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Join us online or in-person at Wildflower Center’s Tuesday Twilights at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for a fascinating talk on Mycorrhizal Fungi with UT researcher Elena Leander. The pioneering ecologist recently featured in Texas Monthly for her groundbreaking research. She is unraveling the secrets of mycorrhizal fungi—the microscopic network that connects roots, shares resources, and helps wildflowers and grasses survive drought and thrive.
This program is a part Healthy Soils, Healthy Trees research and is funded by COA Urban Forestry Grant.
About the Talk
Have you ever wondered how a field of Texas wildflowers can explode with color, even in tough conditions? The answer lies not just in the seeds, but beneath our feet, in a remarkable hidden partnership between plants and fungi.
In this talk, you will discover:
The Hidden Superpower of Wildflowers and Grasses: Learn how beloved species like Firewheel and Little Bluestem depend on their fungal partners for their stunning displays and their ability to thrive in rocky Hill Country soils.
The Drought-Resilience Secret: Understand the science behind how this fungal network acts as a natural irrigation system, helping our native landscapes become more resilient to Texas heat and drought.
A New Way to See the Landscape: Shift your perspective from individual flowers to connected communities. Hidden beneath every Texas grassland lies a network of fungi that shapes the plant communities we see above. Underground partners known as mycorrhizal fungi exchange resources with plants, playing an important role in ecosystem resilience. UT Austin researcher Elena Leander shares insights from her research at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, where she builds on years of monitoring by staff and volunteers to explore how restoration efforts influence plant–fungal relationships. Join us for a beginner-friendly look into the world of mycorrhizae and discover how soil, roots, and fungi shape the beauty of Texas landscapes.
We will have wildflower seeds and mushroom blocks at the event for you to take home.
About the Speaker
Elena Leander is a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior program at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research explores how partnerships between plants and mycorrhizal fungi respond to global change and how restoration efforts can leverage these partnerships to enhance ecosystem resilience. Elena works primarily in Texas grasslands, including the long-term research plots at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
About Healthy Soils, Healthy Trees
This program is dedicated to educating our community about the vital, hidden relationships that sustain our local ecosystems. We focus on the critical role of mycorrhizal fungi—the symbiotic partners of plant roots—in building healthy, resilient soil. Healthy soil, teeming with fungal life, is the foundation for strong, drought-resistant trees and vibrant native landscapes. Through workshops, forays, and expert talks, we explore how nurturing this underground network is key to conservation and sustainable gardening in Central Texas.
Activities at Tuesday Twilight on November 11th
Caros Amigos will fill the Courtyard with the lively, toe-tapping traditional music of Brazilian Choro.
Grab something savory and delicious from CraigO’s or Konfusedesi.
Craving something sweet? Sweet Frida has you covered!
If you’ve been admiring wildflowers for at least 21 years, cocktails will be available for purchase.
Parking is limited, even with some extra options on La Crosse Avenue and in the streets of the nearby neighborhood. We suggest carpooling or using a rideshare to help keep the chill vibes of the evening going.
Please refrain from bringing in alcoholic beverages. There will be a bar on site for your convenience.
Things start winding down around 7:30 p.m., so be sure to get here at the top of the hour for our later ticket holders.