Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

If you don’t have time to drive out to the Hill Country to see the bluebonnets, or if, like me, you’ve done that but can’t get enough of wildflowers, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is worth a visit - it’s just 10 miles or so from downtown Austin.

The center was founded by Lady Bird Johnson and actress Helen Hayes. Its focus is on the preserving native plants and wildlife habitats, creating beautiful, sustainable landscapes, and improving water quality. There’s a fascinating variety of themed gardens, like edible plants, butterfly attractors, pollinators, and medicinal plants. We hiked on a winding trail through a meadow of native trees, grasses, and wildflowers. After seeing so many wildflowers while driving on the highways, but not being able to pull over safely, it was lovely to enjoy the flowers up close and at our leisure.

Since it was a Tuesday in spring, the center was open late, with live music and food trucks. Nice!