Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Come spring, Austin and the surrounding Hill Country have some of the most varied and beautiful wildflowers in the state. It’s no surprise there’s a center devoted to these little guys. In 1982 the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (4801 La Crosse Ave., 512/292-4100, www.wildflower.org, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Tues.–Sat., noon–5:30 p.m. Sun., $7) was founded under a different name, and at a different location, by two spry advocates of native plants, former First Lady of the United States Lady Bird Johnson and a friend. In 1995 the center was move to its current location on 279 acres southwest of Austin, and in 1998 was renamed in honor of Lady Bird Johnson. The main grounds include 16 carefully placed and meticulously maintained gardens, all designed after the region’s natural landscape, using native plants. The gardens weave though and around several stone buildings that serve as educational centers and galleries, and lead to even more gardens with wisteria-covered pergolas and flower-lined promenades. The center isn’t in Austin proper, but it’s well worth the drive. Since it’s all hinged on wildflowers and seasonal native plants, don’t bother visiting in the fall or winter when everything is dead.