How did the early pioneer families to West Texas enhance the quality of their lives with landscaping? “Plants Across the Frontier” is the topic for our January Chautauqua Learning Series presentation. It will present an overview of landscape plants handed down through the generations. Herbal and medicinal favorites, heirloom roses, and other nostalgic bulbs and perennials will be discussed. Items used as talking points will be offered to attendees as door prizes.

Your host will be Elliott Head. Mr. Head brings his expertise to the series as owner of Paradise Valley Landscapes, located in Bryan, Texas. He earned his Masters Degree in Business Horticulture from Texas A & M University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agri-Business from Abilene Christian University. He has served on the Keep Brazos Beautiful Board and the Exploratory Committee for the Horticulture Gardens at the George Bush Presidential Library.

Our ongoing Chautauqua Learning Series is based on the Chautauqua movement which spread throughout the rural United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It provided educational lectures and entertainment for average Americans before the advent of mass media like radio and television. The Texas Frontier Heritage and Cultural Center™ is proud to continue the spirit of that tradition in the unique setting of the Buffalo Gap Historic Village.

The Grady McWhiney Research Foundation would like to say Thank You to our honored suporters for helping us make the Chautauqua experience available to our community: The Dian Graves Owen Foundation, Judd White ~ CBS Insurance LLP, and Red Steagall.