garden: Celebrating BioDiversity.

Produced and curated in a collaboration with Lawndale Art and Performance Center, the exhibit features six site-specific installations inspired by and integrated within the Garden's flora and fauna and natural ecosystems. On view through Summer 2022, the expansive exhibit is an opportunity to enjoy the art in an open-air environment ideal for relaxation and contemplation.

The works on display include Lina Dib's "The Weather Station," a sound installation using recordings of species native to the Texas Gulf Coast that changes according to next day's weather forecast. Meanwhile, Jen Rose's "Texas Bee Oasis II" consists of thousands of hand-sculpted, porcelain cups installed in the Garden's Mediterranean Garden to create a watering station for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. The other artists in the exhibition include Liss LaFleur, Virginia Lee Montgomery, Gerardo Rosales, and Joyce Matula Welch.

Looking ahead to November, Houston Botanic Garden will host Lightscape, an immersive, after dark holiday lightshow designed to transform a one-mile trail through the Garden into a neon-lit labyrinth of stars, cherry blossoms, and giant flowers. Kids are going to love it, and it's the perfect environment to enjoy a relaxing, romantic walk with your partner.

Lightscape comes to Houston after sold-out runs in London and Chicago, and will be installed to complement the Garden's already visually stunning landscapes. Lightscape at the Houston Botanic Garden opens to the public on Saturday, Nov. 20.