The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s new Luci and Ian Family Garden gives children and their families a wonderful place to discover nature and the beauty of native plants through “nature play.” Children are enticed to explore mathematical patterns found in Nature, wander a maze made of native shrubs or see how water flows around different Hill Country rocks.
Opening Sunday, May 4, 2014, the 4.5-acre Family Garden doubles the maintained garden acreage at the 279-acre Wildflower Center that is part of The University of Texas at Austin.
What’s Special
- Nature’s Spiral, a mosaic–inlaid limestone wall that illustrates the spiral shapes found in nature
- Creek with dinosaur footprints
- Metamorphosis Maze
- Giant tree stumps great for climbing
- Giant bird nests made from native grape vines
- Grotto with caves
- Waterfall
- Lawn designed with native turf
- Water activities
“Luci and Ian” are Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson, and her husband Ian Turpin, who are major donors of the $5 million attraction. The Family Garden, a model for eco-friendly landscaping, is a pilot project of the national Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) program. The Wildflower Center developed SITES in partnership with the U.S. Botanic Garden and the American Society of Landscape Architects and is the most comprehensive national system for rating the design, construction and maintenance of sustainable landscapes. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin is part of the legacy of the former first lady.
Visit
Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Noon – 5 p.m. Sunday
4801 La Crosse Avenue, Austin, Texas 78739.
Photo credit: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin