I’m not sure who ordered the weather but it was just beautiful this morning – not too warm with a lovely breeze. Our docent, Bill Kibler, was so knowledgeable about the architecture and which part of Texas history was represented in the main buildings and cisterns. A little tidbit – the architects who designed the central area were only two years out of school when they won the bid. Bill was also quite knowledgeable about all of the plants that were just spectacular. This table holds cuttings of each of the plants in bloom that week. Volunteers change the display a few times a week. We were all intrigued with the chocolate daisy…that really does smell like chocolate!
Joining in on the guided tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower, led by Docent Bill Kibler were TOWNies: Jaya S., Effie K, Marion M., Christine N., Adela R., Gloria W., Debbie B., Kathleen C., Laarni, C., Stephanie N., Marie W., Janice, B., Karen K.
There was lots going on at the Center including the second weekend of native plants sale which drew some of our members after the tour.
Bill started our tour with a search for Athena, the owl who comes back to nest most years. I could see some activity but couldn’t tell if was Athena or a chick. We went into the building that is used for events, lectures, and that’s where we saw the display of flowers in bloom that week.
We continued our tour looking at the Savanna that is the look of the land around the center and learned about controlled burns to keep the area as it has been for many eras. We went thru the children’s garden or “the yes, you can” garden where children can have the run of open areas with a stream, waterfall, digging sand and lots of other intriguing play areas. Known to some but certainly not to me was the build out of the Fibonacci Sequence that determines the buildout of a wall throughout the area. That is my in depth knowledge of this mathematical principle and that might even be wrong.
We concluded our tour in the theme gardens. Each box was blooming with familiar and not so familiar plants. As the tour ended, some of us, including our docent, got our lunch at the cafe and enjoyed each others company for a while longer and there is no trip to the Center that doesn’t include the gift store.
Thanks all for making this such an enjoyable event. KarenK