What happens when you combine a lovely, cool, sunny Fall day with a beautiful Texas prairie setting and curious, fun TOWNies?  Well, I would say you get a sense of the joy that comes with friendship and time spent outdoors.  Joining in on the guided  tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower, led by Docent Karen Clary were TOWNies Carrie L., Bev T., Leigh Z., Sandy B., Mary V., Stephanie N., Jacque A., Adela R, Lois K., Christine N., Kathleen C.,  Phyllis P., Effie K., Marsha K., Jody R., Karen K, and TOWNie friend Paula T.

It was a busy day at the Center featuring a plant sale, Fort Landia, and in honor of Arbor Day, free admission!  Our Docent led us past the large cisterns pointing out the architecture designed to catch the rain water that is then stored.  And they did water all summer.  The tour opened into a meadow featuring Gregg’s Mistflower and Shrubby Boneset.  As the air warmed, butterflies began to emerge attracted to these two plants.  Our guide, Karen, has her degrees in botany and was able to fill us in on details of many plants like how Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon Holly) got its name…hint..don’t eat it and which shrubs are used for their caffeine in the making of tea which this plant lover will have to look up on the native plant data base on the Widflower Center’s website  All plants, rocks used in developing the settings and buildings are  Texas natives.

We continued our tour through the new installation of Fort Landia and through the Family Garden area.  Lucy Jonson dubbed the family area as the ‘yes garden’….meaning children are allowed to touch, jump and run with the only “No” being jumping in the stream….although toe dipping is on the “yes” list.    There is the Lynda library designed in the Texas star shape which can swing closed in wet, cold weather.  We concluded our tour in the Theme Garden.  Our docent, Karen, and the members of our group who lead tours at the Center and do other volunteer work there encouraged us to consider volunteering, to become members and definitely to return for a similar tour in the Spring  The group went in many directions to take advantage of the plant sale, the cafe with wonderful food and good service and, of course, the gift store.

Thanks all for making this such an enjoyable event!  Karen & Jacque