Once crowded with cars, this former mall parking lot now gathers another kind of community: people strolling winding paths of colorful wildlife-friendly plants. When Austin Community College renovated the mall as a vibrant campus, they worked with dwg. landscape architects to create a water wise urban park that honors historic roots as home to the St. John Regular Missionary Baptist Association.

Chuck Foster, president of the Capital Area Master Naturalists, explains how they’re conserving resources and habitat while teaching valuable lessons about geology, wildlife, and plants.

Those cheery red seed coats are as hard as Texas summers!  Billy Garza, Hill Country landscaper and grower, demonstrates his trick for fast germination. Once ready to plant, these evergreen, drought tough small trees make terrific privacy berms and accents, beloved for spring’s fragrant purple flowers.