Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc.

Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. A nonprofit organization dedicated to education, conservation, & cultural heritage. The Native American Interpretive Center will follow in three years.

The Gardens offer an immersive look at native plant life, while the Center integrates archaeology, Indigenous history, and ecological stewardship. Legacy Plaza is a cultural and educational center in the heart of Texas that honors and celebrate early Native American history and life. Our living museum highlights their dependence on the region's native plants and waterways. Legacy Plaza, consisting

of the Texas Botanical Gardens, the Goldthwaite Pavilion and the Goldthwaite Welcome Center, is located on one downtown city block. Design and construction of the town green and welcome center was funded with a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation in 2010. The Grand Opening of the Gardens was on Saturday, October 11th, 2014.

It’s mid-week and there is still so many chances to weave something incredible into existence, just like the harmless, n...
09/02/2026

It’s mid-week and there is still so many chances to weave something incredible into existence, just like the harmless, nonpoisonous, yellow garden spider.

Discover the creative potential all around you by getting out in nature. Our garden is a great spot to gather inspiration and some fresh country air.

📸: Joy Hayes-Gates

This fall, a truly special evening returns to Central Texas. On Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 5:00–9:00 p.m., the Texa...
08/31/2026

This fall, a truly special evening returns to Central Texas. On Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 5:00–9:00 p.m., the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. (TBGNAIC) cordially invites you to attend the seventeenth edition of its annual signature fundraiser, Prairie Experience.

More than a single evening, this event celebrates regional lifeways and Native American traditions while sustaining a place dedicated to preserving history, land, and cultural heritage for future generations.

Guests will enjoy a distinctive dining experience by Pecan House Grill with Native American–inspired cuisine and regional ingredients, including bison in a wild mushroom sauce, a Three Sisters medley of corn, beans, and squash, and the chef's own specialty pecan dessert.

The evening features a dynamic performance by Sean and Jason Soukkala of Native Pride Productions, who bring Native traditions to life with authenticity, artistry, and energy. Throughout the night, guests can participate in high-end raffles and silent and live auctions featuring curated items, artisan pieces, and exclusive experiences, with all proceeds supporting TBGNAIC’s mission.

This year, Prairie Experience 2026 aims to raise $150,000 to support educational programs for youth and adults and sustain the Gardens as a vital community resource. Your generosity ensures that stories are honored and traditions endure. Join us in celebrating culture, conservation, and community—every contribution helps our mission take root and flourish! Buy your tickets today by following the link below:

https://legacyplaza.networkforgood.com/events/101232-prairie-experience-2026

There is something about sunflowers that feels like a little bit of sunshine made visible. 🌻💛Did you know that young su...
08/30/2026

There is something about sunflowers that feels like a little bit of sunshine made visible. 🌻💛

Did you know that young sunflowers follow the sun across the sky, turning from east to west and back again through the night. As they mature, their blooms settle facing east, greeting the morning light.

Who’s excited for tonight’s lunar eclipse? Step out and enjoy the night sky tonight at 11:15pm to see something spectac...
08/27/2026

Who’s excited for tonight’s lunar eclipse? Step out and enjoy the night sky tonight at 11:15pm to see something spectacular. ✨

What do you do when one of the most attractive wildflowers in the landscape is also a w**d with a less-than-stellar repu...
08/26/2026

What do you do when one of the most attractive wildflowers in the landscape is also a w**d with a less-than-stellar reputation?

Well, Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) certainly has us looking at things a little differently these days. Her lavender, star-shaped flowers with bright yellow centers are beautifully set against silvery foliage, and when large patches are in bloom, the display can be striking.

We also love that this wildflower from the nightshade family can serve as a host plant for hornworms—the very “pests” we find munching on tomato plants in our gardens. Those hungry caterpillars are not simply garden troublemakers; they are part of the life cycle of beautiful sphinx moths that will eventually take to the night sky.

Of course, silverleaf nightshade has a bad reputation for good reason. It spreads aggressively from deep rootstocks and is poisonous when ingested.

But what if we could appreciate a plant for the role it plays in the landscape, even when we don’t necessarily want it taking over the garden? Sometimes, a little curiosity changes the way we see a “w**d.” Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with this native wildflower?

We've been waiting all summer to see the beautyberries ripen into their distinctive clusters of vivid purple berries. 💜A...
08/24/2026

We've been waiting all summer to see the beautyberries ripen into their distinctive clusters of vivid purple berries. 💜

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a valuable native shrub for wildlife, providing berries eaten by more than forty species of birds as well as mammals such as deer, raccoons, armadillos, foxes, opossums, and squirrels.

The berries are also edible for people and have traditionally been used to make jelly and other preserves. Keep an eye out for these vibrant clusters the next time you visit the gardens. They’re one of the unmistakable signs that late summer has arrived.

🌿 A Ribbon Cutting to RememberFor those who may not be familiar with the early years of our project, here’s a look back ...
08/21/2026

🌿 A Ribbon Cutting to Remember

For those who may not be familiar with the early years of our project, here’s a look back at a special moment from our Grand Opening Celebration 12 years ago.

On a cold and rainy morning in October, Mrs. Laura Bush joined us for a ribbon cutting unlike any other. Rather than ceremonial scissors, she used a flintknapped knife to cut through a long leather strap—an especially fitting way to stay true to our mission and honor the people who first called this land home.

Mrs. Bush’s presence was especially meaningful because her conservation organization, Texan by Nature, partnered with us in the early stages to provide resources, visibility, and expertise as our grassroots vision became a reality. We continue to be grateful for their longstanding partnership and support over the years.

It was a memorable day and an important chapter in the story of our Gardens—bringing together conservation, Texas history, and our community in a truly meaningful way.

Twelve years later, we’re still growing that vision.

The male Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) is brilliantly colored, earning him the Spanish name “brasita de ...
08/20/2026

The male Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) is brilliantly colored, earning him the Spanish name “brasita de fuego,” or “little coal of fire.” He’ll also make his presence known by puffing up his feathers and singing his tinkling flight song on repeat while fluttering high in the air. What a spectacular little bird to spot on an evening stroll out in the Texas Hill Country.

Share your favorite wildlife photos from this week in the comments below.



📷: Graham Armitage

Goats have long been recognized for their ability to browse vegetation, but their value extends far beyond brush control...
08/14/2026

Goats have long been recognized for their ability to browse vegetation, but their value extends far beyond brush control. When managed intentionally, they can become an important tool for improving wildlife habitat, reducing invasive plant species, promoting healthy plant communities, lowering wildfire fuel loads, and helping landowners achieve ecological and agricultural goals simultaneously. This presentation will examine the science behind these practices while exploring how thoughtful grazing management can benefit both the land and the people who depend on it.

Join us tomorrow morning at 10am for The Role of Goats in Central Texas Ecosystems with Dr. Glendon Rhoades. Dr. Rhoades brings an exceptionally unique perspective to this topic. A graduate of Tarleton State University with a degree in Engineering Physics, he went on to earn both his master's and doctorate in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan. His research has taken him from medical imaging laboratories to working farms and ranches across the Great Plains, where he has focused on integrating livestock into resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

Address

1219 Fisher Street
Goldthwaite, TX
76844

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 3pm
Sunday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+13254511075

Website

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