Colonel Andrew Zilker, for whom the park is named, came to Austin at the age of 18 and, through his hard work, soon assumed control of the first big artificial ice plant in Austin, and eventually became a great benefactor in the development of our city. In 1918, he donated the Barton Springs Pool and the surrounding area to the City of Austin, which became a park named in his honor.

The Zilker Botanical Garden occupies 31 acres of varied topography between the Colorado River and Barton Springs Road in the middle of Zilker Park and is home to an array of native, hybrid and exotic plants. It is visited annually by over 300,000 people from more than 100 countries as well as beloved by the people of Austin. I had photographs of my bride and I taken there amidst the flowers and waters designed by Isamu Taniguchi prior to our marriage. The three acres of the Taniguchi Gardens were built by Mr. Taniguchi for the citizens of Austin without salary or contract over the period of 18 months when he was seventy years old back in 1969. It contains two ponds, a beautiful bridge over the still and reflecting water as well as years of insight into the Japanese garden viewpoint. The wisteria he planted there conveys its beauty in a context both visual and most odiferous.

These days, there are over 6000 tulips springing from the bulbs planted last year, almost 50 types of tulips visible from Barton Springs Road. But for the visitor that pauses and goes up the hill into the Zilker Botanical Garden, there awaits a multitude of surprises for the fans of flowers and plants.

With the rapid approach of spring here in Austin, I would advise all readers of this article to plan on at least one afternoon during the next few months to be enraptured by the beauty of our own, our unique Zilker Botanical Garden. There are far more things to see than I have mentioned here. You will not be disappointed.