Garden Conservancy Celebrates Travis County Open Day With an Intimate West Lake Hills Gathering
The evening brought garden lovers together for seasonal bites, drinks, and conversation after exploring Austin’s rarely seen private gardens
Nonprofit The Garden Conservancy and its regional ambassador, Twistleaf Land Design, closed out this fall’s Travis County Open Day with an intimate garden party at the canyon-side West Lake Hills home of Heather Lyle. The event capped a full day of touring five private gardens across Central Austin, part of the Conservancy’s long-running Open Days program that celebrates and preserves exceptional American gardens.
Earlier that morning, visitors set off on a self-guided route curated by Twistleaf founder and regional ambassador Sarah Yant.
Tour of local gardens
The selected properties represented a wide range of styles and stories: Steve Twigger’s “Artist’s Eclectic Eden,” an English-inspired garden built by hand; Studio Balcones’ “Belmont Parkway,” anchored by a secluded dipping pool; Native Knowledge’s “Canyon Vista,” a five-acre woodland garden supporting surrounding wildlife; Este Garden’s edible ecosystem and urban farm supplying local restaurants; and Leah Churner’s “Pollinators’ Paradise,” a vibrant wildlife habitat with nearly 20 native tree species.
After an afternoon spent exploring everything from terraced shade gardens to buzzing native plant sanctuaries, guests made their way to Lyle’s home, where the day concluded in a relaxed, twilight setting. Attendees wandered through her garden with seasonal bites from La Pera Catering, admired floral arrangements by Studio Mistine, and enjoyed beer and wine courtesy of CB Collettivo, along with sparkling water from Rambler. Conversations lingered on garden design, ecology, and the stories behind each homeowner’s approach to Central Texas planting.
Holiday Gift Guide
The Travis County Open Day is part of the Garden Conservancy’s nationwide Open Days program, founded in 1989 to “preserve, share and celebrate America’s gardens.” The tours open privately owned landscapes to the public for one day only, allowing garden lovers to gain insight into the region’s most thoughtful outdoor spaces. Proceeds support the Conservancy’s preservation initiatives, while Twistleaf continues to champion ecological, restorative landscape design across Central Texas.
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