Art and Artisans Festival Kicks of Wildflower Days in Austin

The Wetland Pond at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is home to native Texas aquatic plants and animals
Photo by Charles Pannell

The annual Art and Artisans Festival is slated to kick off Wildflower Days at Austin's Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Saturday March 19, 2011. This two-day event, which is devoted to arts, crafts and nature, will showcase the work of more than 20 American artists who work in a variety of mediums.

There's something to be had for just about every taste at the festival too, from mesquite bowls and hand-crafted bird houses to jewelry, photographs and watercolors. It's a good opportunity to meet the artists as well as to pick up a gift or two. The works will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

On Saturday Stefanie Distefano will also lead a tour of her outdoor mosaic exhibit at noon and 1 p.m., while bluebonnet artist Ken Moore will be on hand to chat with folks in the gift shop, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Then on Sunday, visitors are invited to meet paper sculpture artist Shou Ping in the MacDermott Learning Center from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. And all the festivities are set amidst a stunning spring show of Texas bluebonnets in the gardens.

Founded in 1982 to protect North America's natural landscapes, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center acts as a clearinghouse of knowledge about North America's native plans for developers, park managers and the general public. It's also one of Austin's top tourist attractions.

There's good wheelchair-access throughout most areas of the gardens, as well as several barrier-free trails for wheelers and slow walkers to enjoy. For more information about the gardens or the Art and Artisans Festival, visit www.wildflower.org.

And although Austin is certainly very well know for its music venues, there's a wide variety of other things to do in the live music capital of the world. For more information about other Austin attractions, visit www.austintexas.org. And for more information about museums, tours and cultural attractions suitable for wheelchair-users and slow walkers, consult the Spring 2011 issue of Emerging Horizons.