Wildflower Café is temporarily closed for remodeling.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Find information about hours, admission, accessibility, and everything you need to know before you arrive.
BECOME A MEMBER
Support our mission and enjoy year-round admission, discounts, early access, special events, and more.
FEATURED ARTICLE
See how a student-led pollinator garden is transforming a school courtyard into habitat for birds, butterflies, and bees.
EVENTS & CLASSES
Join us for one of our exciting classes, programs or events
Tuesday Twilights Feat. Live Jukebox Trio
Tuesday, April 21
Spring Native Plant Sale
Fridays – Sundays, April 3 – 26 (Fridays are members only)
iNaturalist Workshop
Tuesday, April 21
Garden Tour
Tuesday, April 28
GARDEN VIEWS
An inside glimpse of the gardens from our Instagram feed
Athena Update:
We have sad news to share this morning. Athena’s second owlet died overnight, and after careful consultation with our partners at @cornellbirdcams, we agreed that ending the livestream this morning made the most sense.
We know this is difficult for those who have been following along and formed a connection to Athena and her owlets. Our staff feels this loss alongside you.
Despite Athena’s efforts over the past several days, the owlet did not survive. While the exact cause is unknown, a variety of natural factors can affect survival for owlets, including food availability. It can also be difficult to fully assess activity from the camera view. Athena has not been at the nest, but has been seen nearby in the trees today, and moments like this do happen in the wild, even for experienced owl parents.
Athena has nested at the Wildflower Center for many years. Each season is different, and we remain hopeful we’ll see her again next year. We’re thankful to have shared this time with Athena and her owlets, and for everyone who has followed along.
For more context from our partners at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, you can read their latest update at the link in our Stories.
Apr 19
We’re saddened to share that one of Athena’s owlets has died.
While difficult to witness, this is a natural part of life for Great Horned Owls, and not all owlets survive to fledge. Athena continues to care for the remaining owlet.
We’re in touch with our partners at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and will share more if we learn additional details.
Thank you for following along with care and respect for Athena and this nesting journey.
Apr 17
Not all butterfly bushes are created equal. 🦋
This week, Wildflower Center Director of Gardens & Collections Kyle Cheesborough highlights Buffalo gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) and Woolly butterflybush (Buddleja marrubiifolia), two plants well adapted to our region and doing their part for pollinators.
He also touches on Buddleja davidii, a butterflybush commonly found in nurseries that has invasive qualities in parts of the country, though it’s not considered as aggressive here.
It’s a good reminder that plant choice matters. Native and well-adapted species tend to support more wildlife and behave better in the landscape than their lookalikes.
See what else is in season: wildflower.org/whatsinseason 🌿
Apr 17
Inspired by Lady Bird Johnson’s passion for native plants and the landscapes that define Texas and beyond, the Lady Bird Society brings together a community of supporters who help carry that vision forward.
Recently, members gathered at the Center for an early look at the Spring Native Plant Sale and to kick off our new Lady Bird Society insider experiences.
The series opened with a panel featuring Wildflower Center leadership alongside landscape architect Christine Ten Eyck of @teneyckla, focused on native plants, pollinators, and the future of Texas landscapes.
Through their sustained support, Lady Bird Society members help make our work possible by supporting the care of our gardens, growing education programs, and advancing research that shapes how native landscapes are restored and cared for.
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us, and to this community for the essential role they play in sustaining the Center’s work.
Learn more: wildflower.org/donate/lady-bird-society
Apr 15
Saturday vibes on a Tuesday? We’ve got them!
Join us tomorrow for Tuesday Twilights - an easy evening in the gardens with live music, drinks, and spring in full swing.
🎶 @annalamaremusic
🍴 Kold Kutz, @garboslobster, @craigosfoodtruck, @dulcefridaatx
🍺 Stop by to try @blueowlbrewing’s Athena Botanical Lager
🕔 5 - 8 p.m.
Can’t make it tomorrow? We’ve got a full lineup of Tuesday evenings ahead. Take a peek at what’s coming up: wildflower.org/tuesday-twilights (Dog-friendly night is on May 5!)
Apr 13
Not all plant sale finds are easy to come by! 👀 Our horticulture team is especially excited about a few standouts this spring, including some harder-to-find favorites and new additions to our offerings.
These picks bring a mix of evergreen structure, beautiful blooms, and drought-tough performance.
🌿 Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurel cherry)
🌼 Aquilegia chrysantha (Golden columbine)
🌲 Hesperocyparis arizonica (Arizona cypress)
Coming to the Spring Native Plant Sale? Add one to your list.
wildflower.org/plant-sales
Apr 11
What’s blooming beyond the garden beds? 🌾
Wildflower Center Horticulturist Maggie shares a few of the less cultivated wildflowers you’ll find in our natural areas right now! Plants mentioned: firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella), silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), Texas skeleton plant (Lygodesmia texana), and hill country rain lily (Cooperia pedunculata).
Plan your visit: wildflower.org/visit
🎶 Background vocals by our very enthusiastic bird chorus!
#NativePlants #WildflowerCenter #TXWildflowers2026 #Wildflowers
Apr 10
Our Spring Native Plant Sale continues every weekend in April, with Texas natives ready to go home with you. Whether you’re starting small or rethinking your whole yard, this is a good place to begin. 🌱
Fridays are members only (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.), with the sale open to all on Saturday and Sunday.
Plan your wishlist at wildflower.org/plant-sales
Apr 9
🐣 We’ve been waiting for this moment! Athena’s first owlet has officially hatched.
Thanks to our partnership with @cornellbirdcams, you can watch the season unfold live, 24/7. Whether you’ve been following Athena for years or just discovered the cam, we’re glad you’re here.
Athena returned to the sotol planter on March 4, laid her first egg the next day, and a second a few days later. She’s been steadily incubating ever since, while her mate keeps watch and delivers meals at dawn and dusk.
Now, we wait for owlet #2 to appear!
📺 Watch live + learn more at wildflower.org/athena and allaboutbirds.org/cams/wildflower-great-horned-owls/
#BirdCam #GreatHornedOwl #AustinTX
Apr 8
Oh to be a bee diving into a lace cactus bloom.
Lace cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii) produces large, short-lived flowers that can be nearly as wide as the plant itself. With dozens of ragged-edged petals and a dense cluster of stamens surrounding a multi-lobed stigma, the structure all but ensures contact as pollinators move through.
As bees push into the flower, they pick up and deposit pollen in the process. This kind of close contact is what allows the plant to set seed.
Native to dry, rocky soils across Texas and the southern Great Plains, lace cactus stays low to the ground and stores water in its stems. It may look unassuming most of the year, but during bloom, it becomes a concentrated resource for pollinators.
Each flower lasts only a day or two, so be sure to check them out on your way out to our research trails!
Plan your visit: wildflower.org/visit
Apr 7
Athena Update:
We have sad news to share this morning. Athena’s second owlet died overnight, and after careful consultation with our partners at @cornellbirdcams, we agreed that ending the livestream this morning made the most sense.
We know this is difficult for those who have been following along and formed a connection to Athena and her owlets. Our staff feels this loss alongside you.
Despite Athena’s efforts over the past several days, the owlet did not survive. While the exact cause is unknown, a variety of natural factors can affect survival for owlets, including food availability. It can also be difficult to fully assess activity from the camera view. Athena has not been at the nest, but has been seen nearby in the trees today, and moments like this do happen in the wild, even for experienced owl parents.
Athena has nested at the Wildflower Center for many years. Each season is different, and we remain hopeful we’ll see her again next year. We’re thankful to have shared this time with Athena and her owlets, and for everyone who has followed along.
For more context from our partners at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, you can read their latest update at the link in our Stories.
Apr 19
We’re saddened to share that one of Athena’s owlets has died.
While difficult to witness, this is a natural part of life for Great Horned Owls, and not all owlets survive to fledge. Athena continues to care for the remaining owlet.
We’re in touch with our partners at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and will share more if we learn additional details.
Thank you for following along with care and respect for Athena and this nesting journey.
Apr 17
Not all butterfly bushes are created equal. 🦋
This week, Wildflower Center Director of Gardens & Collections Kyle Cheesborough highlights Buffalo gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) and Woolly butterflybush (Buddleja marrubiifolia), two plants well adapted to our region and doing their part for pollinators.
He also touches on Buddleja davidii, a butterflybush commonly found in nurseries that has invasive qualities in parts of the country, though it’s not considered as aggressive here.
It’s a good reminder that plant choice matters. Native and well-adapted species tend to support more wildlife and behave better in the landscape than their lookalikes.
See what else is in season: wildflower.org/whatsinseason 🌿
Apr 17
Inspired by Lady Bird Johnson’s passion for native plants and the landscapes that define Texas and beyond, the Lady Bird Society brings together a community of supporters who help carry that vision forward.
Recently, members gathered at the Center for an early look at the Spring Native Plant Sale and to kick off our new Lady Bird Society insider experiences.
The series opened with a panel featuring Wildflower Center leadership alongside landscape architect Christine Ten Eyck of @teneyckla, focused on native plants, pollinators, and the future of Texas landscapes.
Through their sustained support, Lady Bird Society members help make our work possible by supporting the care of our gardens, growing education programs, and advancing research that shapes how native landscapes are restored and cared for.
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us, and to this community for the essential role they play in sustaining the Center’s work.
Learn more: wildflower.org/donate/lady-bird-society
Apr 15
Saturday vibes on a Tuesday? We’ve got them!
Join us tomorrow for Tuesday Twilights - an easy evening in the gardens with live music, drinks, and spring in full swing.
🎶 @annalamaremusic
🍴 Kold Kutz, @garboslobster, @craigosfoodtruck, @dulcefridaatx
🍺 Stop by to try @blueowlbrewing’s Athena Botanical Lager
🕔 5 - 8 p.m.
Can’t make it tomorrow? We’ve got a full lineup of Tuesday evenings ahead. Take a peek at what’s coming up: wildflower.org/tuesday-twilights (Dog-friendly night is on May 5!)
Apr 13
Not all plant sale finds are easy to come by! 👀 Our horticulture team is especially excited about a few standouts this spring, including some harder-to-find favorites and new additions to our offerings.
These picks bring a mix of evergreen structure, beautiful blooms, and drought-tough performance.
🌿 Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurel cherry)
🌼 Aquilegia chrysantha (Golden columbine)
🌲 Hesperocyparis arizonica (Arizona cypress)
Coming to the Spring Native Plant Sale? Add one to your list.
wildflower.org/plant-sales
Apr 11
What’s blooming beyond the garden beds? 🌾
Wildflower Center Horticulturist Maggie shares a few of the less cultivated wildflowers you’ll find in our natural areas right now! Plants mentioned: firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella), silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), Texas skeleton plant (Lygodesmia texana), and hill country rain lily (Cooperia pedunculata).
Plan your visit: wildflower.org/visit
🎶 Background vocals by our very enthusiastic bird chorus!
#NativePlants #WildflowerCenter #TXWildflowers2026 #Wildflowers
Apr 10
Our Spring Native Plant Sale continues every weekend in April, with Texas natives ready to go home with you. Whether you’re starting small or rethinking your whole yard, this is a good place to begin. 🌱
Fridays are members only (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.), with the sale open to all on Saturday and Sunday.
Plan your wishlist at wildflower.org/plant-sales
Apr 9
🐣 We’ve been waiting for this moment! Athena’s first owlet has officially hatched.
Thanks to our partnership with @cornellbirdcams, you can watch the season unfold live, 24/7. Whether you’ve been following Athena for years or just discovered the cam, we’re glad you’re here.
Athena returned to the sotol planter on March 4, laid her first egg the next day, and a second a few days later. She’s been steadily incubating ever since, while her mate keeps watch and delivers meals at dawn and dusk.
Now, we wait for owlet #2 to appear!
📺 Watch live + learn more at wildflower.org/athena and allaboutbirds.org/cams/wildflower-great-horned-owls/
#BirdCam #GreatHornedOwl #AustinTX
Apr 8
Oh to be a bee diving into a lace cactus bloom.
Lace cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii) produces large, short-lived flowers that can be nearly as wide as the plant itself. With dozens of ragged-edged petals and a dense cluster of stamens surrounding a multi-lobed stigma, the structure all but ensures contact as pollinators move through.
As bees push into the flower, they pick up and deposit pollen in the process. This kind of close contact is what allows the plant to set seed.
Native to dry, rocky soils across Texas and the southern Great Plains, lace cactus stays low to the ground and stores water in its stems. It may look unassuming most of the year, but during bloom, it becomes a concentrated resource for pollinators.
Each flower lasts only a day or two, so be sure to check them out on your way out to our research trails!
Plan your visit: wildflower.org/visit
Apr 7
Help us spread the beauty!
EXPLORE MORE
Expert advice, plant nerdery and inspiring stories
A Garden Grows at Ann Richards School
How one student got the courtyard blooming
Beyond the Blossoms
The team of volunteers documenting Wildflower Center fauna
Power the Migration
Thirteen plants to help monarch butterflies