President's Message, March 2013

It literally seems like yesterday that we celebrated our 50th Zilker Garden Festival in the spring of 2007.  This year, we will celebrate our 56th garden festival –6 years later!  Those years have gone by in a nanosecond. 

As I stroll around this beloved garden in the heart of Austin, I see the footprints left by passionate gardeners—all members of AAGC garden clubs. And, we continue to do so…no more leaking ponds in the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, thanks to AAGC’s DinoLand funds, generous donations from the Austin Pond Society, grants from the Austin Parks Foundation, and countless volunteer hours from AAGC members.  

And the list goes on…a fern bed that has been planted and nurtured over the last 5 years by the Fern Team (The Garden Club of Austin), an Herb Garden that grows and flourishes, a Children’s Garden that is cared for by several of our garden clubs, the Hartman Prehistoric Garden… Iris beds, Daylily beds, a Cactus and Succulent Garden, the Mabel Davis Rose Garden, the Butterfly Garden.  AAGC has left its DNA all over Austin’s only botanical garden!

On the weekend of April 6th and April 7th, Zilker Botanical Garden will open its gates to celebrate AAGC’s 56th Annual Zilker Garden Festival.  Photos from past festivals highlight all the activities this family-friendly event offers…

Vendors from Austin and Central Texas sell plants, garden art, colorful tablecloths, and tasty gourmet sauces.
Judged designs and horticultural specimens at the annual Flower Show fill the Garden Center auditorium and Greene Room.
Kids’ Corner—always a photo opportunity—with little ones admiring their butterfly wings and building birdhouses and birdfeeders.
Soundstage in the Rose Garden under the oak trees entertains festival visitors both Saturday and Sunday afternoons
Gardening Talks tent filled with gardeners learning about Rain Barrels and Rainwater Harvesting	Enthusiastic AAGC volunteers and UT student volunteers greet visitors as the enter the festival gates

So, take some time to tour our festival website, at www.zilkergarden.org, and learn more about what we have planned for you this year.  As always, the festival ticket is priceless—it’s a celebration you won’t want to miss!

--Donna Friedenreich
President, Austin Area Garden Council
Zilker Botanical Garden