The Barton Hills Garden Club invites neighbors to its September program, “Design for Drought Resilience,” featuring Austin landscape designer and garden educator Leah Churner.

The program will be held Tuesday, September 22, from 9:15–11:00 a.m. in the auditorium at Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78746. The program is free with admission to the garden.

Designing a Garden for Austin’s Changing Climate

As our climate becomes increasingly unpredictable, each year seems to bring new gardening challenges. Churner will share practical tips and strategies for making Austin gardens more resilient to drought and extreme temperatures.

Rather than simply choosing plants labeled “drought tolerant” or “low water,” the program will explore how thoughtful planning, plant arrangement and garden maintenance can improve a landscape’s ability to withstand difficult conditions.

Topics will include ways to use shade as a resource, conserve water, time outdoor gardening tasks more effectively and avoid becoming discouraged by the Texas heat. Attendees will leave with new ideas for sustaining a garden and helping it thrive—even during the furnace of a late Texas summer.

About Leah Churner

Austin-based landscape designer and garden educator Leah Churner of Delta Dawn Gardens specializes in native plants and ecological design.

A recent Barton Hills project she designed, “Pollinators’ Paradise,” was featured in the 2025 Garden Conservancy Open Days Tour of Travis County.

Churner has taught classes in landscape design at the Wildflower Center, UT Austin, Austin Community College and the Native Plant Society of Texas. She has also made several appearances on Austin PBS’s Central Texas Gardener.

Program Details

• What: Design for Drought Resilience
• Presenter: Leah Churner
• When: Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 9:15–11:00 a.m.
• Where: Zilker Botanical Garden Auditorium, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78746
• Cost: Free with garden admission
• Presented by: Barton Hills Garden Club
• Questions: Debby McCray Shaw at austinbizw@yahoo.com

Barton Hills Neighbors,

At the BHNA Meeting last Tuesday, we talked about the upcoming Wildfire Symposium next week on Wednesday, August 5th. The Austin Area Firewise Alliance and Mayor Watson are bringing together City, County, and State leaders for greater preparedness, responsiveness, and recovery from a major wildfire. The Symposium will underscore the essential role residents must play in protecting their homes, neighborhoods, and communities. 

The message below was shared with Alliance members for forwarding to their neighborhood association networks. I am your BHNA representative to the Alliance, and we want you to have this information. We hope you’ll be able to participate either in person or by viewing the morning sessions on TV, radio, or streamed as described below. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have questions.

It should be an interesting day!

Thank you for your interest in wildfire preparedness.

Robin

Begin forwarded message:

From: Austin Area Firewise Alliance <firewisealliance@gmail.com>

Subject: Wildfire Symposium Update

Date: August 1, 2026 at 7:26:43?PM CDT

To: Robin McKeever <firewisealliance@gmail.com>

All Members,

The updated Wildfire Symposium agenda and event flyer are attached, reflecting a complex program packed with expertise. If it changes again, we’ll follow up again. Please share the flyer and registration link with your neighborhood and professional networks.

The registration link:  Luma.com: https://luma.com/kuxwkc79

Afternoon breakout Track Sessions have limited space. TRACK 1:  SIZEs is now closed, but TRACKS 2-4 currently still have spaces available.

The City Council Chamber has a capacity of 200, including standing room. Overflow monitoring will be available in the lobby with TV screens. 

The morning sessions may be viewed remotely through a live broadcast on ATXN (Austin Television Network), Channel 6 for local cable providers, online via ATXN Live, and one FM radio at KAZI 88.7 FM. Note: the afternoon TRACK sessions will not be streamed or recorded.  https://www.austintexas.gov/communications/watch-atxn-live

EVENT-DAY DETAILS

Parking:  Free parking will be available only in the underground garage; on-street parking will not be free. Access the underground garage from GUADALUPE Street on the west side of the building. Bring your parking chit to the lobby for validation. Keep your validated chit to scan at the exit for the arm to lift.

8:15am:  Guests are welcome for complimentary coffee & sweets in the lobby. NOTE:  No food or beverages are allowed in the Council Chamber. Water fountains are available in the lobby, and small-sip cups and water urn will be situated in the vestibule pass-through to the Council Chamber.

Front Door Security:  Standard screening of bags placed on a treadmill with an adjacent step-through frame.

Sign-In is REQUIRED:  Name tags will have Symposium ID, allowing internal security staff and volunteers to distinguish participants from other City Hall visitors and for ease of escorting through internal security barriers.

Information tables will be hosted by the Austin Fire Department with detailed wildfire preparedness handouts.

Complimentary box lunches will be available for afternoon TRACK participants.

Special Thanks to Alliance Volunteers! We appreciate Ed Richburg, Carol Philipson, Paul Hanusa, Karen Hagedorn, and Norma Walker stepping forth to support a successful Wildfire Symposium. They represent the Firewise Communities of River Place, Jester Estates, Long Canyon, and Canyon Creek. We couldn’t do it without you! 

We look forward to seeing you there.

Robin McKeever
Board Member and Communications
Austin Area Firewise Alliance
firewisealliance@gmail.com  

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association Community Meeting

Date: Tuesday, July 28

Location:
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Fellowship Hall

Schedule:

• 6:00 PM – Gathering and social time
• 7:00 PM – Community meeting

Come out and get to know your new and longtime Barton Hills neighbors!

Meeting Topics

Learn about:

• Firewise Community emergency preparedness update
• City of Austin code enforcement in Barton Hills
• MoPac Toll Road expansion resolution
• Traffic light at Collier Street and South Lamar Boulevard
• SOS and the historical bridge
• Success of the 4th of July Parade

Get Involved

Interested in helping shape the future of the neighborhood?

Ask about volunteering to serve on the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association officer committee.

Join the BHNA

Membership is just $10 per person.

Politics and Popsicles: 26 Questions for the 2026 Austin Council Candidates

Co-hosted by Zilker Neighborhood Association and Barton Hills Neighborhood Association

Join us for a community candidates forum for the upcoming City Council Elections by the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association and the Zilker Neighborhood Association. The forum will feature candidates from Districts 1, 3, 5, 8, and 9.

When: Monday, July 27th
Doors open & networking: 6:30 PM
Forum: 7:00–8:30 PM

Where: Kinney Avenue Baptist Church, 1801 Kinney Avenue, Austin, TX 78704

Key Themes: Public Safety & Well-being · Education · Environment · Economy

Hi Neighbors,

Our next General Meeting will be on Tuesday, July 28th at St Mark’s and our speakers this time will be from the offices of Code Compliance and Planning and Development, including the Assistant Director of Code Compliance, Daniel Word. If you have questions, they will be here to answer them. We look forward to seeing you there. Social hour starts at 6pm, meeting begins at 7pm.

Barb LaFollette
President, BHNA

Join your neighbors, friends, and visitors for the annual Barton Hills 4th of July Parade and Celebration! Everyone is welcome to participate in the parade or cheer from the sidelines along Barton Hills Drive. Wear your red, white, and blue and help celebrate Independence Day with the community.

Event Schedule

8:30 AM – Parade Assembly

• Meet at Barton Hills Market
• 1220 Barton Hills Drive

9:00 AM – Parade Begins

• The parade travels along Barton Hills Drive and ends at Barton Hills Elementary School

Parade After-Party

Following the parade, join us at:

Barton Hills Community Park
2108 Barton Hills Drive

Enjoy:

• Cookies and watermelon
• Amy’s Ice Cream
• Announcement of parade contest winners

The celebration is expected to conclude before noon.

Contest & Prize Categories

Awards will be presented for:

• Top 3 Decorated Bicycles & Scooters
• Top 3 Wagons, Carts & Strollers
• Most Patriotic Pooch
• Most Patriotic Neighbor
• Tastiest Cookie Baker

Parade Participation

Residents are encouraged to join the procession. Participants may include:

• Decorated bicycles and scooters
• Wagons, carts, and strollers
• Pets
• Walkers
• Skaters
• Scooters and motorcycles
• Classic cars
• Floats

Please note: Commercial advertising on vehicles or floats is not permitted.

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you would like to sponsor the event, please contact:

officers@bartonhills.org

Sponsor commitments should be made by Friday, June 26.

Hosted By

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association

We look forward to celebrating Independence Day with our community!

Join the Save Our Springs Alliance in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Barton Springs Bridge on Sunday, June 21.

Morning Activities (9:00 a.m. – Noon)

• Swimming at Barton Springs
• Tacos and coffee
• Birthday banner making

Evening Celebration (5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)

• Live music by Bill Oliver and the Otter Space Band
• Barton Springs Bridge history presentations
• Advocacy activities and community gathering

Location: Barton Springs Bridge area near Barton Creek and Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park.

Learn more: Visit SOSAlliance.org for event details and information about efforts to preserve the historic Barton Springs Bridge.

Join us for a community candidates forum for the Texas House District 49 runoff, co-hosted by the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association and the Zilker Neighborhood Association.

The forum will feature runoff candidates Kathie Tovo and Montserrat Garibay, who will answer in-depth questions and discuss their vision for representing HD 49.

The event will be held on Wednesday, May 20, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Barton Hills. Doors will open at 5:45 PM, and the forum will begin promptly at 6:30 PM. The forum will last apx. 90 minutes. 

This will be a substantive, issues-focused conversation organized around four key themes:

• Getting to Know You – This Neighborhood, This District
• Environment, Water & Our Shared Natural Heritage
• Affordability – Housing, Wages & Staying in Austin
• Education, Rights & Democratic Defense

All are welcome to attend. This is an opportunity for voters from across House District 49 to engage directly with the candidates and hear how they plan to serve our community.

For more information, please visit

https://bartonhills.org or https://zna.org.

Early runoff voting is May 18-22. Runoff voting date is May 26.

Sincerely,

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association

Zilker Neighborhood Association

Tuesday, April 28
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall
2128 Barton Hills Drive

The Barton Hills Neighborhood Association invites all residents to attend our upcoming Spring General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, April 8. These meetings are a great opportunity to stay informed, connect with neighbors, and take part in shaping the future of our community.

6:00 PM – Social Hour & Snacks
7:00 PM – Introductions & Announcements

• Chief Baker and Chief Skowron
• Call for volunteers for the July 4th parade
• Candidates
  • Allison Bush SBOE D5
  • David Weinberg City Council D5
  • Kathie Tovo State Rep D49

7:20 PM – PM Approval of Jan 27, 2026, meeting minutes
7:25 PM – Treasurer’s Report

7:30 PM – Conversation with Austin Fire Department Chief Baker and Chief Skowron

• Discussion about the Wildlife Urban Interface, BHNA, and the Austin Fire Department’s planning
• Q&A

8:30 PM – Committee Updates

• Firewise Committee- Robin McKeever
• Austin Neighborhood Council (ANC) Update – Worthy LaFollette
• Update on Zilker Bridge – Worthy LaFollette
• Update on Mopac Expansion- Travis Holler
• Update on Mopac (CTRMA) Toll road expansion – Travis Holler
• Beautification Committee – Travis Holler

Neighborhood meetings are an important way to stay engaged and ensure your voice is heard. Whether you’re a longtime resident or new to Barton Hills, your participation helps strengthen our neighborhood and build a more connected, informed, and resilient community.

We hope to see you there!

Residents of Barton Hills and the surrounding area are invited to attend an important community presentation hosted by the City of Austin focused on wildfire preparedness and evacuation planning.

This session will provide updates on local wildfire risks, preparedness strategies, and evacuation procedures specific to the Barton Hills and Zilker neighborhoods. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn how to better protect your home, family, and community in the event of a wildfire.

Event Details:
Date: Monday, April 27
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Kinney Avenue Baptist Church, 1801 Kinney Ave

City staff will share the latest planning efforts and practical steps residents can take now to be prepared. Whether you’re new to the area or a longtime resident, this information is timely and highly relevant given our proximity to greenbelt areas.

For additional resources, visit ReadyCentralTexas.org.

We encourage all Barton Hills neighbors to attend and stay informed.