Introducing Kyle Cheesborough, the Wildflower Center’s Director of Gardens & Collections!

Kyle joined the Center in January and brings a deep passion for gardens, plants, and the landscapes that connect people with the natural world. Most recently at Sherman Library & Gardens in Orange County, California, he helped shape the grounds into a vibrant display garden while supporting native plant research and conservation efforts. His background also includes work at Missouri Botanical Garden and other public garden landscapes.

At the Wildflower Center, Kyle will help guide the care and continued evolution of our gardens and living collections. We’re thrilled to have Kyle here and look forward to seeing his work take shape in the seasons ahead. 

Say hello if you see him in the gardens! 👋🌿

Read more at the link in our bio!

Fortlandia returns this fall, and submissions are now open! ⛺ A beloved Wildflower Center tradition, Fortlandia celebrates imagination, play, and our connection to the natural world through innovative, sustainable fort designs experienced by hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Designers, artists, architects, and creative builders of all kinds are welcome to submit proposals for this year’s exhibition now through April 5!

🔗 Learn more & apply: wildflower.org/fortlandia

Pictured: 2025-26 fort Petalstitch by @pagethink, captured by @ticomendoza

Homeschool Days are back! 🌿 Our spring sessions begin February 18 with Relationships in Nature, where learners will explore how plants and animals are connected through the relationships that shape ecosystems, from the flow of energy in food webs to the close partnerships formed through symbiosis.

Designed for 2nd–6th grade learners (ages 8–12). Upcoming sessions include All About Birds (April 15) and Citizen Science (May 20).

🔗 Link in bio to register!

Space is limited. Registration required.

📷 @ticomendoza

After charting many imaginary seas during this year’s Fortlandia exhibition, Prairie Schooner, designed by father–son duo R-T Krempetz and Aidan Krempetz @dmdinteractive , isn’t sailing away just yet. We’re excited to share that this beloved fort will now have a permanent home at the Wildflower Center, ready to welcome even more crews of explorers, pirates, and daydreamers.

And there’s more to celebrate: Prairie Schooner was voted Fan Favorite in this year’s Fortlandia exhibition. Thank you to everyone who came out to explore and share their favorites with us.

We’re back to regular hours starting today (open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., last entry at 4)!

Plan your visit: wildflower.org/visit

Lying in wait. (Plants are better at patience than we are.)

Like these baby bluebonnets, many are still in a resting phase after the recent freeze. When winter warmth arrives early and is followed by cold, plants can be caught between signals.

A few cold & freeze facts that help explain what’s happening with the plants around us:

🌱 Many plants seal winter buds with protective layers that break down only after sustained warmth. When temperatures drop again, newly exposed tissue is more vulnerable.

🌱 Ice doesn’t always damage plants. Some evergreens tolerate freezing by allowing ice to form between cells rather than inside them, which helps prevent internal damage.

🌱 Roots are less affected than above-ground growth. Soil temperatures remain more stable than air temperatures, so roots are often protected even when stems or leaves are damaged.

🌱 Cold, dry air can be more stressful than snow. Snow acts as insulation, while dry winter air can increase moisture loss — something that’s easy to overlook in Central Texas.

#WildflowerCenter #PlantScience #StayWild