Valley Nature Center
Valley Nature Center is located in Texas
Valley Nature Center
Typenature preserve, cactus garden
LocationGibson Park, Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Texas
Coordinates26°9′33.05″N 97°59′49.7″W / 26.1591806°N 97.997139°W / 26.1591806; -97.997139
Area6 acre
Created1984
OpenYes
Websitewww.valleynaturecenter.org

Valley Nature Center is a 6-acre park and nature preserve in Gibson City Park, Weslaco, Texas. Its focus is environmental education about the natural history of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

The center's activities include a summer camp, weekly programs for all ages, birding trips, natural history classes and lectures. There are programs for individuals, children and adults. There is a native plant nursery with plants for sale, a conservation resource library and a gift shop.

History

Valley Nature Center has been in operation as a non-profit organization since 1984 and a new building was opened in 2014.[1] Formed from a vacant lot, the site now includes a 1 mile trail through a cactus garden, bog ponds, and butterfly garden.

Fauna

Insects, birds and animals that have been seen include Malachite butterfly and Melanis pixe butterfly, plain chachalaca, green jays, great kiskadees, buff-bellied hummingbird, Texas tortoise, Texas horned lizard, and Eastern Cottontail Rabbit. The park is considered a good site to view migrating birds and butterflies.[2][3][4]

Botanical collection

Botanical collection includes species native to Sabal Palm Grove, Arroyo Colorado brush, the Barretal, Coastal Lomas, and the Chihuahuan Thorn forest also known as Rio Grande-Falcon thorn woodland.

References

  1. ↑ "Amid delays, Weslaco launches probe of Valley Nature Center project". The Monitor. January 13, 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Rio Grande Valley Butterfly Trail". North American Butterfly Association South Texas. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "Valley Nature Center". Birding Sites in South Texas. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Valley Nature Center, Weslaco, TX". Mark & Terri's Travels. January 8, 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
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