Come learn from native-plant expert Andrea DeLong-Amaya at a September 11 presentation for Garden Spark in Austin!… Read More
The post Learn how to design with Texas native plants from Andrea DeLong-Amaya appeared first on Digging.
Austin-area gardeners, come learn from native-plant expert Andrea DeLong-Amaya at a September 11 presentation for Garden Spark! Andrea will show different ways of using native plants in your landscaping and recommend tips and favorite plants from her new book The Texas Native Plant Primer.
Get tickets here!
Here’s more about her talk — I hope to see you there!
Native Swagger: Turning Heads with Texas Plants
Native plants are ecological powerhouses, and they represent the botanical heritage of all Texans. But too often, they’re dismissed as messy or weedy. It’s time to change the narrative! In this talk, we’ll explore how to use Central Texas natives to create gardens that are true people-pleasers. From wild to formal designs, lawns to containers, sun to shade, wildlife gardens to water gardens, even edible gardens — you’ll see how natives provide habitat while they also serve as the anchor for stunning landscapes. Whether you’re already a native-plant champion or just native-curious, you’ll come away with ideas to elevate your garden and give native plants the starring role they deserve.
Speaker Bio
As director of horticulture at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Andrea DeLong-Amaya oversees the Center’s gardens and nursery programs and is passionate about sharing the value of native plants in planned landscapes. She’s been a staff member since 1998 and has over 30 years of experience with Texas native plants in horticulture, ecology, and garden design.
Andrea teaches classes in native plant horticulture and has contributed numerous gardening articles to publications such as Fine Gardening, Rodale’s Organic Gardening, American Public Gardens Association’s Public Garden, Neil Sperry’s Gardens and e-Gardens, Texas Gardener, and Wildflower (the Center’s member magazine). Her new book, The Texas Native Plant Primer, has been a regional bestseller since its publication in spring 2025.
Andrea has appeared numerous times on the PBS show Central Texas Gardener and was a two-time guest on WNYC’s Science Friday. She was featured in the book The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants, and she’s appeared on the acclaimed podcast Cultivating Place, both by Jennifer Jewell.
Earlier this year, Andrea received the prestigious 2025 Scott Garden & Horticulture Award from the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College.
When/Where: September 11, 7:30 to 9 pm
Andrea will speak on Thursday, September 11, at 7:30 pm. The approximately 1-hour talk with Q&A, followed by a book signing, will be held at Leaf Landscape Supply’s North Austin location on Pond Springs Road.
Tickets
Get your ticket at this link. Ticket price is $25, plus a small fee that goes to the ticket-processing website. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Thank You to Our Sponsor!
The 2025-26 season of Garden Spark is sponsored by Leaf Landscape Supply, which brings the visions of Central Texas gardeners to life through superior quality, an excellent selection, and individualized customer service. Check out their website and online store for pricing and availability.
Subscribe to Garden Spark
GARDEN SPARK is a speaker series on garden design and ecology held in-person in Austin. To be notified about future Garden Spark talks, join my email list. It’s easy! Just send me an email with “Subscribe” in the subject line. I’ll never share or sell your email.
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Digging Deeper
Want ideas for your yard besides lawn? Sure you do! I’m giving a talk called “Lawn Gone: 8 Great Ideas for Your Yard” on Saturday, September 13, at the Concho Valley Master Gardeners Fall Symposium in San Angelo, Texas. The cost for the all-day symposium with 4 speakers is $30 per person; refreshments and lunch included. Register by 9/10 at this link to attend. I hope to see you there, West Texas homeowners and gardeners!
My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, comes out October 14! It’s available for pre-order now on Amazon and other online book sellers. If you’d like to read it or give it as a holiday gift, please consider pre-ordering. (I’m happy to sign pre-ordered copies at my book events!) Early orders make a big difference in helping new books get noticed. More info about Gardens of Texas here — and thank you for your support!
Come see me on tour! I’ll be speaking and hosting book events across Texas this fall and into next spring to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Join me to learn, get inspired, and say hello!
Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events, so join the Garden Spark email list for notification when tickets go on sale: click this link and ask to SUBSCRIBE. Read all about the Season 9 lineup here!
All material © 2025 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
The post Learn how to design with Texas native plants from Andrea DeLong-Amaya appeared first on Digging.
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