Native platings are an essential feature of any sustainable city. Antithetical to the anonymous suburban lawnscape, they give a unique local flavor to any area, as well as being more resource efficient and hospitable to native wildlife.
Walk around Austin and you'll see that many area gardeners have taken this to heart. I've seen many beautiful native designs in both residential and commercial settings. The mesquite and prickly pear terrace at the downtown Whole Foods comes to mind.
This trend has to continue if Austin is going to be able to sustain its exploding population. I was startled to hear that sixty percent of municipal water used in Austin goes into the landscape in the summertime.
Fortunately there are some excellent resources out there if you're looking to plant native. The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center has been educating people about native plants for over twenty years. Their on-site demonstration gardens are definitely worth a visit, but if you cant make the trip to south Austin they have a really useful website. Their Native Plants Database contains information on natives from all over North America.
So get planting. Your buffalo grass lawn and butterfly garden will be so much cooler than the St. Augustine and geraniums your neighbors are growing.
