Austin

We were in Austin a couple of years ago but did not have enough time to see all we wanted.  We are staying again at McKinney Falls State Park.  This is a lovely park in the city with easy access to the sites we want to see.  (Editorial comment: why can’t California have parks such as the ones we have stayed at in Texas.  Our state parks are barely accessible and have no water or electricity.  Motorhome users would be happy to pay the fees for access to lovely CA parks.  Okay off the soapbox.) 

Our first stop on this trip was to another botanical garden.  The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is the work of Lady Bird and of actress Helen Hayes.  It is dedicated to preserving and sharing the plant life of the Hill Country of Texas where Lady Bird grew up.

 

 Lovely wind chimes accompanied our arrival at the visitors center.

We took the trail to the 500-year-old oak, considered the parent tree for planting more oaks in the area.  It is the Treaty Oak where a boundary agreement was signed between Stephen Austin and the Native Americans. 

A crazy guy tried to poison the tree in 1989 because he girl friend spurned him but it still survives.  Plaques tell the role of other oaks in the history of Texas.  They give a sense of survival in this harsh land.

Throughout the gardens are benches where visitors can contemplate Lady Bird’s desire for all to enjoy what nature provides.

The Nectar Garden naturally attracts bees.

The butterflies had to have a turn too.

The Hill Country Grotto has a tunnel with petroglyphs.  It leads to a waterfall that hides the grotto.

In the Luci Baynes Johnson and Ian Family Garden are Giant Birds’ Nests

 and a Stumpery.

This is either an exercise center or a very odd installation.

The Visitors Gallery had a display of amazing 3-D images created with watercolor on paper by Shou Ping.

Animal sculptures range throughout the garden.

Anna Lee waves from The San Antonio Tower.

Though we chose the least appealing time to visit the gardens, we still enjoyed ourselves and can imagine how lovely they are in the spring.