Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - November 21, 2008
From: Houston, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflower Center
Title: Living lightly on the land
Answered by: Damon Waitt
QUESTION:
Are most of the materials used in the Center recyclable materials? For instance, the wood floors and HVAC systems? Thanks, Joel RodriguezANSWER:
When it opened in 1995, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center was "the" model of environmental sustainability. The wood floors are made from reclaimed longleaf pine, stone for buildings was locally quarried, site rubble was used in building foundations and the rainwater collection system was the largest of its kind in North America. Add to that our native plant gardens which require less water and maintenance and you have a recipe for "living lightly on the land" as Mrs Johnson would say. In fact, the Wildflower Center is in the process of applying for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Existing Building certification and is pioneering the Sustainable Sites program which extends the principles of LEED's out into the landscape. So, yes, the Wildflower Center did use recyclable materials and we continue to be a leader in eco-friendly design and construction.
More Wildflower Center Questions
Why is Hamelia patens, a species listed as invasive, in the Wildflower Center database?
September 29, 2010 - Hamelia patens (Firebush) is listed as an invasive plant at Invasive.Org, the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, which partners with the US Forest Service, Univ of GA and others. LBJ ...
view the full question and answer
Information on green roof demonstration site at Wildflower Center
March 10, 2006 - I visited your green roof demonstration site and am interested in putting a green roof on a structure. There seemed to be at least two layers of growing medium in the planters; one layer looked like r...
view the full question and answer
Purchase access to plants at Wildflower Center
February 08, 2007 - I am interested in purchasing some of your plants. How can I do that? Do you send plants thru the mail or is their a nursery near you that has access to your plants that does? I am interested in Sa...
view the full question and answer
Wildflowers to see at Wildflower Center in September
September 12, 2006 - My wife and I will be coming to Austin for the Quilt Show September 29, 2006.
Will the wild flowers and gardens still be active?
We would very much like to visit if there would still be plenty to se...
view the full question and answer
Purchase of herbs from Wildflower Center
October 18, 2008 - Can I purchase herbs from the Wildflower Center?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |