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EVENTS & CLASSES
Join us for one of our exciting classes, programs or events
Fortlandia
Daily, Oct. 4, 2024 – Feb. 2, 2025
Aesthetic Pruning
Saturday, January 25
Fortlandia Designer Info Session
Wednesdays, Jan. 15 & 29
MEMBERS ONLY: Winter Woody Plant Sale
Saturday, January 25
GARDEN VIEWS
An inside glimpse of the gardens from our Instagram feed
Oh, Mocha Mousse is trending? Native plants have had that look down all winter (and, in many cases, year-round). The 2025 PANTONE color is everywhere in nature—bark, seed pods, dried grasses—subtle, cozy, and effortlessly beautiful.
Curious about adding these natural hues or other favorites to your garden? Explore our Native Plants of North America database online at the link in our bio.
🦎 Texas spiny lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus), by Bill J. Boyd
🍂 Lindheimer’s senna (Senna lindheimeriana) seed pod
🌼 Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella) seed head
🌾 Big muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri)
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #MochaMousse #Pantone2025 #NativePlants
Jan 16
Texas is home to 12 Level III ecoregions, each with its own climate, soil, and plant life. Unlike Plant Hardiness Zones, which are based on average winter low temperatures, ecoregions dive deeper, highlighting the unique natural diversity that shapes what grows best. Ecoregions express the particularities of nature in any area, the distinct “language” of place, as Lady Bird Johnson put it.
Whether you’re a gardener or naturalist, understanding your ecoregion can help you make informed choices in planting, conservation, and exploring the natural world.
What ecoregion do you live in? Do you have favorites in other parts of the country? Find out more at the link in our bio.
📷 American basket-flower (Centaurea americana) blankets a field near Lubbock in the High Plains ecoregion, by Esther Irish
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #Ecoregions #Texas
Jan 15
Featured Fort: Ant Farm 🐜
Ants might be tiny, but they play a huge role in keeping ecosystems healthy. On top of being a snack for bigger critters like horned toads and armadillos, these insects help keep things clean by eating all kinds of organic waste.
As kids, many of us were fascinated by ant farms—watching their tiny tunnels and teamwork unfold. Designer Chris Honea @honea.ponea took that curiosity a step further, drawing inspiration from the movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" to create a life-sized ant farm you can step into! Crawl through tunnels, peek through colorful windows that bring the underground above ground, and experience the world from an ant’s perspective.
🌟 While you`re exploring Fortlandia, don’t forget to cast your vote for your favorite fort using the QR codes throughout the exhibit.
Fortlandia is open through February 2! Interested in becoming a designer? We`ve got free info sessions tomorrow, Jan. 15, and Jan. 29 (link in our bio!).
📷 @wildrosephotostudio
#AntFarm #Fortlandia #WildflowerCenter #AustinTX #StayWild #NaturePlay
Jan 14
Every native plant blooming in our gardens, every child discovering a lifelong love for nature, every bee buzzing around its favorite flower - your support helps make it all possible. Thanks to your generosity, we not only met our end-of-year fundraising goal - we more than doubled it! Twice the impact for our native plant conservation, educational programs, and the beauty we all cherish.
Curious about what else you helped us accomplish? Check out our Impact Report for the full story: wildflower.org/impact. Let’s keep the momentum going together in 2025!
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #NativePlants #PublicGardens
Jan 13
With sweetly scented yellow puffball flowers and delicate foliage, goldenball leadtree (Leucaena retusa) creates an airy canopy—perfect for sun-loving plants to thrive beneath. Winter is the ideal time to plant woody species like this, giving their roots a head start before summer’s heat.
Shop our Members-Only Winter Woody Plant Sale on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Not a member? Join today to enjoy perks like exclusive sales, free admission, and more - plus, members save 10% at the sale!
Details and plant list (coming soon!) at the link in our bio.
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #NativePlants #WoodyPlant
Jan 11
We’re excited to share the opening reception of "Wildlife Amidst the Wildflowers" on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Old Bakery & Artisan Emporium. 🌿 This exhibition features breathtaking photography by volunteers from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Fauna Project, led by Valerie Bugh.
Curated by @davidjcook10, the exhibit will showcase works by @naturewalker1, @lindakcrabtree, @tex_anne, @mika.geiger and more. These images reveal the hidden world of pollinators, birds, and other creatures that thrive alongside our wildflowers.
Our gardens are more than collections of plants - they’re living ecosystems. This exhibit highlights the work the Fauna Project photographers have been doing since 2010 to document the fauna that make these habitats complete.
🎟️ RSVP for FREE via the link in our bio! The exhibit will remain on display through mid-March, but the reception is a celebration you won’t want to miss.
📷 Sweat bee (Agapostemon sp.) by @naturewalker1
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #FaunaSurvey #AustinArtist #NaturePhotography
Jan 10
Ice ribbons aren’t just a frostweed (Verbesina virginica) phenomenon! Lead Horticulturist Amy Medley spotted these delicate, icy shapes on a pyramid bush (Melochia tomentosa) near the Savanna Meadow.
When temps drop below freezing — as they did this week in Austin — moisture escapes from plant stems and freezes in the cold air, forming stunning, ribbon-like ice formations. Known by many names, including frost flowers, ice leaves, or crystallofolia, they’re one of winter’s most fleeting wonders.
More on nature’s frosty art at the link in our bio.
📸 Pyramid bush with ice crystals by Amy Medley
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #IceRibbons #PyramidBush
Jan 9
Guess who’s back? American robins are making their seasonal appearance at the Wildflower Center, flocking to feast on berries and insects. If you’ve been out in the gardens recently, you might’ve heard their familiar "cheerily, cheer up" call or spotted flashes of their rusty orange bellies darting among the trees.
Robins are a lively sight this time of year, often feeding communally – sometimes in flocks of hundreds or even thousands! These social birds are raucous at mealtime. Their favorite winter treats? Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) berries, Hackberry (Celtis spp.) drupes, and any insects they can uncover.
This week, wildlife photographer Bill J. Boyd captured these stunning photos of our feathered visitors in action. Bundle up and see how many you can spot on your next outing to the Wildflower Center.
Plan your visit: wildflower.org/visit
📷: Bill J. Boyd
#WildflowerCenter #BirdWatching #AmericanRobin #StayWild #NaturePhotography
Jan 8
Are you a local architect, artist or dreamer interested in becoming a Fortlandia designer? Attend a free info session on Jan. 15 or 29 to learn more about the selection process. If this year’s forts sparked your imagination, now’s your chance to turn ideas into reality!
NOTE: Both sessions cover the same material, so pick the date that works best for you. Registration is required. Learn more at the link in our bio!
📷 "Shell Yeah!" creators pose with their fort, captured by @wildrosephotostudio. The whimsical snail creation is a collaboration between @chioco_design, @austincustomcnc and @howdybuilt.
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #Fortlandia #ATXDesign
Jan 7
It’s the first Monday of 2025, and we’re already feeling the energy of fresh starts. How are those resolutions coming along? If they involve spending more time in nature, digging into gardening, or lending a hand to conservation efforts, you’re in great company - we’re here for it!
What seeds (literally or figuratively) are you planting in the year ahead? Maybe it’s finally creating that pollinator garden you’ve been thinking about or taking more strolls outside to reconnect with the world around you. And hey, if resolutions aren’t your thing, we say: bloom where you’re planted!
What’s on your mind as we step into 2025? Tell us your goals, hopes, or plans for the year—we’d love to hear!
📸 Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei)
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #AsheJuniper #NativePlants #NewYears
Jan 6
Oh, Mocha Mousse is trending? Native plants have had that look down all winter (and, in many cases, year-round). The 2025 PANTONE color is everywhere in nature—bark, seed pods, dried grasses—subtle, cozy, and effortlessly beautiful.
Curious about adding these natural hues or other favorites to your garden? Explore our Native Plants of North America database online at the link in our bio.
🦎 Texas spiny lizard (Sceloporus olivaceus), by Bill J. Boyd
🍂 Lindheimer’s senna (Senna lindheimeriana) seed pod
🌼 Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella) seed head
🌾 Big muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri)
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #MochaMousse #Pantone2025 #NativePlants
Jan 16
Texas is home to 12 Level III ecoregions, each with its own climate, soil, and plant life. Unlike Plant Hardiness Zones, which are based on average winter low temperatures, ecoregions dive deeper, highlighting the unique natural diversity that shapes what grows best. Ecoregions express the particularities of nature in any area, the distinct “language” of place, as Lady Bird Johnson put it.
Whether you’re a gardener or naturalist, understanding your ecoregion can help you make informed choices in planting, conservation, and exploring the natural world.
What ecoregion do you live in? Do you have favorites in other parts of the country? Find out more at the link in our bio.
📷 American basket-flower (Centaurea americana) blankets a field near Lubbock in the High Plains ecoregion, by Esther Irish
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #Ecoregions #Texas
Jan 15
Featured Fort: Ant Farm 🐜
Ants might be tiny, but they play a huge role in keeping ecosystems healthy. On top of being a snack for bigger critters like horned toads and armadillos, these insects help keep things clean by eating all kinds of organic waste.
As kids, many of us were fascinated by ant farms—watching their tiny tunnels and teamwork unfold. Designer Chris Honea @honea.ponea took that curiosity a step further, drawing inspiration from the movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" to create a life-sized ant farm you can step into! Crawl through tunnels, peek through colorful windows that bring the underground above ground, and experience the world from an ant’s perspective.
🌟 While you`re exploring Fortlandia, don’t forget to cast your vote for your favorite fort using the QR codes throughout the exhibit.
Fortlandia is open through February 2! Interested in becoming a designer? We`ve got free info sessions tomorrow, Jan. 15, and Jan. 29 (link in our bio!).
📷 @wildrosephotostudio
#AntFarm #Fortlandia #WildflowerCenter #AustinTX #StayWild #NaturePlay
Jan 14
Every native plant blooming in our gardens, every child discovering a lifelong love for nature, every bee buzzing around its favorite flower - your support helps make it all possible. Thanks to your generosity, we not only met our end-of-year fundraising goal - we more than doubled it! Twice the impact for our native plant conservation, educational programs, and the beauty we all cherish.
Curious about what else you helped us accomplish? Check out our Impact Report for the full story: wildflower.org/impact. Let’s keep the momentum going together in 2025!
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #NativePlants #PublicGardens
Jan 13
With sweetly scented yellow puffball flowers and delicate foliage, goldenball leadtree (Leucaena retusa) creates an airy canopy—perfect for sun-loving plants to thrive beneath. Winter is the ideal time to plant woody species like this, giving their roots a head start before summer’s heat.
Shop our Members-Only Winter Woody Plant Sale on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Not a member? Join today to enjoy perks like exclusive sales, free admission, and more - plus, members save 10% at the sale!
Details and plant list (coming soon!) at the link in our bio.
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #NativePlants #WoodyPlant
Jan 11
We’re excited to share the opening reception of "Wildlife Amidst the Wildflowers" on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Old Bakery & Artisan Emporium. 🌿 This exhibition features breathtaking photography by volunteers from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Fauna Project, led by Valerie Bugh.
Curated by @davidjcook10, the exhibit will showcase works by @naturewalker1, @lindakcrabtree, @tex_anne, @mika.geiger and more. These images reveal the hidden world of pollinators, birds, and other creatures that thrive alongside our wildflowers.
Our gardens are more than collections of plants - they’re living ecosystems. This exhibit highlights the work the Fauna Project photographers have been doing since 2010 to document the fauna that make these habitats complete.
🎟️ RSVP for FREE via the link in our bio! The exhibit will remain on display through mid-March, but the reception is a celebration you won’t want to miss.
📷 Sweat bee (Agapostemon sp.) by @naturewalker1
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #FaunaSurvey #AustinArtist #NaturePhotography
Jan 10
Ice ribbons aren’t just a frostweed (Verbesina virginica) phenomenon! Lead Horticulturist Amy Medley spotted these delicate, icy shapes on a pyramid bush (Melochia tomentosa) near the Savanna Meadow.
When temps drop below freezing — as they did this week in Austin — moisture escapes from plant stems and freezes in the cold air, forming stunning, ribbon-like ice formations. Known by many names, including frost flowers, ice leaves, or crystallofolia, they’re one of winter’s most fleeting wonders.
More on nature’s frosty art at the link in our bio.
📸 Pyramid bush with ice crystals by Amy Medley
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #IceRibbons #PyramidBush
Jan 9
Guess who’s back? American robins are making their seasonal appearance at the Wildflower Center, flocking to feast on berries and insects. If you’ve been out in the gardens recently, you might’ve heard their familiar "cheerily, cheer up" call or spotted flashes of their rusty orange bellies darting among the trees.
Robins are a lively sight this time of year, often feeding communally – sometimes in flocks of hundreds or even thousands! These social birds are raucous at mealtime. Their favorite winter treats? Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) berries, Hackberry (Celtis spp.) drupes, and any insects they can uncover.
This week, wildlife photographer Bill J. Boyd captured these stunning photos of our feathered visitors in action. Bundle up and see how many you can spot on your next outing to the Wildflower Center.
Plan your visit: wildflower.org/visit
📷: Bill J. Boyd
#WildflowerCenter #BirdWatching #AmericanRobin #StayWild #NaturePhotography
Jan 8
Are you a local architect, artist or dreamer interested in becoming a Fortlandia designer? Attend a free info session on Jan. 15 or 29 to learn more about the selection process. If this year’s forts sparked your imagination, now’s your chance to turn ideas into reality!
NOTE: Both sessions cover the same material, so pick the date that works best for you. Registration is required. Learn more at the link in our bio!
📷 "Shell Yeah!" creators pose with their fort, captured by @wildrosephotostudio. The whimsical snail creation is a collaboration between @chioco_design, @austincustomcnc and @howdybuilt.
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #Fortlandia #ATXDesign
Jan 7
It’s the first Monday of 2025, and we’re already feeling the energy of fresh starts. How are those resolutions coming along? If they involve spending more time in nature, digging into gardening, or lending a hand to conservation efforts, you’re in great company - we’re here for it!
What seeds (literally or figuratively) are you planting in the year ahead? Maybe it’s finally creating that pollinator garden you’ve been thinking about or taking more strolls outside to reconnect with the world around you. And hey, if resolutions aren’t your thing, we say: bloom where you’re planted!
What’s on your mind as we step into 2025? Tell us your goals, hopes, or plans for the year—we’d love to hear!
📸 Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei)
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #AsheJuniper #NativePlants #NewYears
Jan 6
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