The University of Texas Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

With Mother Nature on their side, Citizens for Scenic Texas Highways (CSTH) will see the intersection of US 281 and Texas 71 in technicolor come spring.

Bluebonnet seeds mixed with those a variety of other native Texas wildflowers were planted in Phase II of their Gateway to the Hill Country and Highland Lakes Beautification Project on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Phase I was the trimming of Live Oak trees in the median by Bradlee Mills of Mills Services in Kingsland, who has committed his donated arborist services to the site through 2018. Phase II was the planting conducted by George Cates of Native American Seed in Junction.

Cates clocked 12 acres on the planter as he ploughed through the 56 acres of land in the clover-leaf intersection. Hopes are high for timely moisture to bring forth the spring flowers in the first season, though wildflowers will sometimes save their prize for another perfect season.

As fundraising continues for the Gateway to the Hill Country Beautification Project, volunteers of Citizens for Scenic Texas Highways (CSTH) carried a report on its progress to Luci Baines Johnson this month.

The organization has dedicated the community-funded project to the 'Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson,' the former First Lady and Luci's mother. She welcomed Soc Gonzalez, Shannon Heep and Linda Baker to her Central Texas home where they shared information about the groundbreaking Dec. 27 on the two-year project to beautify the intersection that welcomes visitors to Burnet County--US 281 and Texas 71 in Marble Falls.

The site has been called the Gateway to the Hill Country and Highland Lakes Region and described as a “welcome mat” at the threshold of traffic from seasonal visitors from within Texas and from far beyond Texas borders.