The Mineola Nature Preserve opened April 8, 2006. Master Gardeners had installed two sensory gardens between the pavilion and the restrooms before the opening. After being approached by Sandy Tibbs, with the Friends of the Preserve, the MGs agreed to install and maintain a Wildscape garden on approximately 0.7 acres just off the main parking lot. Planning for the Wildscape started in 2006 with initial installations beginning in 2007.
The first Wildscape coordinator was Janet Starr. She headed up the research to find potential plants native to within 150 miles of Wood County. Bart Bartlett was experienced in mapping and with his wife, Eileen, owned a nursery near Quitman. Bart helped with mapping the design and procuring suitable plants. Other MGs who were very active in early planning and installation were Nancy Weaver, Liz Soutendijk, Jerry Sutphin, and Judy Dooly.
Billie Wilder was the next coordinator assisted by Fran and Clyde McKinney, Lucy Germany, Jim Willis, Peggy Rogers, Cecil Wallace, Ruth Allen, and many of the original workers. In 2009-2010 a tool shed and small pergola were added. The roof covering the structures is used to capture rainwater for a catchment system that was installed in 2010.
Joan Morgan took over in 2011 from Billie. Under Joan a drip irrigation system was installed in 2012. In March of 2014 XTO Energy gave the Wildscape a $2,000 donation to build a pergola over the path to the dry bed.
Karen Anderson became the coordinator in 2014. Karen was responsible for installing the plants in the current dry bed. In 2016 Karen broke her wrist and had to give up the direction of the garden. Linda Timmons stepped in as the most recent coordinator.
In the last few years, trough gardens have been added and updated to showcase container gardening options. The children’s education area was installed in 2020 with the Pocket Prairie following in 2021. This year the Bee Haven has been a priority with signage about native bees added to the garden.
The focus of the Wildscape since it was started 16 years ago has been on education. Each year since 2009 the gardens have been used for at least two educational events per year. There have been demonstrations, tours, and classes. The presentations range from drip irrigation installation and home rainwater collection systems to this year’s educational series about native plants for the home gardener and what we can do to help native bees. Hopefully the Wildscape will continue to be a place where Texas Master Gardeners can learn and teach others about our native plants, insects, and animals.