Q. Do I have to go on the field trips for which I signed up?

A. If you want to CHANGE your field trip selection(s) BEFORE the festival begins, this must be done by emailing [email protected]. No requests for changes will be made over the phone.

If you want to CHANGE your field trip(s) DURING the festival, this must be done with Dale at the National Butterfly Center, typically prior to trip departures in the morning. 

Field trips leaders will have a list of registered participants and admission fees for only those people on their roster, to places where admission fees are required or have been negotiated.

Field trips often include private properties, where owners have set a limit for how many people may enter. They do not want their homes and gardens overrun, and some live in gated communities with covenant deed restrictions. For this reason, entry to private yards may only be done with a field trip leader.

Q. Can I change my choice of trips at any time?

A. You may REQUEST changes at any time, however, switching to another trip requires available space. If that trip is booked full, you may be put on a waiting list. We will do all we can to accommodate your request.

Q. May I request special meals for lunch and dinner?

A. Lunch selections are meat (beef or pork), poultry (chicken or turkey) and vegetarian.  Those are the only options we are able to offer. If you are gluten-sensitive, vegan, kosher-only, or on a restricted diet, we must suggest you bring your own meals.

We apologize we cannot guarantee to meet the needs of anyone on a restricted diet for health or other reasons.

Q. How much walking will be required on my field trip?

A. Some of the field trips involve a significant amount of walking.  Some will be short walks that are fairly easy, as may be possible at the National Butterfly Center. We’ve attempted to describe the relative ease or difficulty associated with each trip destination in their descriptions; some of this is reiterated on the General Information page. Please make your trip selections based upon the details we have provided.

Q. Can you tell me exactly where we will be going at what time so I can schedule my arrival/departure?

A. Unfortunately, we cannot. All trips and destinations are subject to change, and your trip leaders have full discretion over your schedule. As stated repeatedly on the Wild Gardening Festival website, EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE based upon the scouting your trip leaders will do prior to your arrival. 

Please note: Nearly all air travel to the Rio Grande Valley involves a connection through Houston or Dallas. Both are high-traffic airports in cities known for travel delays. We recommend scheduling your travel so you have a buffer, lest delays result in missed activities…