About

Madrone Preserve

When the Westbank Library District established the Laura Bush Library in 2005 on Bee Cave Road, in Austin, TX, a hill country canyon was included in the property. The land was generously donated by TRI and the trail developed with funding from the Buena Vista Foundation and the Donnell Family.  Carl Fabre, a Capital Area Master Naturalist (CAMN), worked with the Central Texas Trail Tamers and other volunteers to establish a winding trail down and through the canyon among the lovely and increasingly uncommon madrone trees. Six years later, Rikki (Patricia) McGee (CAMN) joined Carl, to further the development of the hidden natural area. In 2013 the Friends of Westbank Library (FoWL) took on the Madrone Preserve in order to protect the flora and fauna so that this hill country treasure can be used for educational purposes. As of Fall 2014 48 madrone trees have been identified in this plant hotspot. See Maxson's Eagle Scout Project accounting for the madones.