Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center facts for kids
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| Former name | National Wildflower Research Center (1982-1995) |
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| Established | 1982 |
| Location | 4801 La Crosse Avenue Austin, Texas 78739 |
| Type | Botanical garden |
| Collection size | 970+ plant species |
| Visitors | 185,783 |
| Founder | Lady Bird Johnson & Helen Hayes |
| Owner | University of Texas at Austin |
| Public transit access |  Violet Crown Trail |
| Nearest parking | Parking lot on-site |
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is the official state botanical garden and arboretum of Texas. It is part of The University of Texas at Austin. The center helps protect and show off native Texas plants.
You can find over 900 types of native Texas plants here. They are in both special gardens and natural areas. The center also offers many educational programs and fun events. It covers 284 acres and is about 10 miles southwest of downtown Austin, Texas. The center is located where the Edwards Plateau and Texas Blackland Prairies ecosystems meet.
The center's main goal is to "inspire the conservation of native plants." This means they want people to care about and protect plants that naturally grow in an area. They also teach about the good things native plants do for the environment. The Wildflower Center has a huge database of native plants. It lists over 9,000 North American native plants and offers many helpful resources. You can find it at Native Plants of North America.
The center has 9 acres of special gardens. These include the Luci and Ian Family Garden and the Ann and O.J. Weber Pollinator Habitat Garden. There is also a 16-acre area called the Mollie Steves Zachry Texas Arboretum. This arboretum has many kinds of trees and shrubs from all over Texas. You can walk for miles on the trails, see educational exhibits, and visit a gift store or cafe. They also sell native plants twice a year. In 2013, a TV show called Texas Country Reporter said it was the best place in Texas to see wildflowers.
Contents
History of the Wildflower Center
Founding the National Wildflower Research Center
The center was started in 1982 by former first lady Lady Bird Johnson and actress Helen Hayes. They wanted to protect and save North America's native plants and natural landscapes. At first, it was called the National Wildflower Research Center.
The first center was on a 60-acre site in East Austin. Many people wanted to visit the native gardens and learn about native plants. Soon, the original place was too small. This led the leaders to build a bigger campus to welcome more visitors.
Moving to a New Campus
The current campus opened in 1995. It is on a 42-acre site in Southwest Austin. Five acres of native plant gardens were planted. These gardens were designed by J. Robert Anderson, Eleanor McKinney, and Darrel Morrison. The buildings were designed by Overland Partners. They were made to look like the land and buildings of the Texas Hill Country. These buildings have won awards.
In 1997, the center was officially renamed the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Expanding the Center's Land
By 2002, more land was being built on nearby. To help with this, the center bought and was given an extra 237 acres of land next to it. This larger campus allowed for more research on the plants and environment of Central Texas. It also helped them learn how to bring back healthy natural areas. This expansion also made education and public outreach a main part of the center's work.
In 1977, Lady Bird Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This award said that "Her leadership transformed the American landscape and preserved its natural beauty as a national treasure."
Joining The University of Texas
The Wildflower Center became part of The University of Texas at Austin in 2006.
The Wildflower Center is known across the country for its focus on native plants, research, and education. It is a leader in protecting plants and helping the environment. The center worked with the U.S. Botanic Garden and American Society of Landscape Architects. Together, they created the Sustainable Sites Initiative. This program sets standards for designing land in a way that is good for the environment. It is now offered through GBCI.
What is the Center's Mission?
The main goal of the center today is "inspiring the conservation of native plants." This means they want to encourage everyone to protect and care for plants that are native to their area.
New Additions and Growth
On June 20, 2006, The University of Texas System decided to make the Wildflower Center part of The University of Texas at Austin.
In 2010, a gift of $1.4 million helped create a 16-acre arboretum. This arboretum is called the Mollie Steves Zachry Texas Arboretum. It opened in the spring of 2012. It has all 53 types of oak trees that grow naturally in Texas.
In April 2012, Luci Baines Johnson and her husband Ian Turpin gave $1 million for a family garden. Luci Baines Johnson is Lady Bird Johnson's daughter. This garden is named after them. It is 4.5 acres and has a shallow creek for wading. It also has a maze made of 3-foot-tall native hedges and a grotto you can walk into. The family garden opened in May 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Centro de Investigación de Flora Silvestre Lady Bird Johnson para niños
