Discover Texas from the ground up at the Texas Native Trial By Bonny Osterhage

Imagine experiencing the live oaks of the Texas Hill Country, the sweetgum trees of the East Texas Pineywoods and the thorny brush of the South Texas Plains—all without leaving San Antonio! Do all that and more at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, Texas Native Trail..
Three years in the making, the Texas Native Trail covers 11 miles and represents 1,200 miles of botanical territory. It is a unique “walk across Texas” that carries visitors through three of the state’s 10 distinct ecosystems.
The trail was part of the original garden, but according to education director Siri Lindholm, it was not being used to its full potential as an educational area. “It was a little confusing,” she says. “There was no family-friendly interpretation.”
Now it is easier to navigate the areas as they are divided into three separate and distinct pathways with bilingual signage featuring larger graphics and pictures as well as friendlier terminology.
The self-guided tours begin at a central pavilion lined with panels describing each area. From there, guests can hit the trail, so to speak. The Hill Country trail is the largest of the three areas and contains two historic cabins, a limestone spring, a wildflower meadow and an assortment of plants and trees indigenous to that area, including juniper and Texas Mountain Laurel.
During the opening weekend, members of the San Antonio Living History Association in period dress will be camped along the trail, depicting early life in Texas. Throughout the weekend they will give demonstrations of corn grinding, basket weaving, spinning and other daily chores. Other opening weekend festivities will include live music, Cowboy Craig and his Longhorn steer “Oreo,” storytelling, talks on Texas wines, cooking and floral-arranging demonstrations and much more.
For more information, call 829-5100. The San Antonio Botanical Garden is located at 555 Funston Place and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.