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Garden Conservancy Hosts Fall Tour of Private Austin Gardens

Travis County Open Day returns Nov. 8 with a self-guided tour of five standout private gardens curated by The Garden Conservancy

  • By Analise Pickerrell
  • Photos by Buff Strickland
  • August 06, 2025
Steve Twigger’s “Eclectic Eden,” an English-inspired private garden in Central Austin, is one of five sites featured in the Garden Conservancy’s Travis County Open Day on Nov. 8.
Steve Twigger’s “Eclectic Eden,” an English-inspired private garden in Central Austin, is one of five sites featured in the Garden Conservancy’s Travis County Open Day on Nov. 8. (Photo by Buff Strickland)

Whether a seasoned botanical enthusiast or someone simply trying to keep a fern alive, visitors can find inspiration for future plant-related projects during Travis County Open Day—a one-day, self-guided tour of five standout private gardens in the Central Austin area. From highlighting “do-it-yourself” home gardens to urban farms, the decades-old tradition honors the work of landscape architects and private gardeners alike.

“Seeing how others design their outdoor spaces opens up so much possibility,” said Sarah Yant, regional ambassador for The Garden Conservancy’s Travis County Open Day and founder of Twistleaf Land Design. “It’s one thing to scroll for inspiration—but walking through a lived-in garden lets you feel how it flows, how it makes you pause and take a deep breath.”

Founded in 1989, the Garden Conservancy, a nonprofit focused on “preserving, sharing and celebrating America’s gardens,” hosts Open Days across the country, which allow the public to glean inspiration from viewing their region’s most exceptional private gardens and meet the designers behind the coveted spaces.

Este Garden’s Edible Ecosystem, a working urban farm in Central Austin, will be featured during the Garden Conservancy’s Travis County Open Day.
Este Garden’s, a working urban farm in Central Austin, will be featured during the Garden Conservancy’s Travis County Open Day. (Photo by Buff Strickland photography, courtesy of Twistleaf Land Design)

Travis Country’s Open Day will take place on Nov. 8. Tickets will be released online approximately two months in advance of the event, with the 2025 release date anticipated for Tuesday, Sept. 2. Admission is $5 per garden for members of the Garden Conservancy and $10 per garden for nonmembers. The five featured gardens are all located in the Central Austin area, making it possible to visit them in a single day.

“The opportunity to visit these special private gardens in one day will invite curiosity, conversation and inspiration,” Yant said. “We love that the tour will take place during the fall, giving attendees a chance to see firsthand the unique seasonality, challenges and rewards of gardening in our central Texas climate.”

Twistleaf Land Design, an Austin firm focused on innovative and ecological approaches to landscape design, has been The Garden Conservancy’s regional ambassador of Travis County for the past two years, a role that includes selecting which gardens to spotlight each year.

Studio Balcones’ "Shoal Creek Sanctuary" features native plantings, shaded walkways, and a secluded “secret garden” dipping pool.
Studio Balcones’ “Shoal Creek Sanctuary” features native plantings, shaded walkways, and a secluded “secret garden” dipping pool. (Photo  by Buff Strickland, courtesy of Twistleaf Land Design)

How to get tickets

This year’s gardens include Steve Twigger’s “Artist’s Eclectic Eden,” an English-inspired, work-of-one-man garden; Studio Balcones’ “Belmont Parkway ,” which features a “secret garden” dipping pool; Native Knowledge’s “Canyon Vista,” a five acre woodland garden that supports surrounding wildlife; “Este Garden’s” edible ecosystem, a lush, working urban farm that grows organic produce for restaurants; and Leah Churner’s “Pollinators’ Paradise,” a vibrant wildlife garden with nearly 20 native tree species.

Travis County’s Open Day is open to all. However, members of The Garden Conservancy receive special benefits, such as discounted Open Day tickets and access to special events. Those interested can learn more about membership on their website.

“We hope attendees leave feeling inspired to take on garden design and installation, either personally or by working with a landscape design firm,” Yant said. “We want attendees to feel more connected to other botanical enthusiasts and fans of garden design in our community.”

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