
Photo: Jonathan Vail
Native Landscapes
The natural beauty of seasonal blooms, such as our state flower, bluebonnets, in the spring and goldeneye daisies in the fall, is a large part of the unique character and heritage of the Hill Country. But wildflowers do much more than dazzle us with their beauty. They protect soil and reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides. They provide wildlife habitat and support the pollinator communities that anchor Hill Country ecosystems. The support healthy native plant populations provide for our land is especially important where commercial and residential developments are encroaching on natural areas.
Native landscapes are easy to maintain and use far less water than traditional lawns and gardens, which saves landowners money and conserves our water supply for the future. Happily, a supportive community and a plethora of educational resources have helped motivate landowners to preserve native plants on their land and restore native landscapes that were once covered by St. Augustine grass. Slowly, the market is gaining appreciation for the beauty of native landscapes and the value they add to our quality of life.
To learn more about native plants and how you can transition to native landscaping, visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center here or join the Texas Master Naturalist program here. Learn more about St. Augustine Grass here.
Recent Native Landscape News
It’s (past) time to save our rural land heritage
On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, from 6:00 – 7:00pm, the Comal County Conservation Alliance (CCCA) will host an evening program on “Saving our Rural Land Heritage.” Guest speakers are David…
Bill Neiman’s Native American Seed Farm in the Texas Hill Country is on a mission to help people restore the earth.
Mid-September, half a year before Texas wildflower season starts, and it’s been terribly dry and horribly hot at the Native American Seed Farm northeast of Junction. The rains of spring…
Calling all birders: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department need citizen scientists
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are asking citizen scientists to help monitor black-capped vireos from April 10th to July 1 at Inks…
Here’s what to expect this wildflower season, how to identify Central Texas species
Despite Winter Storm Uri bringing subfreezing temperatures to Central Texas in February, a prominent number of flowers should still bloom across Central Texas this wildflower season, according to the Texas…