The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has been designated as Texas' botanic garden arboretum.
"Botanic gardens such as ours play a critical role as hubs for plant conservation and environmental education and in developing innovative landscape practices," said Patrick Newman, executive director of the Wildflower Center. "We are honored to receive this acknowledgment of our efforts to conserve Texas' floristic heritage."
This designation comes from the passing of a bill, which Rep. Donna Howard, Rep. Paul Workman, Rep. Roberto Alonzo, Sen. Kirk Watson and Sen. Donna Campbell were involved in.
The bill does not give any funding to the center; it is self-funded by The University of Texas at Austin.
"This designation recognizes the Wildflower Center's important contribution to the natural history of Texas," said Sen. Watson. "In the words of Lady Bird Johnson, 'The environment is one thing all of us share,' and this well-deserved honor for the Wildflower Center will help us preserve and protect the native plants and landscapes for all Texans. I loved knowing Mrs. Johnson and being able to learn from her. I'm very proud that this wonderful part of her legacy is receiving this important recognition."
The center opened in 1995 and since then has built a plant database containing more than one-third of the United States' native plants.