One of the chapter’s most visible native pollinator habitats at the Winedale Historical Center was recently replanted with the help of a retired landscape professional, Sam Walton (Class of 2025), along with Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) volunteers. Carey Soderstrom, Winedale Pollinator Garden project lead, organizes monthly workdays to get your hands in the soil and help tend to the garden’s health.
Now, with the addition of 42 new native plants curated by Walton, including Mexican Sage Bush (Salvia leucantha), Prairie Verbena (Verbena bipinnatifida) and Wrights’ Skullcap (Scutellaria wrightii), the space will have year-long vitality to attract and host critical species of butterflies, moths and other winged pollinators in the Round Top area and beyond.
“Our chapter’s stewardship of native pollinator habitats seeks to inspire, educate and share our love for the natural world with our communities,” Carey said. “The gardens are vibrant examples of how we humans can nurture pollinators, help our environment and enjoy the outdoors at the same time.”
The location of the Winedale Pollinator Garden project site in front of the Visitor’s Center for the University of Texas at Austin’s Dolph Briscoe Center for American History “assures that we have lots of visitors,” says Carey, adding that it’s a great showcase for teaching about and demonstrating pollinator habitats. “As the garden evolves, we’re now working on new educational signage, planting new plants, learning what does/does not thrive in the space, looking for outreach opportunities, watching the garden grow and, of course—pulling weeds!”
As a new volunteer landscape designer for the site, Sam Walton says a mix of passion, purpose and place inspired him to reimagine the habitat as a living example of how landscapes can serve both people and the planet.
“I’ve always enjoyed watching butterflies, bees and hummingbirds move through these spaces,” he said. “I wanted to take that a step further and give something back to the community and the local ecosystem. Helping with an existing public pollinator garden comes from a desire to create a space that educates, inspires and supports life. Pollinators are vital to our food systems and native landscapes, yet their habitats are shrinking. I wanted to help build a place where people could see the power of native plants in action—where kids can learn, families can relax and wildlife can continue to thrive.”
Plan a visit to this delightful garden soon!
Where: 3738 FM 2714, Round Top, TX 78945
VMS Opportunity: Every second Friday of the month
