Welcome to a site that encourages children to touch, climb, and explore—even the statues
By Charlotte Tonsor and Milton Hime
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center opened in 1995 (as the National Wildflower Research Center) on a 42-acre site on the southwestern outskirts of Austin, Texas. As the state’s arboretum and botanical garden, its mission is to study, protect, and promote native plants. To that end, in 2006, the center teamed with the University of Texas at Austin to solidify its footing. From the outset, the facility—with its award-winning architecture that emphasizes regional vernacular and sustainable practices—was an enchanting and delightful place to visit and stroll through the gardens. It often hosted weddings, photo shoots, and other events. And while there were planned activities for kids, the gardens themselves included no family-friendly activity areas and were more appreciated by gardeners than grandkids.
Thus began the planning for the Luci and Ian Family Garden as a place specifically designed for kids to interact with the natural world and Texas’ native plants, while honoring the center’s core mission of stewardship, research, and education. The team of landscape architects—W. Gary Smith, landscape architecture firm TBG Partners, and Studio8 Architects—set out to create a new, family-oriented destination that will showcase nature through a child's perspective, and be as environmentally conscious as possible.