This garden has been designed to function not only as one
of the most beautiful gardens in Texas, but also to be a premier education
facility to teach the ancient prehistory of this region. Over fifty
species of plants* will be located in the garden,
most originating over 100 million years ago. Some will be ancient yet
familiar natives. Many will be new to Zilker Botanical Garden from exotic
places around the world. Some of the rarest species will be used for
scientific study and seed production. The plants*
will include gymnosperms (pines, junipers, yews, and cycads), ferns,
horsetails, mosses, liverworts, algae, primitive grasses, ancient
angiosperms (flowering plants), and palms.
Turtles will be introduced into the new ponds, and gar
fish will be added. There is currently abundant dragonfly life in the
garden, and the relationship between these relatives of ancient plants and
insects such as butterflies and dragonflies will be nurtured and
encouraged.
During the Cretaceous period,
pteranodons with wingspans of nearly 25 feet flew over the seas that
covered Kansas and Texas. Cruising at speeds as fast as 25 miles per hour,
they were able to prey on large fish. Scientists believe their crested
heads may have worked like rudders.
* The list of plants in the Hartman Prehistoric
Garden is provided as a printable PDF document. This format requires
Adobe
Reader, which can be downloaded free if it is not already installed on
your computer.
