Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc.

06/18/2026

Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center - Gol...

06/15/2026

Passionflowers are catching water droplets like little purple dreamcatchers today. This native Texas vine sparkles, rain or shine. 🌧️✨

Passion vine, or Passiflora incarnata, is a host plant for gulf fritillary butterflies, making them as important as they are beautiful. We love watching them support a whole nursery of life around our living teepees.

06/10/2026

American basketflower is a striking native wildflower known for its unique basket-like blooms and soft pink petals. Not only is it beautiful, but it also provides valuable nectar for pollinators, making it a wonderful addition to natural landscapes.

06/09/2026

This Saturday June 13, we invite you to learn more about some of Texas’ oldest and most significant cultural treasures at a special presentation on Preserving the Painted Past: Rock Art and Archaeology in the Lower Pecos with David Keim, preservation archaeologist at the Shumla Archaeological Research & Education Center. The program starts at 10am at the Goldthwaite Pavilion.

David Keim specializes in documenting and protecting ancient pictograph sites in the Lower Pecos region of southwest Texas. During his presentation, he will discuss the scientific methods used to record and conserve rock art, the challenges facing these fragile sites, and the collaborative efforts required to ensure their preservation for future generations.

A native of Bruceville-Eddy, Texas, Keim earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Texas at San Antonio before spending five years working on archaeological surveys, excavations, and cultural resource management projects throughout Texas and Oklahoma. He later completed a Master of Archaeology and Heritage degree at the University of Leicester, where his research focused on rock art degradation and preservation strategies.

Since joining Shumla in 2023, Keim has worked closely with landowners and cultural stewards to document and safeguard irreplaceable archaeological resources across the Lower Pecos.

“This work directly reflects our mission to interpret the lifeways of Ancient Americans—the prehistoric hunters and gatherers of this region—in an integrated and meaningful way,” says Courtenay Smith, executive director of the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center. “By hosting experts like David Keim, we deepen our community's understanding of the interconnected cultural and natural history of this landscape and foster thoughtful stewardship of the region’s archaeological heritage.”

Founded in 1998, the Shumla Archaeological Research & Education Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the study, documentation, and preservation of the oldest known “books” in North America — the ancient rock art of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands. Recent research led by Shumla scholars, including renowned rock art researcher Dr. Carolyn Boyd, has used radiocarbon dating and advanced digital imaging to establish a 6,000-year chronology for Pecos River Style murals, providing new insights into the beliefs and cultural traditions of the region’s Indigenous peoples.

This event is free for TBGNAIC members, $5 for nonmembers.

06/08/2026

Happy Monday! ☀️

The garden is putting on a cheerful show this morning as the Rudbeckia coneflowers burst into bloom. Their bright golden petals are like little rays of sunshine dancing above the greenery, bringing joy to the start of a new week.

Wishing everyone a week filled with sunshine, growth, and a few moments to stop and enjoy what’s blooming around you. 🌼💛

06/04/2026

This is going to be a fantastic presentation! Join us next Saturday, June 13th at 10am for Preserving the Painted Past: Rock Art and Archaeology in the Lower Pecos.

GOLDTHWAITE — The public is invited to learn more about some of Texas’ oldest and most significant cultural treasures at a special presentation on Preserving the Painted Past — Rock Art and Archaeology in the Lower Pecos

06/03/2026

06/01/2026

Purple horsemint (Monarda citriodora), also known as lemon beebalm, is a Texas native wildflower that attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Its distinctive stacked purple blooms and fragrant leaves make it a standout in late spring and early summer gardens.

A beautiful reminder that native plants play an important role in supporting local wildlife while adding color to the landscape. May your week be filled with fresh opportunities, renewed energy, and the trust that your season to bloom is unfolding exactly as it should. 💜




📸: Joy Hayes-Gates