Natural Christmas decorations highlight weekend at Jones Park

As the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season descends and Christmas draws ever closer, it’s often difficult to take some time out of our busy schedules and relax. So why not combine a few Christmas needs with some relaxation time, as Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center features a pair of nature-oriented holiday programs this weekend? Saturday, December 8 the park presents Chia Tags and Christmas Centerpieces at 10 am. and 2 p.m., respectively, to help you with your holiday decorating needs.

And the Second Sunday Pickers’ holiday folk jam December 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. is sure to take your mind off of the anxieties of the holiday traffic.

Many people go to extravagant lengths to adorn the Christmas gifts that are exchanged with friends and family. For an environmentally friendly unique alternative to the usual paper gift tags, join staff naturalist Anita Casarona Saturday, December 8 at 10 a.m. as she shows participants ages eight and older how to make distinctive, “plantable” paper gift tags that will grow into colorful flowers to lighten up your flower beds in spring. Reservations are required for this event.

The fun doesn’t stop there. That afternoon at 2 p.m., Ms. Casarona shares her secrets for creating beautiful Christmas Centerpieces for the holiday dinner table. Using a variety of natural items, these Christmas creations are sure to get your dinner guests talking. Or they might also take care of that last minute gift for someone close. Reservations are required for ages eight and older.

For those that enjoy the sounds of holiday music and songs, the Second Sunday Pickers’ annual holiday folk music concert is a treat. Sunday, December 9 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Pickers take center stage in the nature center for a lively informal holiday celebration featuring a variety of holiday classics played on old-fashioned instruments. Visitors can just enjoy the music, or bring their own instruments and join in.

Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, a Harris County Precinct 4 facility, is located at 20634 Kenswick Drive in Humble. Its programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, national origin or disability. For more information call 281-446-8588.