Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

We’re proud to share that the newly-renovated McDermott Carriage House has received a Preservation Award for Rehabilitation + Sustainability as part of Preservation Austin’s 2026 Preservation Merit Awards. Built in 1885, the carriage house was the only structure to survive the 1998 fire that destroyed the Driskill family mansion. It was later moved to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, where it has served as a space for learning, art and events for more than 20 years. In 2025, we worked with Architexas to return the building to its original open-air design. The rehabilitation conserves energy while creating a welcoming place for visitors to pause and enjoy the gardens. Thank you to Preservation Austin for recognizing this work, and to everyone who helped preserve an important piece of Austin’s history. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ekeSG6-E #PreservationMeritAwards

Last night, Athena’s owlet was released at the Wildflower Center, nearly five months after being rescued from its nest here. The owlet had been presumed dead after Athena left the nest, but the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Cams team continued watching and spotted movement. Austin Wildlife Rescue came to its aid and cared for it as it grew, with the help of a foster great horned owl. We’re grateful to everyone who helped the owlet reach this moment. Thank you to Wildflower Center volunteer Bill J. Boyd for capturing this photo. Read KUT’s story about the release: https://lnkd.in/ePiwkbr6

Armadillos, bats and tree-top adventures are making their way into the Family Garden, along with a whole new batch of wild ideas. Fortlandia returns Friday, Oct. 2! Now in its ninth year, Fortlandia is our annual exhibition of creative forts designed for play, exploration and a little time in nature. Each year, local designers, architects, artists, makers and fabricators bring a new collection of imaginative spaces to life in the Family Garden. We’re excited to introduce the teams behind this year’s forts: ⛺ Dave Threlkeld, PSM and Mary Wendel of The Art Mines ⛺ GEM George McLaughlin ⛺ Webber + Studio, Architects, Monkeyhouse Tree Nets, Red Dog Welding Co. and Skelly Build ⛺ Mikaela Meyering, Bes Builder, Bes Roofing and Juan Lopez ⛺ DLR Group and Joeris General Contractors, LLC ⛺ Steinberg Hart and Linbeck Group, LLC ⛺ LPA, Inc. and Emily Eisenhart ⛺ Nicholas DeBruyne and Wevolve Labs Plus, one familiar fort is sticking around. Prairie Schooner, created by R-T Krempetz and Aidan Krempetz for last year’s exhibition, is now a Forever Fort and will remain at the Wildflower Center beyond its original Fortlandia run. We’re grateful to all of the creative teams lending their talents to this year’s exhibition, and we can’t wait to see their ideas come to life. Fortlandia runs Oct. 2, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027. Learn more: wildflower.org/fortlandia Photo by Tico Mendoza #Fortlandia #NaturePlay #Design #Austin

Join our team! The Wildflower Center is hiring for two full-time positions: 🌱 Horticulturist, Full Time Help care for the living grounds of the Center as part of our horticulture team. We’re looking for someone with plant-care experience who enjoys working outdoors and connecting with guests and volunteers. 🌿 Senior Director of Development, Full Time Lead our comprehensive development program, build meaningful relationships with donors and partners, and help drive fundraising for the Center’s future, including an exciting capital campaign. Learn more about these positions and apply: https://lnkd.in/gfndCf82 #WildflowerCenter #Hiring #AustinJobs

We’re proud to be part of this exciting new addition to the The University of Texas at Austin campus. The Wildflower Center is collaborating with Maya Lin and Lionheart Places on the restored meadow that will surround Floating Landscape, bringing native Texas plants and landscapes into the vision for this new public space. We look forward to seeing this remarkable intersection of art, landscape and place come to life in 2027.

We're lucky to work with such talented interns! This summer, they've been contributing to projects across the Center, including research that helps us better understand native bumble bees and the habitats they depend on.

We're honored that the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has been included in today's New York Times Travel article, "7 Gardens So Serene, You Won't Believe They're in the City." The article highlights the Wildflower Center's nearly 900 species of native plants, research that supports healthier landscapes, and Ice Age in the Wild, our current outdoor exhibition featuring larger-than-life prehistoric mammals. As the official state botanical garden and arboretum of Texas, we're proud to see our mission of inspiring the conservation and cultivation of native plants recognized alongside outstanding botanical gardens from across the United States. Thank you to our staff, volunteers, members and supporters who help make this work possible every day. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/djgnhiAK

Texas bluebells (Eustoma exaltatum ssp. russellianum) are in bloom, and their story stretches far beyond Texas. Known in the floral industry as lisianthus, this native wildflower has become one of the world's most popular cut flowers. Learn how it journeyed from Texas prairies to international flower markets, and why protecting wild populations still matters. Read the story: https://lnkd.in/e4PiTgvs

Recent rains have made this an exceptional season for Central Texas wildflowers, and they're even influencing which species are blooming and when. Our lead horticulturist, Amy Medley, recently spoke with Axios Austin about the conditions behind this year's spectacular display, including why some wildflowers typically associated with fall are already flowering. The article offers a great look at the relationship between rainfall, climate and the native plants that shape our landscapes. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eEudnrDb

We were glad to kick off this year's Groundwater to the Gulf journey welcoming attendees to the Wildflower Center. Thanks to all the educators spending part of their summer exploring the connections between water, plants and people across Texas.