Autumn meadows and monarchs at Wildflower Center
When Loree of Danger Garden came to Austin last October, we visited the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on her last day. I was happy she got to see it a second time, particularly since her first visit during the Austin Fling featured a torrential thunderstorm.
The meadows of native grasses were glowing.
Dark wands of liatris gone to seed added to the autumnal scene.
Tiny yellow daisies sprinkled sunny color throughout.
Pinks made a good showing too with pyramid bush (Melochia tomentosa) and Gulf muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) in bloom.
In the family garden, the Gulf muhly was spectacular in pink bloom, with fall aster adding a froth of purple. Dwarf Texas palmetto (Sabal minor) showed off fan-shaped evergreen leaves under a feathery bald cypress.
As seen from the opposite side, looking toward the shade pavilion
Gulf muhly, perhaps the signature plant of fall in Central Texas. No doubt my fellow Texans could name others.
Big agaves that aren’t whale’s tongues (A. ovatifolia) still surprise me after last year’s Texas Freezepocalypse turned most to mush. Which is this — A. americana? And how did it survive, I wonder?
Giant coneflower foliage in the rain garden with blue mistflower and dwarf Texas palmetto. The silver silo-looking thing is a rainwater cistern that collects water off the shade pavilion and restroom building.
Sunbeams were streaming over the waterfall and play tunnels in the family garden.
A monochromatic planting of ‘Blue Ice’ Arizona cypress, wheeler’s sotol, and blue mistflower against an even bluer sky
In late October, monarch butterflies were passing through and fueling up for their long migration to Mexico.
They were all over the blue mistflower.
It’s nice to be reminded of a greener season, isn’t it? After the sleet, ice, and hard freezes of the past few days, I’m hopeful that we’ve seen the end of winter this year. Valentine’s Day is almost here, which means cut-back time for Central Texas gardeners. After that, spring is nigh.
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Digging Deeper
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Ah that was a nice warm day. I remember soaking up all the sun I could before getting on the plane and heading back to a cool fall in Oregon.
Fingers crossed winter is done with both of us!
Yes, fingers crossed! February is a month to be hopeful for turning the corner, but it’s also historically the surprise freeze-iest month for us here in Austin. Hoping for no more surprises this year but a nice, long spring.
The center looks very inviting in the sunshine 😉 I love the muhly grass in flower – and the butterflies of course.
It was a lovely fall day. I’m glad I was finally able to get around to posting the pics.
It was lovely to relax and enjoy previous sun and wonderful flowers days. I’m lucky my husband is happy to look at a rabbit on our snowy garden.
Pat
Things are pretty wintry-looking — i.e., brown — here right now too, Pat. It’s nice to remember greener days.