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
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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
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
Winter doesn’t need to be a bleak time in the garden, especially in Texas. 🌾 It’s one of the best times to slow down, observe, and notice what native plants add to a landscape year-round.
Even if you’re not planting right now, winter offers plenty of clues to guide thoughtful garden decisions for the year ahead. As you walk your neighborhood, visit the Center, or spend time outdoors, keep an eye out for:
• Evergreen structure from agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata), cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens), yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), and sotols (Dasylirion spp.)
• Bright berries on possumhaw (Ilex decidua), coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), and American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
• Grasses glowing in low winter light, like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), muhlys (Muhlenbergia spp.), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
You don’t have to plant everything right now. Noticing which plants bring texture, color, and life through winter can help you plan a more resilient, rewarding garden when the time is right.
Learn more about winter interest in native landscapes at the link in bio!
#StayWild #NativePlants #WildflowerCenter
Jan 5
Flower Wild by @hillandhammer_atx is a nature-inspired play space built from locally sourced materials and designed to encourage curiosity, creativity, and connection.
Hidden pictograms of native flora invite discovery, while ADA-accessible features ensure every explorer can take part. With climbing logs and tucked-away spaces, Flower Wild evokes childhood memories of fort-building and tree-climbing.
Come explore Flower Wild and seven other imaginative hideouts at Fortlandia, open through Feb. 1 in our Family Garden. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite fort using the QR codes at each location!
Learn more: wildflower.org/fortlandia
📷 @ticomendoza
#Fortlandia #WildflowerCenter #NaturePlay
Jan 3
Here’s to a bright start to the New Year ✨
As we step into 2026, we’re grateful for our Wildflower Center community and all the moments you shared with us this past year. If you’re looking for a calm way to ease into the days ahead, Luminations continues for its final nights Friday and Saturday (Jan. 2–3).
Stroll glowing paths, linger under the lights, and start the year surrounded by nature.
Use code BRIGHT for $5 off tickets.
wildflower.org/luminations
🎥 @ticomendoza
Jan 1
As the year winds down, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what your support made possible at the Wildflower Center.
In 2025, we welcomed nearly 300,000 visitors, began long-term monitoring of the endangered Hinckley’s oak, and mentored 19 student interns who are shaping the future of native plant conservation. These moments, and many more, add up to lasting impact.
Our year-end fundraiser wraps up tomorrow, and every gift helps carry this work into the year ahead. Whether it’s $25 or $250, your support helps ensure these landscapes, programs, and learning opportunities continue to grow.
Give today → wildflower.org/donate
Dec 30
Winter is a great time to spot birds at the Wildflower Center. With leaves down and native plants full of berries and seed heads, birds are often easier to see this time of year.
Lately, we’ve been spotting familiar favorites like Northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) and Northern mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), along with Black-crested titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus), cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum), and soaring Cooper`s hawks (Astur cooperii) moving through the gardens and Arboretum.
Some are year-round residents, others are seasonal visitors — all relying on native plants for food and shelter during the colder months.
What birds have you been noticing lately?
📸 Bill J. Boyd
Dec 29
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
Winter doesn’t need to be a bleak time in the garden, especially in Texas. 🌾 It’s one of the best times to slow down, observe, and notice what native plants add to a landscape year-round.
Even if you’re not planting right now, winter offers plenty of clues to guide thoughtful garden decisions for the year ahead. As you walk your neighborhood, visit the Center, or spend time outdoors, keep an eye out for:
• Evergreen structure from agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata), cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens), yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), and sotols (Dasylirion spp.)
• Bright berries on possumhaw (Ilex decidua), coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), and American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
• Grasses glowing in low winter light, like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), muhlys (Muhlenbergia spp.), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
You don’t have to plant everything right now. Noticing which plants bring texture, color, and life through winter can help you plan a more resilient, rewarding garden when the time is right.
Learn more about winter interest in native landscapes at the link in bio!
#StayWild #NativePlants #WildflowerCenter
Jan 5
Flower Wild by @hillandhammer_atx is a nature-inspired play space built from locally sourced materials and designed to encourage curiosity, creativity, and connection.
Hidden pictograms of native flora invite discovery, while ADA-accessible features ensure every explorer can take part. With climbing logs and tucked-away spaces, Flower Wild evokes childhood memories of fort-building and tree-climbing.
Come explore Flower Wild and seven other imaginative hideouts at Fortlandia, open through Feb. 1 in our Family Garden. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite fort using the QR codes at each location!
Learn more: wildflower.org/fortlandia
📷 @ticomendoza
#Fortlandia #WildflowerCenter #NaturePlay
Jan 3
Here’s to a bright start to the New Year ✨
As we step into 2026, we’re grateful for our Wildflower Center community and all the moments you shared with us this past year. If you’re looking for a calm way to ease into the days ahead, Luminations continues for its final nights Friday and Saturday (Jan. 2–3).
Stroll glowing paths, linger under the lights, and start the year surrounded by nature.
Use code BRIGHT for $5 off tickets.
wildflower.org/luminations
🎥 @ticomendoza
Jan 1
As the year winds down, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what your support made possible at the Wildflower Center.
In 2025, we welcomed nearly 300,000 visitors, began long-term monitoring of the endangered Hinckley’s oak, and mentored 19 student interns who are shaping the future of native plant conservation. These moments, and many more, add up to lasting impact.
Our year-end fundraiser wraps up tomorrow, and every gift helps carry this work into the year ahead. Whether it’s $25 or $250, your support helps ensure these landscapes, programs, and learning opportunities continue to grow.
Give today → wildflower.org/donate
Dec 30
Winter is a great time to spot birds at the Wildflower Center. With leaves down and native plants full of berries and seed heads, birds are often easier to see this time of year.
Lately, we’ve been spotting familiar favorites like Northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) and Northern mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), along with Black-crested titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus), cedar waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum), and soaring Cooper`s hawks (Astur cooperii) moving through the gardens and Arboretum.
Some are year-round residents, others are seasonal visitors — all relying on native plants for food and shelter during the colder months.
What birds have you been noticing lately?
📸 Bill J. Boyd
Dec 29
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