Nurturing Nature and Knowledge

Carolyn Long, a docent at the Wildflower Center, recalls the impact the outdoors had on her upbringing. “My maternal grandmother in West Virginia knew every bird and every tree and had a beautiful garden,” she says, “and my paternal grandmother, who was born and raised in Texas, could name every native wildflower.”

Now a master naturalist, Carolyn’s deep-seated passion for native plants and ecosystems has found a new expression through her generous gifts to the Wildflower Center, including a future gift established in her estate plan. “The Wildflower Center put me back in touch with those things that were meaningful to me as a child,” she says. “The decision to support the Wildflower Center philanthropically was easy for me and felt like a natural step coming from a wild girl growing up.”

Over the past 30 years, Carolyn has held many volunteer roles at the Center, from keeping the grounds to serving as chair of the advisory council — and everything in between. “I’ve worn many hats but being a tour docent is probably my most favorite thing.”

Unlike typical nature walks, Carolyn’s tours are not just informational; they are an immersive experience. Whether she’s describing the life cycle of indigenous wildflowers or explaining the symbiotic relationships within ecosystems, her aptly nicknamed “scratch and sniff” tours encourage visitors to venture off the path and interact directly with nature. “Our goal with these tours is to help visitors gain the same level of confidence in their own interactions with the natural world and share that passion with others.”

Aligning her passions for conservation and philanthropy, Carolyn’s planned gift will bolster the Wildflower Center’s educational programs, enabling the development of state-of-the-art learning resources, immersive exhibits and advanced research initiatives. “I hope that my gift can help provide resources to improve the visitor experience and help strengthen everyone’s interest and ability to preserve natural landscapes at the ground level — no pun intended.”

Your Generosity Helps Us Grow

There are many ways to preserve the Wildflower Center’s future, including noncash options and strategies that provide attractive tax benefits to you. To learn more, download our FREE guide>, “Be Part of Something Big at the Wildflower Center.” For more information, contact the Gift and Estate Planning Team at 512-475-9632 or giftplan@austin.utexas.edu.