Outstanding Gardens of Austin, Texas

The mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to promote resource conservation, with a special focus on native plants through education and research. Yet, Diana remarks how it also highlights the natural beauty of the Hill Country, an area where rugged terrain and bright splashes of color comingle in unexpected ways.

If visiting in spring, be sure to look above the stone entrance to the garden, where a great horned owl nests each year. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the latest brood of owlets.

Situated in the heart of Austin, this is a more compact garden yet offers a variety of garden experiences. Visitors are advised that while several primary paths are wheelchair accessible, other paths may be difficult for those with mobility issues due to slope and uneven terrain.

The Isamu Taniguchi Japanese Garden is one of the most popular areas with meandering paths that lead past a traditional teahouse, waterfalls, streams, and koi-filled ponds.

For something completely different, Diana encourages you to visit the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, inspired by the discovery of dinosaur tracks and ancient bones in 1992. This garden features collections of plants dating back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the land, while a life-size sculpture of an Ornithomimus (an ostrich-like dinosaur from the Cretaceous period) is exhibited on Dino Island. “This Prehistoric Garden is also a wonderful shady spot on a hot day—and we have a lot of those!” laughs Diana.

Best known for the peacocks that strut with pride through the site, Mayfield Park and Preserve is certainly unique. The park is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and features an historic cottage, two acres of colorful cottage gardens, and water gardens. Mayfield Preserve is the 21-acre natural area that surrounds the park, containing walking trails and wildlife habitat.

“This a garden where you will find many of your traditional, favorite garden plants,” comments Diana, adding that it is especially beautiful in spring and early summer.

The original family home has now been restored. The charming landscape, designed as a strolling garden, is maintained by a dedicated team of volunteers.