UT Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has received honorary designation from the Texas Legislature as the state botanic garden and arboretum.
“The Wildflower Center is an unparalleled resource in our state, providing conservation, education and consulting programs to preserve and protect our environment,” says Gregory L. Fenves, president of the university. “We are deeply honored that the Texas Legislature has designated the center as the state botanic garden and arboretum of Texas.”
The Wildflower Center is the largest all-native garden in the state, with 279 acres of gardens and natural areas that feature more than 800 native plant species from the mountains of West Texas to the Coastal Prairies. The center’s 16-acre arboretum features native trees, including the progeny of historically significant live oak trees.
No state funding accompanies the designation. Since its establishment in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson and Helen Hayes, the Wildflower Center has committed itself to serving the state and nation through its conservation, education, research and consulting programs.
