Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Our beloved Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), Athena, has become a true icon here at the Wildflower Center. During her inaugural season featured on the live cam in partnership with Cornell Lab of Ornithology, she and her mate raised two owlets right in the sotol planter above our courtyard—capturing the hearts of viewers around the world. ? From dawn till dusk, Athena’s journey showcases the resilience and beauty of Texas wildlife. Watch the highlight reel of the past season below to celebrate the moments that resonated with all of us: https://lnkd.in/gzzMiKr3 ? Learn more about Great Horned Owls and Athena's story: https://lnkd.in/g8uQXpTu ? #WildflowerCenter #GreatHornedOwl #StayWild #AthenaTheOwl #TexasWildlife

This was a wonder opportunity to partner with the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library to bring a timely and relevant look at Lady Bird Johnson's bold and brave approach to calm fears around civil rights. Thanks to authors Reneé Lyons and Helen Kampion for joining us to read their beautiful book and discuss civic lessons. At the Wildflower Center, we encourage the boldness of our namesake by providing nature play space for generations of children to build skills by taking risks in play. These activities outside help children navigate and problem solve SEL and civic issues. This was a great mash up, and I'm grateful. #gonative #riskplay #looseparts #keepitrolling

During our annual vegetation surveys, teams of staff, students, and volunteers collect data essential to advancing ecological restoration techniques and demonstrating sustainable land management. This work is a cornerstone of the Center’s mission, supporting healthier landscapes and informing practices that extend to other UT campuses. ? Each survey season, we observe and record vegetation patterns, collecting information contributing to over two decades of ecological research. As one of the longest-running studies of the University of Texas at Austin, this project helps us better understand the effects of land management practices, such as prescribed fire and mowing, on plant communities. ? Thank you to everyone who participated this fall! ? #WildflowerCenter #StayWild #ScienceAndConservation #NativePlants

Our very own Joe Marcus recently received the 2024 Digital Media Award from the Native Plant Society of Texas for his significant contributions to the Native Plants of North America database. The database includes indispensable information about native species and over 80,000 plant images. We're very proud of his excellent work! https://lnkd.in/gtmFvkuh #WildflowerCenter #StayWild

Many of our volunteers have been dedicated to our mission for decades and our annual appreciation event is a recognition of their individual and collective milestones. Volunteers make a huge impact by tending to our gardens, helping guests connect with nature, educating our community, and more. Over the last fiscal year, 762 volunteers dedicated an astounding 28,410 hours to the Wildflower Center! Your time, heart, and expertise are an invaluable part of our mission. To learn more about what our volunteers do and how to get involved, visit wildflower.org/volunteer.

Educators, take inspiration from Lady Bird Johnson’s legacy—bold, adventurous, and dedicated to making a difference! Join us on November 9 for a professional development workshop in partnership with the #LBJLibrary. Dive into Rollin’ on Down the Line: Lady Bird Johnson’s 1964 Whistle-Stop Tour for Civil Rights with authors Helen Kampion and Reneé Critcher Lyons, and learn how Lady Bird’s courageous work can inspire your classroom. This workshop offers practical ideas for taking learning outdoors and making an impact in your classroom. Spaces are limited—register today: https://lnkd.in/gpiZTVUy More details: - Designed for pre-K and elementary educators - Attendees earn 6 hours of CPE credit - Registration includes lunch and a copy of Rollin’ on Down the Line #ProfessionalDevelopment #OutdoorLearning #LadyBirdJohnson #TeacherWorkshop #AustinTeachers #WildflowerCenter

Join us for a Texas Arbor Day celebration at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Saturday, Nov. 2! ?? Learn how to ID some of the most common Central Texas trees in our Botanical Basics: Tree Identification Class, observe a tree climbing demo, explore info about forestry careers, and more! View the schedule of activities: https://lnkd.in/gkCAMT8q ??Fun fact: While National Arbor Day is observed in April, since 2013 Texas has hosted its state celebration on the first Friday in November, the best time of year to plant a tree in our region! You can celebrate Arbor Day throughout November with classes and events hosted here at the Wildflower Center, including: ?? Through Oct. 27: Purchase a tree to plant at the final weekend of our Fall Native Plant Sale (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.) ?? Nov. 3: Forest Bathing with Cultured Forest Founder Brooke Mellen ?? Nov. 16: Learn to care for your trees at our Tree Pruning class. ?? Take a stroll through the Arboretum to see the Hall of Texas Heroes, featuring trees from the acorns of Texas' storied oaks. #WildflowerCenter #StayWild #ArborDay #TexasArborDay

Learning is always in season at the Wildflower Center! Members of our team recently took part in a hands-on snake training workshop led by Brett Parker from Hill Country Snake Removal. Brett helps dispel myths about these often misunderstood creatures, with the motto: "Kill the fear, not the snake." Most Texas species are non-venomous and play a crucial role in the ecosystem, particularly in rodent control. Our team learned more about: ? Snake identification ? Behavioral traits ? Common myths (Rattlesnakes don't actually rattle much, in order to avoid attracting predators) ? Methods of safe handling and relocation This training helped us better understand our Texas snakes, so we can continue to care for the landscape and all its inhabitants—big and small. #WildflowerCenter #StayWild #TexasSnakes #HillCountrySnakeRemoval

The Wildflower Center is proud to be a conservation partner for the new Pollinators & Prairies program, launched this week by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. This collective effort highlights how we can all contribute to protecting native pollinators and prairies. Whether you're supporting on-the-ground research or planting a pocket prairie, every action counts! Tomorrow evening, we're excited to welcome program partners and sponsors for a launch event at the Center, and we can’t wait to share more about the impactful initiatives to come! Learn how you can help pollinators and prairies thrive by visiting pollinatorsandprairies.org. Thanks to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, H-E-B, Phillips 66, and all partner organizations for making this critical work possible! #PollinatorsAndPrairies #WildflowerCenter #PollinatorConservation #PrairieRestoration #TexasNativePlants

It was a record-breaking fiscal year for the Wildflower Center, made possible by volunteers, supporters and nature lovers like you. Our all-new digital report highlights how the Center is making strides toward our mission to inspire the conservation of native plants, including: ?? Increased science and conservation programs; ??Welcoming more visitors than ever to our gardens; ? 30,000 service hours logged by our dedicated volunteers; And more. Read about our impact here: https://lnkd.in/gV9QMFjb Photos provided by Wildflower Center staff and volunteers. #WildflowerCenter #StayWild #ImpactReport