Wildflower Café will be temporarily closed for remodeling beginning January 1, 2026.
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
Discovery Day: Into the Wood
Saturday, Jan. 24
Closed for Improvements
Monday, Feb. 2 – Friday, Feb. 6
Winter Woody Plant Sale
Saturday, Jan. 24
Homeschool Day: Relationships in Nature
Wednesday, February 19
GARDEN VIEWS
An inside glimpse of the gardens from our Instagram feed
Due to forecasted weather conditions for this weekend, Discovery Day: Into the Wood and the Winter Woody Plant Sale scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, have been canceled.
The safety and comfort of our visitors, staff, and volunteers come first. Thank you for your understanding, and please stay warm and safe this weekend.
Our next Discovery Day, focused on Texas pollinators, is planned for March 15. More details coming soon.
In the meantime, you can find other upcoming programs and events on our calendar:
wildflower.org/events
Jan 22
Ever wondered what it takes to design a #Fortlandia fort? This year’s forts are still here to explore through Feb. 1, and we’re also beginning to look ahead to what’s next.
Join us for a Fortlandia Designer Info Session on Tuesday, Jan. 27, to learn more about the guidelines, timeline, and what we’re looking for in new fort designs. Applications will open in early February.
🔗 More details at the link in our bio.
📷 @ticomendoza
Jan 21
Enjoy a few peaceful clips from around the Wildflower Center. A sunny, cool day like this is a great time to step outside, get some fresh air and enjoy the slower pace of winter out here.
We’re open today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.): wildflower.org/visit
Jan 19
Winter gold.☀️ The bright blooms and seedheads of the Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) provide late-season color and a little extra food for wildlife, even as the rest of the prairie goes dormant.
Planning a visit? Our gardens and trails are open daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.): wildflower.org/visit
Jan 16
Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata) is a winter star worthy of a shoutout. Its prickly trifoliate leaves stay evergreen, its yellow late-winter flowers offer early nectar for bees, and its tart red berries feed wildlife into spring. Even the yellow roots have stories — they contain berberine, once used as a natural dye.
(UPDATE 1/22: Due to forecasted weather conditions, this event has been canceled. Please see our most recent post for details.) Find agarita and other native shrubs and trees at our Winter Woody Plant Sale during Discovery Day: Into the Wood on Jan. 24.
Full plant list coming soon! Check the link in our bio for more.
Jan 14
After a long stretch of warm winter days, this week’s cold front is a good reminder of how well native plants handle sudden temperature shifts. ❄️🌿
Some plants form a protective “dry zone” around their buds, which keeps ice from damaging delicate tissues. Evergreens take another route by reducing the amount of water inside their cells so they can freeze slowly between cells without harm. Underground, roots stay insulated by the warmth of the soil.
These adaptations help native plants weather brief freezes and stay ready for spring, even in unpredictable winters. If you’re out during this cool spell, take a close look at buds, evergreens and grasses to observe adaptations like these and more.
📷 Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) by @alitexas
Jan 12
Featured Fort: Prairie Schooner
Hop aboard this whimsical play structure created and brough to life by father–son designers R-T Krempetz and Aidan Krempetz (@dmdinteractive). Prairie Schooner is an ode to our native landscapes with a fun touch of storybook exploration.
As the story goes, a group of voyagers once traveled the Texas prairie — taking note of every meadow, outcrop, woodland, bird and butterfly they encountered. Their ship slowly became a living archive of their observations, layered with sketches, poems and discoveries. The voyagers are long gone, but the spirit they left behind remains: be curious, look closely, and let nature surprise you.
Onboard the Prairie Schooner, visitors can steer the great wheel, climb toward the crow’s nest, or imagine themselves sailing across the wide Texas landscape.
Explore Prairie Schooner and seven other forts at Fortlandia, open now in our Family Garden. And when you visit, be sure to vote for your favorite fort using the QR codes at each installation!
Learn more: wildflower.org/fortlandia (link in our bio!)
🎥 @ticomendoza
Behind the scenes photos: @dmdinteractive
#Fortlandia
Jan 9
Ease into the new year with a little movement as a family. ✨ We still have a few spots open for Family Yoga with @atxyogagirl this Sunday morning.
January and February yoga classes will be held indoors in our library!
📅 Sunday, Jan. 11, 10:30–11:15 a.m.
Save your spot at the link in our bio!
Photo: ATX Yoga Girl
Jan 8
Ferns reproduce in a very different way than most garden plants.
Instead of flowers or seeds, they produce spores, which appear as tiny clusters called sori on the underside of their fronds. When released under the right conditions, spores grow into a separate life stage that eventually becomes a new fern.
Take a closer look in our Little House to see this bit of science hiding in plain sight.
#Fern #PlantScience #Botany
Jan 7
Café Update ☕ As part of our ongoing commitment to improving the visitor experience, Wildflower Café closed on Jan. 1 for a multi-month remodel.
We’re excited to reimagine the café for the future and will share updates on temporary food and drink options as details are finalized.
In the meantime, you’re welcome to bring outside food and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy during your visit in our picnic areas! We kindly ask that guests pack out what they bring in.
For the latest information, visit the Café page on our website (link in bio).
Thanks for your patience as this work gets underway.
Jan 6
Due to forecasted weather conditions for this weekend, Discovery Day: Into the Wood and the Winter Woody Plant Sale scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, have been canceled.
The safety and comfort of our visitors, staff, and volunteers come first. Thank you for your understanding, and please stay warm and safe this weekend.
Our next Discovery Day, focused on Texas pollinators, is planned for March 15. More details coming soon.
In the meantime, you can find other upcoming programs and events on our calendar:
wildflower.org/events
Jan 22
Ever wondered what it takes to design a #Fortlandia fort? This year’s forts are still here to explore through Feb. 1, and we’re also beginning to look ahead to what’s next.
Join us for a Fortlandia Designer Info Session on Tuesday, Jan. 27, to learn more about the guidelines, timeline, and what we’re looking for in new fort designs. Applications will open in early February.
🔗 More details at the link in our bio.
📷 @ticomendoza
Jan 21
Enjoy a few peaceful clips from around the Wildflower Center. A sunny, cool day like this is a great time to step outside, get some fresh air and enjoy the slower pace of winter out here.
We’re open today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.): wildflower.org/visit
Jan 19
Winter gold.☀️ The bright blooms and seedheads of the Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) provide late-season color and a little extra food for wildlife, even as the rest of the prairie goes dormant.
Planning a visit? Our gardens and trails are open daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.): wildflower.org/visit
Jan 16
Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata) is a winter star worthy of a shoutout. Its prickly trifoliate leaves stay evergreen, its yellow late-winter flowers offer early nectar for bees, and its tart red berries feed wildlife into spring. Even the yellow roots have stories — they contain berberine, once used as a natural dye.
(UPDATE 1/22: Due to forecasted weather conditions, this event has been canceled. Please see our most recent post for details.) Find agarita and other native shrubs and trees at our Winter Woody Plant Sale during Discovery Day: Into the Wood on Jan. 24.
Full plant list coming soon! Check the link in our bio for more.
Jan 14
After a long stretch of warm winter days, this week’s cold front is a good reminder of how well native plants handle sudden temperature shifts. ❄️🌿
Some plants form a protective “dry zone” around their buds, which keeps ice from damaging delicate tissues. Evergreens take another route by reducing the amount of water inside their cells so they can freeze slowly between cells without harm. Underground, roots stay insulated by the warmth of the soil.
These adaptations help native plants weather brief freezes and stay ready for spring, even in unpredictable winters. If you’re out during this cool spell, take a close look at buds, evergreens and grasses to observe adaptations like these and more.
📷 Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) by @alitexas
Jan 12
Featured Fort: Prairie Schooner
Hop aboard this whimsical play structure created and brough to life by father–son designers R-T Krempetz and Aidan Krempetz (@dmdinteractive). Prairie Schooner is an ode to our native landscapes with a fun touch of storybook exploration.
As the story goes, a group of voyagers once traveled the Texas prairie — taking note of every meadow, outcrop, woodland, bird and butterfly they encountered. Their ship slowly became a living archive of their observations, layered with sketches, poems and discoveries. The voyagers are long gone, but the spirit they left behind remains: be curious, look closely, and let nature surprise you.
Onboard the Prairie Schooner, visitors can steer the great wheel, climb toward the crow’s nest, or imagine themselves sailing across the wide Texas landscape.
Explore Prairie Schooner and seven other forts at Fortlandia, open now in our Family Garden. And when you visit, be sure to vote for your favorite fort using the QR codes at each installation!
Learn more: wildflower.org/fortlandia (link in our bio!)
🎥 @ticomendoza
Behind the scenes photos: @dmdinteractive
#Fortlandia
Jan 9
Ease into the new year with a little movement as a family. ✨ We still have a few spots open for Family Yoga with @atxyogagirl this Sunday morning.
January and February yoga classes will be held indoors in our library!
📅 Sunday, Jan. 11, 10:30–11:15 a.m.
Save your spot at the link in our bio!
Photo: ATX Yoga Girl
Jan 8
Ferns reproduce in a very different way than most garden plants.
Instead of flowers or seeds, they produce spores, which appear as tiny clusters called sori on the underside of their fronds. When released under the right conditions, spores grow into a separate life stage that eventually becomes a new fern.
Take a closer look in our Little House to see this bit of science hiding in plain sight.
#Fern #PlantScience #Botany
Jan 7
Café Update ☕ As part of our ongoing commitment to improving the visitor experience, Wildflower Café closed on Jan. 1 for a multi-month remodel.
We’re excited to reimagine the café for the future and will share updates on temporary food and drink options as details are finalized.
In the meantime, you’re welcome to bring outside food and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy during your visit in our picnic areas! We kindly ask that guests pack out what they bring in.
For the latest information, visit the Café page on our website (link in bio).
Thanks for your patience as this work gets underway.
Jan 6
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