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CDRI Desert NewsFlash
December 2025
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The first red leaf on the Chisos Red Oak, Quercus gravesii, in the Botanical Gardens. We hope you can enjoy early winter with us—photo by Faith Hille Dishron.
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2025 in Pictures!
Recapping the year through photos has become an annual event for us! We hope you enjoy reflecting on 2025 as much as we do. It’s incredible to see all that we’ve accomplished while working alongside volunteers and sharing plenty of laughter. Be sure to follow the photo story to the end to discover our most daunting task.
We start our retrospective with highlights from our two successful fundraisers. Planning for the Cactus & Succulent Sale began during the first week of January. Throughout January and February 2025, we worked on organizing the sale and sourcing native plants grown from seed. It’s always a challenge, but the reward is offering customers beautiful and unique plants.
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Our second fundraiser was the annual BBQ & Auction held in August. Over the past 12 years, the event has consistently outperformed each previous year. The 2025 BBQ & Auction was no exception -- it was nothing short of “phenomenal.” The auction items were impressive, the food was delicious, and the highlight of the event was Judy Vetter, who made a remarkable $100,000 donation when auctioneer Martin Stringer asked, “Do I hear $100,000?” This generous donation brought tears to Martin’s eyes and earned Judy a standing ovation. The $100,000 donation has been placed in a restricted fund to support a new scholarship program. We’ll share details in 2026.
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The Roger Conant Distinguished Guest Lecture, held twice a year, was a tremendous success. The April 2025 lecture featured Bill Neiman, founder and owner of Native American Seed, located near Junction, Texas. Bill’s informative and thought-provoking presentation on the current state of the environment was enthusiastically received by a captivated audience.
In October, Kerry Griffis-Kyle served as CDRI’s guest lecturer. Kerry is a professor in the Natural Resources Management Department at Texas Tech University. Her lecture on desert toads and their environment enthralled the audience, as evidenced by the Q&A session that followed.
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Educating visitors of all ages about nature, and specifically about the Chihuahuan Desert, is central to our mission. In support of that goal, we offered free programs for both children and adults throughout 2025.
Our children’s programs drew record numbers of attendees, leading us to schedule additional program dates to meet the high demand. Information about CDRI’s children’s programs is available on our website, or you can email programs@cdri.org.
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Our adult programs, which are also free, included our first-ever Seed Swap. During the summer, we hosted a geology workshop led by Jesse Kelsch and a session called “Birdie Big Year” with Tiffany Kersten. We also participated in Earth Day festivities in Alpine, Texas, as well as the SRSU Wildlife Weekend and the Fort Davis Hummingbird Festival, where we offered guided hikes. Additionally, we welcomed Agave Festival participants to two days of guided hikes through the Botanical Gardens.
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There were several additions and improvements in the Botanical Gardens. A new interpretive panel that guides visitors to the Pollinator Garden was installed. We received 18 4-foot Faxon yuccas (Yucca faxoniana) from Hoven Riley and Comanche Yucca, as well as seven Chinquapin oak saplings (Quercus muehlenbergii) and numerous Ocotillo plants (Foquieria splendens) from Cyndi Wimberly. Additionally, we acquired three teak benches for the garden: one dedicated to the memory of Joyce Lockhart Wildenthal, another to Patty Manning, and the third commemorating the 65th wedding anniversary of Marjorie and Joseph Dishron.
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Speaking of receiving, we received, possibly, the best gift of all, 23.2 inches of precipitation in 2025. As many of you know, the summer was spectacular!
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Our biggest project for 2026 involved transferring all our accessioned plant data into Hortis, a plant accessioning software and mapping database. The project required mapping out the Botanical Gardens into the database. Then, starting at the Gardens’ front gate, the meticulous work began by photographing and describing each plant as it was entered into the new system. Additionally, historical data previously saved in Excel spreadsheets continues to be carefully transferred into these new records.
Last week, we submitted an order for 600 metal plant nameplates for the garden. While there’s still more work to be done, it’s exciting to see the project coming together. Volunteer Jim Fissel has led the project from its inception, along with Head Gardener Faith Hille Dishron and Mady Kitchens.
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Click here or use the QR Code below to access the garden data on Hortis.
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2025 was a stunning success thanks to our amazing team that supports each other and welcomes guests with open arms. We couldn’t get it all done without Faith, Will, Scott, Mady, and Jake.
We also have the most talented, hard-working, and dedicated group of volunteers who perform their tasks in the garden, on the trails, leading hikes, and educating our youth.
We are grateful for the many ways in which you support CDRI -- whether through membership, volunteering, participating in our fundraisers, contributions from individuals and foundations, or shopping at CDRI’s thoughtfully curated Gift Shop. We couldn’t do it without YOU!
Thank you all very much!
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|  | CDRI's Gift Shop is open Mon-Sat, 9-5.
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“CDRI’s Gift Shop is a True Gem”
Be sure to visit CDRI’s Gift Shop for your holiday gifts and explore our new selection of children’s books and games. Our children’s book collection includes the Mesaland series published by the University of New Mexico Press, as well as a new book by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
We also offer beautiful coffee table books about the Chihuahuan Desert, which are perfect for gift-giving. Our shelves are filled with a variety of Kei & Molly tea towels, sponge cloths, and tote bags. Additionally, you’ll find an exceptional selection of note cards created by regional artists and photographers.
The Gift Shop is open Monday - Saturday, 9:00-5:00.
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Visiting Groups and Schools
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West of the Pecos Air Stream Club
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St. Andrews Episcopal School, Austin, Texas
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The Village School, Houston, Texas
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| From the CDRI Team,
We wish you Happy Holidays
and a very Happy New Year!
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Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute, P.O. Box 905, Fort Davis, TX 79734
432.364.2499
www.cdri.org
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