Rain Boosts Dallas Zoo's Eco-Conscious Initiative
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DALLAS (CBSFDW.COM) - While the cold, rainy weather caused a dip in attendance at many outdoor attractions in Dallas, there is a bright side.
The Dallas Zoo saw only a handful of guests on Thursday.
Many animals didn't mind the weather – the mountain lions and penguins stayed outdoors, even with the option of going to an indoor shelter.
The rain proved a boost for the zoo's eco-conscious initiatives, too.
Five rain barrels collect rainfall around the Dallas Zoo – up to 3,125 gallons each.
By noon on Thursday, the barrels were full.
The water is used for irrigation and exhibit maintenance, and saves the zoo from paying for city water for those purposes.
"It's also a better quality of water. Rainwater is naturally infused with nitrogen. It's cleaner, it's free and it's just a good resource," said Horticulturist Randy Johnson.
Horticulturists at the Dallas Arboretum not only see the rain as good—but the cold weather as well.
Plants like pansies, kale and chard that make up the gardens in January hold up well in the cold weather.
The horticulturists start planning everything you see eight to nine months in advance. Jennifer Wang says the cold actually helps slow the growth of the bulbs that will bloom into the beautiful flowers the Arboretum is known for in the spring.
"The bulbs start to emerge usually in January and if we get too much warm weather, they'll kind of come up early and bloom earlier than we want. We want them to hit that window of March through April. We don't want them to bloom as early as February," said Wang, who is the horticulture manager.
Admission to the Dallas Arboretum is $5 through January. The Dallas Zoo offers $5 admission as well in the wintertime, through February.
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