The Garden Club of the Austin Fern Team recently completed a very exciting park improvement project at the Zilker Botanical Garden. The Garden is part of Zilker Park, and is a collaborative project of the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Austin Area Garden Council (AAGC).
The Garden Club received a Parks Grant from the Austin Parks Foundation in the fall of 2011 in order to expand the planting areas along the walkway to the Rose Garden and establish fern beds. This took a huge effort because the area was covered in weeds, ivy, and other invasive plants that were choking out native species. Fortunately, the Club has more than 40 hearty and dedicated volunteers.
As a result of this effort, the view from the main area of the garden is now significantly improved. What was a large undeveloped area of English ivy, poison ivy, and hackberry trees is now a beautifully cultivated shade garden, which borders the central thoroughfare in Zilker. A visitor’s perception of the total garden is changed forever.
“The best part of the project is the completed product, of course, but it was a joyful experience,” said Fern Team leader Laura Joseph. “Working successfully together – APF, Parks and Recreation Department, Garden Club gardeners, and paid providers – made for a highly positive and productive experience.”
The Garden Club of Austin has been working on the Zilker Botanical Garden for more than 50 years. To see fruits of this wonderful group’s labor, visit the Botanical Garden at 2220 Barton Springs Road. The Garden is open most days from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm and is only $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children. More information about the garden: www.zilkergarden.org.
This post is part of our “Great Grants!” series. Twice a year, the Austin Parks Foundation gives grants of financial support to Park Adopter groups in order to complete high-quality park-improvement projects. You can read more about our Park Grants Program here.
