Native Landscapes
Native Landscapes
The natural beauty of seasonal blooms, such as our state flower, bluebonnets, in the spring and goldeneye daisies in the fall, is a large part of the unique character and heritage of the Hill Country. But wildflowers do much more than dazzle us with their beauty. They protect soil and reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides. They provide wildlife habitat and support the pollinator communities that anchor Hill Country ecosystems. The support healthy native plant populations provide for our land is especially important where commercial and residential developments are encroaching on natural areas.
Native landscapes are easy to maintain and use far less water than traditional lawns and gardens, which saves landowners money and conserves our water supply for the future. Happily, a supportive community and a plethora of educational resources have helped motivate landowners to preserve native plants on their land and restore native landscapes that were once covered by St. Augustine grass. Slowly, the market is gaining appreciation for the beauty of native landscapes and the value they add to our quality of life.
To learn more about native plants and how you can transition to native landscaping, visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center here or join the Texas Master Naturalist program here. Learn more about St. Augustine Grass here.
Recent Native Landscape News
How one Texas town is rethinking the American lawn
Lewisville, at first glance, is a typical Texas suburb. Wedged in the northwest corner of the Dallas metroplex, the 113,000-person city encompasses a little triangle bordered by a six-lane state toll road and an interstate highway. A small downtown with shops and...
Preserve Texas lands for generations to come
Each year Texas loses nearly 250,000 acres of land to development. Rural work areas that form the wide open spaces that define Texas character are evaporating at an alarming rate. These lands are not only meant to be enjoyed by Texans, but they work every day to...
How to prevent the next water crisis
Cities and farmers in Central Texas used to pump groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer much more freely—draining local springs and rivers and depriving several endangered species of a habitat. In the 1990s, the Sierra Club sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on...
Go native with soil health
Have you heard? There’s a whole world of life in the soil beneath your boots. News about the benefits of soil health is everywhere and agricultural producers across Texas are taking notice. Healthy soils lead to clean air and water, bountiful crops and forests,...