Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TEXAS GOES GREEN
Austin has lead the way towards a greener future for Texas. The environmentally progressive city has garnered
national and international awards for its initiatives, including the Green Building Program which offers practical
workshops on sustainable building practices. Numerous private, grassroots groups such as Save Our Springs Alli-
ance, protector of the the Edwards Aquifer zone and the the endangered Barton Springs salamander, act as watch-
dogs restraining over-development.
Even the city government is getting green. Carbon-neutral buses and bike lanes have been around seemingly
forever. Since 2000, all new municipal buildings in Austin are built to Leadership in Energy & Environmental
Design (LEED) standards. As of 2012, municipal departments buy 100% of their energy from renewable sources
through GreenChoice. And the town passed legislation banning plastic bags in 2013.
Buy-local-first, home growing veggies and farmers markets have long been traditions with many Austin resid-
ents. But today we're seeing environmentally dedicated mixed-use, green communities pop up: complete with
community gardens and green space, recycled art and green-energy use. We could go on, and on..
Austin may be leading the way, but other Texas towns are following suit. Houston constructed and continues to
expand its light rail system. Bike sharing stations number 21 in town, and the Bikeways program is developing
shared and single use bike lanes. Dallas has likewise undertaken development of an extensive bikeway system.
Several new gardens and green spaces have opened that town. And all new municipal buildings (and those larger
than 10,000 sq ft) are held to silver LEED standards, including the Perot Museum of Nature and Science that
opened in 2012. For the SUV- and one-ton-Dually-pick-up-loving populace, it ain't always easy being green. But
towns have made a start.
Desert Dwellers
The creosote bush is among the most prevalent desert species in Texas, with dark-green
leaves and a 30ft taproot that searches for underground water. The ocotillo, sometimes
called coachwhip, is a woody shrub with long, slender wands that produce scarlet flowers.
Lechuguilla, a fibrous-spined agave, is unique to the Chihuahuan Desert and may grow
15ft tall. Candelilla has long been used by the area's indigenous people to produce wax.
Prickly pear is the most common kind of cactus, with several varieties: Engelman,
purple-tinged, brown-spine and blind (so-called because it looks like it has no thorns - but
it does, so beware.) Other cactus species include fishhook, cholla, claret cup, rainbow,
eagle's claw and strawberry pitaya. One species you
won't
find is the saguaro cactus,
which - although often used by New York City ad agencies as a symbol for west Texas -
actually is found in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. After spring rains, look for claret cup
and other cacti in Big Bend to be in brilliant bloom.
Spider phobia? Tarantulas are common in rural Texas, as are scorpions - 11 species of stinging scorpi-
ons live in the Big Bend region. Spot one? Give it room.
