We`re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with staff spotlights, shining a light on some incredible Hispanic individuals who make the Wildflower Center special. ✨

Meet our Director of Horticulture, Andrea DeLong-Amaya. She`s been with us for 25 years, and her passion for native plants and nature is inspiring!

🌎 Andrea embraces her Mexican-American and Dutch roots from her mother and father`s side, respectively.

🌾 Andrea comes from a family of migrant workers; growing up, her time was split between Michigan and South Texas.

🌱 When Andrea shared her decision to pursue horticulture as a career, her abuelita was puzzled. "Mija, why do you want to get your hands dirty?" she asked Andrea. To her family, working with the land to make a living was a necessity, not a choice. Andrea`s path into horticulture by choice symbolizes the privilege she feels to follow her passion. She`s especially interested in the biodiversity of plants native to Texas and their ecological significance.

🦋 Her abuelita`s love for butterflies and chili pequín (Capsicum annuum) peppers is a beautiful reminder of the cultural threads that weave through her life.

Stay tuned for more stories about our Hispanic staff! #HispanicHeritageMonth #StaffSpotlight #StayWild #WildflowerCenter

Every Tuesday through October 24, we stay open late from 5-8 p.m. for Tuesday Twilights! Enjoy live music, custom cocktails, food truck fare and more! Reserve your spot: https://www.wildflower.org/event/tuesday-twilights-fall-2023-2023-09-26

Here`s the lineup for tonight:
MUSIC: @jazzdaddies
FOOD: @craigositalian and @crepecrazyatx
DRINK: Featured cocktail "Tito’s Harvest Moon" or drink of your choice from a full cash bar.

Special thanks to our sponsor, @titosvodka!

#StayWild #WildflowerCenter #HappyHour #HappyHourATX

Next week is a Dog-Friendly Night for Tuesday Twilights! Hope to see you and the pups there!

Curious about native plant care? 🌿🌱❓ Sign up for our Native Plant Maintenance class on Saturday, Sept. 30, 1 to 4 p.m.!

While our region`s native plants are resilient, understanding their maintenance can make all the difference. Whether you`re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this class offers valuable tips for everyone, including the best practices to keep those native plants thriving.

Space is limited — make sure to reserve your spot! Tap the link in our bio and choose Classes and Workshops to register.

📷: Lindheimer`s senna (Senna lindheimeriana) #StayWild #WildflowerCenter #AustinPlants #PlantNative

You`ve been asking for it, and here it is - the PLANT LIST for our Fall Native Plant Sale, available at the link in our bio! Also, reservations are open 7 days in advance. Members-only weekend will be Sept. 29 – Oct. 1! Not a member? Tap the link in our bio to join today - get exclusive access to the first weekend of the plant sale and so much more!

Fall Native Plant Sale
Sept. 29 – Oct. 29*
Fridays – Sundays
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
*MEMBERS-ONLY WEEKEND: Sept. 29 – Oct. 1

We’ll be set up in the Texas Arboretum, which is easily accessed at the end of La Crosse Avenue near the Wildflower Center exit gate.

📷: Photo by Alicia Wells (@alitexas)

#StayWild #WildflowerCenter #FallNativePlantSale #PlantSale #AustinTX

✨ LUMINATIONS IS BACK! ✨

Tickets are on sale now at the link in our bio! Our glowing celebration of winter`s natural beauty returns this winter with all-new light installations. Inspired by the four elements — earth, air, fire and water — this year`s exhibition spans nearly two miles of our Texas Arboretum, inviting you to immerse yourself in the season.

Wednesdays - Sundays
Nov. 24, 2023 - Jan. 6, 2024*
Entry from 5:45 - 9 p.m.
*(Closed Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1)

A free parking lot with shuttle is available, or you can purchase guaranteed parking on-site. We can`t wait to welcome you to this year`s Luminations nights!

📷: @tdimenno #StayWild #WildflowerCenter #Luminations #HolidayLights

🦋 Fly on over to the Wildflower Center for #TuesdayTwilights every Tuesday through October 24 from 5-8 p.m. Enjoy live music, custom cocktails, food truck fare and more! Tap the link in our bio to reserve your spot. ✨

Here`s the lineup for 9.19.23:
MUSIC: Olivia Komahcheet
FOOD: @jagschillngrill, @dulceamormioatx and @jerkdaddys
DRINK: Featured cocktail "Tito`s Texas Sipper" or drink of your choice from a full cash bar.

Special thanks to our sponsor, @titosvodka!

📷: @alitexas #StayWild #WildflowerCenter #HappyHour

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we`re excited to introduce the first in a series of staff spotlights, shining a light on a few of the incredible individuals who make the Wildflower Center so special. ✨

Meet our Gift Store Manager, Ruth Martinez! Let`s dive into Ruth`s remarkable journey:

🌻 Ruth comes from a family of migrant workers, rooted in Corpus Christi, TX.

🌱 She proudly embraces her Hispanic heritage, identifying as Hispanic, Latina, Chicana, and Tejana.

🌳 Ruth has been part of our Wildflower Center family for an incredible 9 years! She has many cherished memories with volunteers, patrons and fellow team members throughout the years.

🌷 Nature has always held a special place in Ruth`s heart. As a child, she enjoyed climbing trees, forming a deep connection to the natural world. She identifies strongly with the Indian paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa), native to our beloved Texas. Indian paintbrush requires other flowers to grow, tapping into their roots without causing harm. In the same way, Ruth believes in the power of building a great support system of friends and family as we all grow together.

🌿 Growing up in a hardworking family that moved around often, Ruth didn`t have the opportunity to visit places like botanical gardens. However, today, as a vital member of our team, she recognizes the immense importance of our mission - inspiring the conservation of native plants - and enjoys that she plays a part in sharing this with our community and the world around us.

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories throughout the month as we continue to celebrate our incredible Hispanic team members! #HispanicHeritageMonth #StaffSpotlight #StayWild #WildflowerCenter