Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Promotes Green Roofs

Thanks to the support of long-time Austin TX philanthropist Gary Bradley, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has achieved an expansion of its borders and services to the public and the research community. His donation and sale of lands within the Circle C Ranch community have proven to be a vital resource for the center. Gary Bradley, known for the concern he devoted to environmentally sensitive land in his Rob Roy development in the 1970s, continues to play a major role in the Wildflower Center’s success.

The center’s mission, to promote the care and conservation of native plants and to offer information about their uses in medicine and technology, is highlighted in projects such as the one to help cool hot environments by installing green roofs. Recent research by the center’s Ecosystem Design Group focuses on expanding the knowledge of how green roofs can work outside the temperate regions in which they have mostly taken root. 

In parts of the world that experience extreme climatic events such as soaring temperatures and associated flash flooding, green roof technology can provide cool oases for large metropolitan populations. They can also act as reducers of the urban heat-island effect, in which heat trapped in city centers spurs costly and often dangerous temperature rises in comparison with surrounding rural areas. 

A well-planned green roof system can save energy costs and increase the useful lifetime of existing roof membranes.

Native Plant Information Network Propagates Helpful Tips

Real estate developer Gary Bradley, a long-established presence in the Austin TX professional and philanthropic communities, was the driving force behind the creation of forward-looking suburban developments. His Rob Roy community along the shoreline of Lake Austin won acclaim for its attention to regional ecological needs and attracted developers from as far away as Japan, who requested information on how to replicate its success. And thanks to Gary Bradley and its other dedicated supporters, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center continues to make Austin TX a focal point for education and cutting-edge research in native plant conservation.

The center supports the Native Plant Information Network (NPIN), which developed out of the by-mail information clearinghouse it began in the early 1980s. The NPIN, operating fully online, supplies the general public, professional botanists, and government agriculture officials with up-to-date data on the propagation and care of a wide range of native plants.

The NPIN’s mission of broad education extends far beyond the borders of Central Texas. It also offers summaries of information on plants native to all regions of the United States and Canada. Even novice gardeners can find useful tips, which include names of plant suppliers and helpful organizations specific to each area.

The Circle C Child Development Center - Personalized Austin Preschool

A longtime business presence in the Austin, TX, community, Gary Bradley created a number of area residential developments, including the Circle C Ranch. This groundbreaking suburban development encompasses schools, recreational facilities, and extensive hiking and biking opportunities in protected parkland. Gary Bradley also contributed to a first-of-its-kind child development center that benefits community members throughout Austin, TX. 

A private, nonprofit organization established in 1994 as part of the neighborhood’s master plan, the Circle C Child Development Center provides preschool children with family-centered education designed to meet age-specific needs. Children start in the full-time program as young as eight weeks old, with part-time offerings beginning at age two and continuing through age five.

Fully accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Center emphasizes personalized attention and educational continuity. It has one of the lowest teacher turnover rates among preschool centers nationwide. The school values core principles such as building confidence, respect, and character in children and teaching them to develop a sense of wonder.

Riverbend’s Remembrance Gardens

 


Independent developer Gary Bradley has been active in his Austin, TX, community since the late 1970s, having donated the most parkland of any developer in central Texas history. One of Gary Bradley’s major accomplishments was his land donation to the pastor Dr. Gerald Mann, who built Riverbend Church on the property. From there, the two created an innovative cremation cemetery, Remembrance Gardens at Riverbend, which provides an innovative alternative to classical cemeteries by inviting a form of remembrance that does not require a traditional grave.

Located in Austin, TX, Remembrance Gardens is a gorgeous piece of land in and around the Riverbend Canyon. Its Memorial Pavilion is a sheltered area with traditional niches for urns and memorial walls designed for remembrance and quiet meditation. The Terrace Garden is a collection of pathways winding through the canyon, past waterfalls and quiet pools. The Rose Garden, overlooking the waterfalls, provides bench niches, memorial pavers, and ground interments for ashes.

The gardens provide an innovative alternative to classical cemeteries by inviting a form of remembrance that does not require a traditional grave.

Wildflower Center Encourages Cultivation of Native Plants at Home

As an independent developer in Austin, TX, Gary Bradley has been involved in numerous community initiatives. He has donated land to build Riverbend Church, helped to create Trinity Episcopal School, and played a key role in constructing the MoPac expressway. Among Gary Bradley’s contributions, he purchased the Austin, TX, property that became Circle C, home of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

The Wildflower Center was set up by former first lady Lady Bird Johnson in 1982, together with actress Helen Hayes, in order to promote awareness of and provide conservation for the beautiful native plants that are at risk of extinction in the United States.

Native wildflowers are not only beautiful but also play an important role in local ecology. These plants protect the soil, contribute to water conservation, and provide habitats for local wildlife. Urban development increasingly threatens these important plants, and this can have major environmental impacts over time.

Residents can, however, cultivate backyard gardens in such a way that promotes the growth of these naturally occurring plants. The Wildflower Center provides information to help determine which native species would be best cultivated where you live. Promoting the growth of these natural plant species not only helps to protect your local natural environment but also contributes to water conservation, reduces weeds in your garden, and cuts down on mowing costs. To learn more, visit www.wildflower.org.

Grey Rock Golf Club Offers a Sporting Paradise

In the early 1980s, Austin, TX, real estate developer Gary Bradley began work on what would become one of his most notable projects--Circle C Ranch, just southwest of the city. The community has since become a luxurious place for discerning Texans to make their homes. Gary Bradley’s vision of a master-planned community that offers access to the best-available public schools and amenities also is directly adjacent to Grey Rock Golf Club, one of the state’s best courses.

Grey Rock operates an 18-hole course set among the green hill country of southwest Austin.

The late Jay Morrish, a past president of the American Society of Golf Club Architects and himself a world-renowned designer, served as the course architect for Grey Rock. His course winds through stands of majestic oak trees, nature-focused backdrop for a game. The trees are, however, more than just scenery. They also provide a number of intricate challenges to even the most seasoned golfers.

A par 4, the first hole offers the first challenge. Its position steers players between trees and water, with a high bank and substantial bunkers. The fifth hole offers a similar terrain, with the bunkers presenting the main obstacle. The fifth hole’s dogleg left and uneven surfaces offer further chances to prove one’s skill and agility. And the whole back nine is filled with doglegs, with the final hole--a par 4--providing particular challenges for long hitters.

Widespread Support for Legal Advocacy for Children

Among his many other notable charitable endeavors, Austin, TX, real estate executive Gary Bradley has contributed to the cause of child welfare in his state. In conjunction with his Austin-area projects, he established the first developer-funded early childhood facility in a suburban community. In addition, Gary Bradley collaborated with his local district attorney’s office to pioneer in the creation of a child protection center. Such centers and other advocacy organizations are now commonly found working closely with district attorney’s offices across the nation.

The legal profession’s commitment to child protection is well exemplified in the work of child advocate attorneys. Family courts frequently appoint these professionals to represent the interests of minor children in a number of proceedings, including those involving neglect or abuse. Child advocate attorneys also step in to support children’s interests in cases of divorce, termination of parental rights, and situations in which a child or teen is accused of criminal acts and brought before a juvenile court.

The National Association of Counsel for Children provides official certification for these attorneys. To obtain such credentials, an attorney must have amassed a substantial amount of hours working on behalf of children, in addition to mastering at least 36 hours of continuing education in that category.