Springtime in Texas brings native color
By MONETTE TAYLOR | Country World South Central
April 5, 2001 -- Tucked in a remote corner of southwest Austin, the 179 acre Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is beginning to come alive with color produced by native plants and flowers.
Established in 1982 by Johnson and Helen Hayes, the original Center was called the National Wildflower Research Center and was established to help people understand, appreciate and protect native plants and landscapes.
In 1998, the Center was relocated to its present home and renamed after former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson.
"One of the neat things about working here is Mrs. Johnson's affect, her input into the whole thing...her vision of her dream. You don't realize it when they hire you, but you're going to be working for her dream and will get to meet her, too," said Priscilla Pipho, public relations/media manager for the Center.
As a non-profit organization, the Center depends on volunteers and donations to keep things operating smoothly, and to host the 80-100,000 visitors who visit each year.
"Typically, it's most concentrated in the spring with all of the wildflowers," said Pipho. "Every year we have what we call 'Wildflower Days,' and that's during the springtime. We try to do as much as we can to get people engaged in what's going on."
The center educates people about the environment and economic value of planting native plants. Various classes are offered each month and provide training and information concerning the establishment and care of native plants.
"You can sign up for classes on the website, and there's always a listing of the most current classes," said Pipho.
"We do have landscape restoration. They do some of the classes in conjunction with the Society for Ecological Restoration."
Native plants are adapted to the particular combination of soil, temperature, nutrients and rainfall of their region. They require very little else, once they are established in an area.
"We have a program for educators where we train...for a real nominal fee...and we'll have workshops for teachers to come and learn how to train their kids. Once they've gone through that training, the teachers can come back and bring the whole school for free," Pipho added.
The Center has about 450 volunteers "on the books," but relies on about 250 volunteers who work every month.
"There's a real strong culture here that is devoted to really preserving the environment, and people here are really committed to that mission and they believe in it," said Pipho.
"What you see here are people who think they really can save the world, and that's the exciting thing about working here."
Even in the winter, the Center has something to offer.
"Austin has a lot of pretty days in the wintertime, and we like to get people out here and get them to realize it's not just about blooms, but it's about textures and different kinds of beauty that's in the grasses and trees," said Pipho.
One thing that does upset the staff is visitors who do not adhere to the walking trail rules. Trails have been established that allow visitors to see the best the Center has to offer, but does not allow the plants to be trampled and unavailable to future viewers.
Although the Center is established as a national center, most of the flowers and plants are native to the Austin area...back 170 years ago when the area was a vast savanna, scattered with big oaks and junipers.
The Center strives to keep Mrs. Johnson's vision alive.
"She's such a gracious woman. Everybody has such admiration for her and for her vision.
"She really, really believes in preserving land so that people can appreciate it and love it," said Pipho.
"Occasionally, on a pretty day, she'll get out and come out and all of a sudden, there she is with the Secret Service!"
