What do you do when you are in Texas, it’s 110 degrees outside and you want to see something green and get closer to nature? Go to Ladybird Johnson’s Wildflower Center just outside Austin. Above you see Tom Myer, President of the Austin American Marketing Association, smiling with me in front of a cool pool of water. I would have done just about anything to jump in that water – it is hot in Texas! Hot as heck - sweltering beyond imagination. With this in mind, it’s amazing to me that anyone even considers growing grass there. All grass in the region is brown and dead looking, while native plants and natural eco-environments are rich with green life and vivid color.
According to the wildflower center experts, “Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady, and actress Helen Hayes founded an organization in 1982 to protect and preserve North America's native plants and natural landscapes. First as the National Wildflower Research Center and later as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, this special place exists to introduce people to the beauty and diversity of wildflowers and other native plants.”
What a perfect place to get in touch nature – most of the center’s public gardens grow prairie and xeriscaped plants as well as beautiful native woodlands and meadows. In 2006, the Center became an Organized Research Unit of the University of Texas at Austin and helps the national and international community understand more about its eco-system.
Grass is not very “green” or environmentally friendly because it takes tons of fuel every year to cut grass, and in most of the country grass also requires an unreasonable amount of water and chemicals to be maintained. Why not grow native and xeriscaped plants in your garden for a more sustainable and beautiful green environment? It’s the better choice! If they can do it it sizzling hot Austin, Texas, you can do it too!
Shawna Coronado says Get Healthy! Get Green! Get Community! www.thecasualgardener.com, The Green Blog - www.gardeningnude.com, or The Garden Blog - http://thecasualgardener.blogspot.com
I've always wanted to visit the LBJ wildflower center, but likely not in July or August! ;-)
Posted by: Monica the Garden Faerie | July 22, 2009 at 06:37 AM