As a blogger, I get so many fun opportunities to travel. I’ve been on a couple of trips lately and both have been really great, so I can’t wait to share it with y’all. Â The first trip a couple of weeks ago was Austin, TX. Â I have never been to Austin, so that was a fun little trip for me and a great experience. I had heard all about Austin for a long time and it was fun to see it in person. Â This was a short trip, so I didn’t see a lot of things, but I think I got a feel for Austin in the short time I was there. Â We crammed in as much as we could in a day and 1/2.
I was invited by Preen (the garden company) to meet up with some folks who would be seeing the HGTV Smart home in Austin. Â That was a treat too, so I’ll share that with you later this week. Â Preen was a sponsor of the house (exterior garden areas) and the house did not disappoint.
I get to meet the most interesting people doing what I do. Â Part of our group who were meeting up in Austin, this delightful couple and I were on the same flight out of Atlanta and it was really fun to hang out with them for a couple of days. Â Susan is from England and has the most charming accent. Â Felder Rushing is a Southern guy, from Mississippi and they have been together for 5 years. I found out that Felder is a nationally known garden writer and has written 18 books. Â Very impressive resume. Â He showed me pics of his house and garden in MS and it’s super cool. Â Susan worked for David Austin roses in England for many years and has just started her new blog on gardening. Â She writes about gardens and takes beautiful photos, so check out her site.
Sally was our hostess and she works with Preen and also is a well-known garden writer, I found out. Â She lives in CT. I don’t have a picture of her, but she’s in our group photo of the HGTV house when I show that on Friday. Â These folks take their gardening seriously.
When I first met up with my group, we headed to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower exhibit, which was a fun treat. Â The vegetation in Texas is so different from Georgia and that was apparent immediately.
I did see a few things I might like to try in my garden though, like the Tangerine Beauty Crossvine that was prolific in this garden. Â It was gorgeous!
We did a little walking tour through the gravel pathways, seeing Texas vegetation up close and personal.
The motto of the gardens
https://www.wildflower.orgTangerine beauty crossvine was growing everywhere. Â It’s a stunner! Notice the corner of the rock wall with the cactus like thing growing from it?? Â
A mama owl was there with her babies and drawing a lot of attention. Â I saw several photographers setting up their tripods to take a picture of the babies little heads popping up. Â I did get this shot of the mama. Â So cute!
More Tangerine beauty crossvine.
These rock walls and stone floors were really pretty.
I think this is columbine.
There are several buildings in the exhibit too and I’m sure it’s used for many things. They have lots of activities going on here.
Not sure what this one is. Â Maybe another columbine?
Felder in the garden.
You can see what a vigorous growing habits of the Tangerine beauty crossvine.
Growing on the side of a metal building.
My first look at Texas Bluebonnets, the native state flower.
Crossvine growing.
Bluebonnets.
Plenty of cactus too in this dry and hot climate.
Bluebonnets along the pathway we were walking on.
I think Sally called this a Indian Paintbrush.  Correct me if I’m wrong, I have a terrible memory on plant names.
The bluebonnets sure were pretty.
I’d love to plant one of these Crossvines on a pergola.
Touring the wildflower exhibit gave me a nice overview of what grows in Texas. Â Much different from our Georgia climate.
We stayed in the cutest hotel, the Hotel San Jose. Â Much different from any small hotel I’ve ever seen, it was very simplistic, but comfortable.
Concrete floors and no frills.
And very Austin, from what I can tell. Â Austin is known for being a quirky town and I think their motto is “keep Austin weird”. Â They are certainly doing a good job of that!
We did get a couple of hours to browse the shops on Congress Ave. where the hotel was located. There are lots of shops and restaurants nearby and we enjoyed browsing through Uncommon Objects. Â Check out the huge rabbit on the top.
We were only there for a day and 1/2, but managed to squeeze in breakfast at Maria’s Taco Xpress, a really quirky place. This barely shows all the large and colorful objects at this place. Â I had a steak and egg burrito and it was very tasty.
More Austin color and quirk.
One last stop at Magnolia Cafe, which someone had mentioned to me on Facebook, while I was there. Â It was a really neat place and the food was delicious.
By then, I wasn’t very hungry, but opted for a salad and this one was great.
I enjoyed my first trip to Austin and hope that I get back there again. Â I’ve got friends who will be moving out there in the next couple of years, so I know I’ll have another chance to visit again. Â I barely scratched the surface of what Austin is about. I know they are all about the music too and I’d love to take in some music one day.
Have you been to Austin? What was your favorite thing to do? Â
Rhoda,
Hand over my heart, you know that I love Austin. There is something about Texas that gets into your blood especially the Austin area. We cannot wait to get back there to live next year. The topography and landscaping are very different from GA and our surrounding states. Thank you for your post. It made my day.
Love the pics !! I live outside of Waco and work in Waco not far from Austin on IH 35. It is very humid here though. Lantana and Crepe Myrtles are very popular in Texas because they can take the heat !!
Hope you liked Texas and will come visit again!
Loved the pictures! I love the Austin area,mostly because my son and his family live near there. I love the Texas cafe in Hutto, just north of Austin. The have a great menu and huge selection of pies! They were in an issue of Southern Living mag in the past. Lots of quirky things to see and places to go in the Hill County of Texas!
Texas Crossvine. It likes hot and dry and sun. Crazy grower. Keep roots out of water and don’t water it often. Love them.
Rhoda, you did it again! Visited another of my old home areas! First you posted our actual New Orleans house, and then Austin, where we lived 8 years before moving back to Georgia. I’m originally from Texas, and I loved living in Austin, but my husband missed Lookout Mountain, so we came back. Anyway, go again because the north and west sides of the city are totally different from the south!
Hi Rhoda. I believe the ‘red and yellow’ plant is an Aquilegia – aka Granny’s Bonnet or Columbine. One of my favourites! Cheers, heather 😀
Wow, how nice to see flowers and things growing. After a harsh, snowy Winter, Spring has been slow coming and rather colder than normal.Rhoda, those first two flowers were columbines, which probably have to bloom early down there, since they bloom up North when it is hot, for us. Love that Crossvine, it would probably not winter over here but I would really like to see it climbing all over my trellis.
Thanks for reminding me that Lady Bird really started a movement to beautify America. She helped nudge people over to the idea that native plants are best and can bring easily bring beauty to our lives. I would LOVE to visit Austin!
The truth about regions of Texas is we are equivalent to at least 4 different states.
So – if you travelled about 100 miles south of Austin, you would be in heaven – that being Brenham, Texas. Soft, gentle rolling hills with the Antique Rose Emporium close by for even more lovely icing. Come another hundred further down to Houston, and you are in pretty close to the same as Atlanta. Humid, hot, rain being the norm – Houston,and that is only from Austim down. From Austin going north, that is a whole “nother” description.
Sorry you didn’t make it to Fredericksburg, a beautiful little German town about and hour and a half west from Austin. When you come back this direction, be sure to save some time for the Hill Country.
Yes, those are Indian paintbrush…you often see them mixed in with the bluebonnets. Makes for a beautiful landscape! You visited in prime bluebonnet season!
Rhoda, check out the APP called LikeThat Garden – you see a plant, it takes a photo and id’s the plant or flower for you. I use it all the time and it would have come in handy on your tour!
Julia, Thank you so much for the app info. I’ve already installed it and have been testing it out around my yard 😉 It is great!
Just downloaded it too, so will try it out! thank you.
I have been to the Lady Bird Johnson gardens and they are beautiful…..One of my fav restaurants in downtown Austin was the one owned by Sandra Bullock…I wonder if it is still there…she also had a gift shop deli across the street….a very cute place too….Love Austin and its people..Glad you had a great time!
My aunt lived in Austin for many years and worked for the state of Texas. I loved visiting there. Many of my cousins went to University of Texas. It’s a very unique city.
well…I’ve had a rather “Monday-ish” Monday, and I have to tell you the pic of the Momma Owl and the out of site babies perked me right up…made me smile and nurtured my soul. I think I can survive the rest of the day on that bit of happiness.
I’ve never been to Texas. but that looks like a really fun place!
Austin is my home and my family and I love it here! There is always something interesting to see and do. I am looking forward to visiting the HGTV house. Hopefully it is open to the public. You came at the right time with all of the beautiful wild flowers on display. Come again!
Hi, Joi, thanks! Unfortunately the HGTV home is not open to the public.
I was born and raised in Austin. I went to the University of Texas and then moved for a job after graduation. My family still lives in or around Austin so I get to Austin at least 6 times a year. It has really changed since I left but has always been a great place. I love everything about it and it is like being a visitor when I go back, discovering new places! You should definitely plan to come back! Thanks for your recap.
I have visited the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail, CO. It’s one of my absolute favorites. Planting native plants to the area is a big thing. That’s probably why the garden is so beautiful. I plan on visiting Austin further when I go back to visit my folks in Hillsboro, TX. I did visit Magnolia Market in Waco though (Chip & Joanna Gaines’ place from HGTV’s Fixer Upper).
Hate you missed the Hill Country, you were so close!
Also I f you haven’t been to Houston’s “Galleria Mall” maybe you’ll get a chance to check it out next time you’re in east Texas, I would think you’d be right at home there. “Houston’s” Restaurants in TX are the best too, but be sure to visit a Pappasito’s as well, the best Tex-Mex ever!! (The ones in Atlanta sadly, (at least for my palate), don’t even come close.)
Thanks for the look back, I spent a lot of time in TX years ago. I’ve never been anywhere in America, Europe, Asia or the Middle East that could touch those wildflower fields in the spring….. I’m so glad you got to go!! Thanks again for sharing!