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Membership is a cost-effective way to visit often and support our important work. Please join our efforts to connect people to the natural world and create a more sustainable future.
EVENTS & CLASSES
Join us for one of our exciting classes, programs or events
Vision Boards & Sound Bowls Mini Retreat
Friday, March 21
Spring Native Plant Sale
Fridays – Sundays, March 28 – April 27
(Members only first weekend)
Members Only: Book Launch
Saturday, March 22
Ask a Gardener
Saturday, March 29
GARDEN VIEWS
An inside glimpse of the gardens from our Instagram feed
House Hunters: Great Horned Owl Edition 🦉 This clip captures a conversation between Athena and her mate before settling in to nest this season. As she inspects the spot, he calls from nearby, and together they perform a duet, a key part of great horned owl communication. Their alternating calls, hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo, help reinforce their bond and let other owls in town know this spot is occupied.
Before we had the owl cam, moments like this between Athena and her mate were rarely seen or heard. Now we get a front-row seat to their world!
Keep up with Athena LIVE at the link in our bio!
🎥 @cornellbirdcams
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #GreatHornedOwl #OwlCam #BirdCam
Mar 16
🌿 Think you know Texas? Let’s test your Lone Star knowledge! As the Botanic Garden of Texas, we’re all about celebrating the diverse plants that make our state special. But let’s see if you can spot the imposter!
Texas is home to six species of bluebonnets. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
A. Big Bend Bluebonnet (Lupinus havardii)
B. Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis)
C. Blackfoot Bluebonnet (Lupinus fictus)
D. Sundial Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
Comment your guess below (Bonus points if you can name any of the other missing bluebonnets)! 👇 Then, head to our Stories for more trivia and celebrate with us this Saturday at Discovery Day: Texas! Expect expert-led garden walks, live music, hands-on activities, and plenty of springtime fun. Details at the link in our bio!
📅 Saturday, March 15 | 10 AM – 2 PM
🎟 Included with admission—always free for members!
#DiscoveryDayTexas #TexasTrivia #WildflowerCenter #StayWild #BotanicGardenofTexas
Mar 14
🐝 “Bee” there or be square! The buzz is real - Discovery Day: Texas is shaping up to be a Texas-sized celebration this Saturday! From live music to close encounters with native wildlife, there’s plenty to see, do, and explore.
What’s in store?
🎶 Live music & cultural performances – Enjoy Bill Oliver & The Otter Space Band, the @utaustintx Longhorn Band, @austin_powwow Great Promise Dancers, and line dancing lessons with @doubleornothingtwostep
🐍 Texas wildlife up close – Get to know our native snakes in the Auditorium and learn why they’re an important part of our ecosystems.
🌸 Guided garden walks – Stroll through spring blooms with our experts, including a rare plants tour.
🎨 Creative & hands-on fun – Make bluebonnet crafts and explore educational booths in the Great Hall!
📅 Saturday, March 15 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
🎟 Included with admission—always free for members! BBQ, tacos, paletas, and face painting available for purchase.
Check out the full schedule & plan your visit at the link in our bio!
🎥 Bees and a nessus sphinx moth flutter around Texas bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis) and Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
#DiscoveryDayTexas #WildflowerCenter #StayWild #ATXThingsToDo #AustinTX
Mar 13
You made it halfway through the week! Take a deep breath with us…
Continue the moment at our mini retreat with @atxyogagirl on March 21! You’ll relax with a guided sound bath meditation and create a personal vision board to bring your goals to life.
Tap the link in our bio to register.
Share with a friend who could use a reset! 💫
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #MindfulMoments
Mar 12
Welcome back, Texas Wildflower Watchers! A new wildflower season is here, which means it’s time to brighten up our feeds with fresh native flowers!
The @texaswildflowerwatch account is run by @wildflowercenter and is dedicated to celebrating what’s currently blooming beyond our gates across the Lone Star State. And we need you to help us do it!
📷 Share your current native wildflower photos using #TXWildflowers2025, along with the date and a general location (city or county). We’ll feature some of your snapshots all season long, so tag your posts to share what you see growing in real time!
🌼 Kicking things off with a large buttercup (Ranunculus macranthus) seen on 3.10.2025 at the Center.
Let’s get this wildflower season started!
#TXWildflowers2025 #WildflowerCenter #StayWild
Mar 11
Our prescribed burn last month didn’t just remove dried vegetation, it improved soil conditions and created more opportunities for native plants. Fire breaks down accumulated organic material, returning nutrients to the soil, while seeds already in the ground gain better access to sunlight and moisture.
Some wildflower seeds even rely on heat or chemical signals from smoke to cue germination, while others simply benefit from fewer competing plants. Over time, we’ll likely see a flush of native grasses and blooms take advantage of these conditions.
Prescribed fire is also one of the best tools for preventing wildfires. By burning in a controlled way, we mimic natural fire cycles that have shaped Texas landscapes for centuries—without the risk.
It may look bare now, but there’s plenty happening beneath the surface!
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #PrescribedFire
Mar 10
Introducing our 2025 Wildflower of the Year: Gregg’s mistflower (Conoclinium greggii)!
This fuzzy purple bloomer may not be flowering just yet, but once it does, expect a butterfly frenzy - especially from Queens and Monarchs. Tough, drought-tolerant, and easy to grow, it’s a great choice for Texas gardens looking to support pollinators.
Look for its blooms from March through Novemebr, bringing a steady parade of winged visitors.
Want to learn more? Check out the NPONA database via the link in our bio.
📷 Wildflower Center
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #WildflowerOfTheYear #GreggsMistflower #NativePlants
Mar 9
And we’re live! 🎥 Athena’s 24/7 nest camera is officially up. Watch her in real time at the link in our bio.
Let us know in the comments where you’re tuning in from! 🦉
📷 Bill J. Boyd (P.S. Is it just us, or does she totally look like this emoji? ➡️🥺)
#AthenaTheOwl #LiveNestCam #Birdwatching #OwlCam #BirdCam
Mar 7
Another sneak peek just for our followers and members! Athena’s laid an egg, and she’s all cozied up on her ledge. The 24/7 live camera goes up tomorrow morning! We’ll post here when the link is live, so keep an eye out.
We’re absolutely loving all the excitement for Athena and can’t wait to share more of these special moments with you. Stay tuned! ✨
🎥 Video courtesy of @cornellbirdcams
#AthenaTheOwl #SneakPeek #Birdwatching #LiveNestCam #WildflowerCenter #StayWild
Mar 6
March at the Wildflower Center 🌿 Spring is here, and so are new ways to explore, learn, and celebrate native plants with us! Swipe through to see what’s happening this month.
Which event are you most excited for? Explore our full calendar at the link in our bio!
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #ATXThingsToDo #SpringEvents #NatureLovers #ExploreTexas
Mar 6
House Hunters: Great Horned Owl Edition 🦉 This clip captures a conversation between Athena and her mate before settling in to nest this season. As she inspects the spot, he calls from nearby, and together they perform a duet, a key part of great horned owl communication. Their alternating calls, hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo, help reinforce their bond and let other owls in town know this spot is occupied.
Before we had the owl cam, moments like this between Athena and her mate were rarely seen or heard. Now we get a front-row seat to their world!
Keep up with Athena LIVE at the link in our bio!
🎥 @cornellbirdcams
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #GreatHornedOwl #OwlCam #BirdCam
Mar 16
🌿 Think you know Texas? Let’s test your Lone Star knowledge! As the Botanic Garden of Texas, we’re all about celebrating the diverse plants that make our state special. But let’s see if you can spot the imposter!
Texas is home to six species of bluebonnets. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
A. Big Bend Bluebonnet (Lupinus havardii)
B. Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis)
C. Blackfoot Bluebonnet (Lupinus fictus)
D. Sundial Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
Comment your guess below (Bonus points if you can name any of the other missing bluebonnets)! 👇 Then, head to our Stories for more trivia and celebrate with us this Saturday at Discovery Day: Texas! Expect expert-led garden walks, live music, hands-on activities, and plenty of springtime fun. Details at the link in our bio!
📅 Saturday, March 15 | 10 AM – 2 PM
🎟 Included with admission—always free for members!
#DiscoveryDayTexas #TexasTrivia #WildflowerCenter #StayWild #BotanicGardenofTexas
Mar 14
🐝 “Bee” there or be square! The buzz is real - Discovery Day: Texas is shaping up to be a Texas-sized celebration this Saturday! From live music to close encounters with native wildlife, there’s plenty to see, do, and explore.
What’s in store?
🎶 Live music & cultural performances – Enjoy Bill Oliver & The Otter Space Band, the @utaustintx Longhorn Band, @austin_powwow Great Promise Dancers, and line dancing lessons with @doubleornothingtwostep
🐍 Texas wildlife up close – Get to know our native snakes in the Auditorium and learn why they’re an important part of our ecosystems.
🌸 Guided garden walks – Stroll through spring blooms with our experts, including a rare plants tour.
🎨 Creative & hands-on fun – Make bluebonnet crafts and explore educational booths in the Great Hall!
📅 Saturday, March 15 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
🎟 Included with admission—always free for members! BBQ, tacos, paletas, and face painting available for purchase.
Check out the full schedule & plan your visit at the link in our bio!
🎥 Bees and a nessus sphinx moth flutter around Texas bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis) and Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
#DiscoveryDayTexas #WildflowerCenter #StayWild #ATXThingsToDo #AustinTX
Mar 13
You made it halfway through the week! Take a deep breath with us…
Continue the moment at our mini retreat with @atxyogagirl on March 21! You’ll relax with a guided sound bath meditation and create a personal vision board to bring your goals to life.
Tap the link in our bio to register.
Share with a friend who could use a reset! 💫
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #MindfulMoments
Mar 12
Welcome back, Texas Wildflower Watchers! A new wildflower season is here, which means it’s time to brighten up our feeds with fresh native flowers!
The @texaswildflowerwatch account is run by @wildflowercenter and is dedicated to celebrating what’s currently blooming beyond our gates across the Lone Star State. And we need you to help us do it!
📷 Share your current native wildflower photos using #TXWildflowers2025, along with the date and a general location (city or county). We’ll feature some of your snapshots all season long, so tag your posts to share what you see growing in real time!
🌼 Kicking things off with a large buttercup (Ranunculus macranthus) seen on 3.10.2025 at the Center.
Let’s get this wildflower season started!
#TXWildflowers2025 #WildflowerCenter #StayWild
Mar 11
Our prescribed burn last month didn’t just remove dried vegetation, it improved soil conditions and created more opportunities for native plants. Fire breaks down accumulated organic material, returning nutrients to the soil, while seeds already in the ground gain better access to sunlight and moisture.
Some wildflower seeds even rely on heat or chemical signals from smoke to cue germination, while others simply benefit from fewer competing plants. Over time, we’ll likely see a flush of native grasses and blooms take advantage of these conditions.
Prescribed fire is also one of the best tools for preventing wildfires. By burning in a controlled way, we mimic natural fire cycles that have shaped Texas landscapes for centuries—without the risk.
It may look bare now, but there’s plenty happening beneath the surface!
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #PrescribedFire
Mar 10
Introducing our 2025 Wildflower of the Year: Gregg’s mistflower (Conoclinium greggii)!
This fuzzy purple bloomer may not be flowering just yet, but once it does, expect a butterfly frenzy - especially from Queens and Monarchs. Tough, drought-tolerant, and easy to grow, it’s a great choice for Texas gardens looking to support pollinators.
Look for its blooms from March through Novemebr, bringing a steady parade of winged visitors.
Want to learn more? Check out the NPONA database via the link in our bio.
📷 Wildflower Center
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #WildflowerOfTheYear #GreggsMistflower #NativePlants
Mar 9
And we’re live! 🎥 Athena’s 24/7 nest camera is officially up. Watch her in real time at the link in our bio.
Let us know in the comments where you’re tuning in from! 🦉
📷 Bill J. Boyd (P.S. Is it just us, or does she totally look like this emoji? ➡️🥺)
#AthenaTheOwl #LiveNestCam #Birdwatching #OwlCam #BirdCam
Mar 7
Another sneak peek just for our followers and members! Athena’s laid an egg, and she’s all cozied up on her ledge. The 24/7 live camera goes up tomorrow morning! We’ll post here when the link is live, so keep an eye out.
We’re absolutely loving all the excitement for Athena and can’t wait to share more of these special moments with you. Stay tuned! ✨
🎥 Video courtesy of @cornellbirdcams
#AthenaTheOwl #SneakPeek #Birdwatching #LiveNestCam #WildflowerCenter #StayWild
Mar 6
March at the Wildflower Center 🌿 Spring is here, and so are new ways to explore, learn, and celebrate native plants with us! Swipe through to see what’s happening this month.
Which event are you most excited for? Explore our full calendar at the link in our bio!
#WildflowerCenter #StayWild #ATXThingsToDo #SpringEvents #NatureLovers #ExploreTexas
Mar 6
Help us spread the beauty!
EXPLORE MORE
Expert advice, plant nerdery and inspiring stories
Horticultural Heroes
Rescuing flora from Central Texas’ development boom
Take It Outside
The benefits of hands-on, high-touch outdoor education
Go Big Red
Fans rally to conserve a rare sage