A week ago I buzzed around Mueller, a sustainable, mixed-use neighborhood built on the site of Austin’s old Mueller Airport. When the concrete runways and asphalt parking lots were jackhammered out, acres of blackland prairie soil saw the sun for the first time in decades. What an opportunity! Developers partnered with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to plant 32 acres with native Texas prairie plants, creating the Southwest Greenway meadow and surrounding walking trail a decade ago.

My mother-in-law, who lives in Mueller, told me that the spring wildflower show there was amazing. I can vouch for the early summer show. A week ago, yellow and red Mexican hat, sunny coreopsis, lavender horsemint, and fading Indian blanket made a crazy quilt of color amid the grasses. In the distance, the Austin skyline touched cottony clouds.

All of Austin agrees that this has been a spectacular year for native wildflowers. The bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush of early spring were succeeded by an even lusher display of Indian blanket, and then the heat lovers of early summer came on strong.

Mexican hat is one of my favorites with its sombrero-like cone and tutu of yellow and red.

Bees like it too.

Sometimes it looks more burnt orange, perfect for UT fans.

Sunflowers stood tall near the greenway’s pond, each flower itself a glowing golden sun.

Basking in the light

Plains coreopsis added more sunny color with a splash of burgundy.

Shish kebabs of lavender horsemint

Mexican hat ballerinas

While some arachnophobes might be creeped out by this gigantic spider stalking across the prairie, I quite like it.

She looks friendly to me! Created by Houston artist Dixie Friend Gay, the steel and glass sculpture is called Arachnophilia.

Live oaks and pecans stud the prairie in naturalistic thickets. Surrounding homes enjoy a prime prairie view.

I don’t know how long this year’s remarkable wildflower show can go on, but if you live here I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have. And cheers to Friends of the Prairie, who help maintain this beautiful park at Mueller.

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Digging Deeper

Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Stay tuned for more info!

All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.