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Learning about Lady Bird at Pioneer Farms
They already know a lot. And they are eager to learn more.
On Friday, in the color-spackled meadows around the Pioneer Farms historical settlement in northeast Austin, the students pored over 19th-century farming techniques, old-fashioned tools — axes left a particular impression — as well as the surrounding indigenous plants.
They also expanded their knowledge of Lady Bird Johnson, the late first lady whose name rang faint bells for the 8- and 9-year-olds, if her ecological work was still news.
“I know I’ve read about her in many places,” said Jason Moreno, who also recognized a reference to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. “Her name makes me think of nature.”
“There’s a bird in her name,” said Sierra Scott, bravely recovering from multiple fire-ant bites. “She sounds like she was nice.”
(It was perhaps too early to bring up the $100,000 already raised by the newspaper’s campaign, or that 100 percent of the donations went to purchase seeds, or that the newspaper plans to continue the campaign through 2012. Leave the heavy fundraising to the adults.)
“There are so many different kinds of flowers here,” said Zoe Briceno, brushing against the yellow, lavender and white blossoms. “We don’t have them in our lawn.”
“And there’s tall grass here,” Jason Moreno said. “That’s rare in our neighborhood.”
Camille Gerlach was proud that her Austin grandfather’s front yard was completely saturated with wildflowers.
Reesa Moreno was most impressed by the Pioneer Farm animals, but said she enjoyed the flower-open spaces as well.
“I’d like to see more when we are driving,” A.J. Prince said.
“I’d like to see them right in our neighborhood,” said Aidan Martinez, who also found memorable the Pioneer Farms’ “Swedish Silo,” “one of only two in the world!” he said.
Evan Holland, who first spotted the blanket of bluebonnets near the edge of the interpretive hamlet, said his family owns 10 rural acres fairly permeated with wildflowers.
“There must be a mill- …” he said, correcting himself quickly. “Well, not a million, but a lot. Everywhere you look.”
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