Hill Country Conservancy Violet Crown Trail Butterfly Garden
Priorities: Ecological Restoration – Native Habitat Creation – Trail System Support
Challenges: Disturbed Construction Soils – Establishing Vegetation in a Public Corridor
Solutions: Soil Decompaction and Amendment – Native Seeding – Temporary Irrigation System
The Violet Crown Trail is a first-of-its-kind regional trail system in Central Texas, connecting Zilker Park to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center across 13 miles, with long-term plans to extend the trail to Hays County. During trail construction, Maas Verde was engaged as a subcontractor to restore an area previously used for construction staging.
The scope of work focused on rehabilitating heavily compacted soils by decompacting and amending the site to support healthy plant growth. A native seed mix was installed to reestablish vegetation and stabilize the disturbed area while aligning with the surrounding ecology.
In addition to seeding, Maas Verde designed and installed a butterfly garden using native plants and boulders to create habitat within the trail corridor. A temporary above-ground irrigation system was installed to support plant and seed establishment, supplied by a 600-gallon water drum. The system required precise calculations to ensure adequate water distribution while remaining flexible for eventual removal.
This restoration effort demonstrates how ecological design and construction can successfully repair disturbed landscapes and enhance public trail environments.
Brentwood Austin Residential Landscape Design
Priorities: Functional Irrigation – Cohesive Landscape Design – Shade and Screening
Challenges: Inadequate Water Pressure – Integrating New and Existing Plantings
Solutions: Custom Irrigation System – A/C Screening and Fruit Tree Garden – Pergola Installation
This Brentwood-area Austin project combined custom landscape design, irrigation planning, and structural elements to improve both function and aesthetics across the property.
Maas Verde developed a detailed landscape plan that included a discreet screen for the home’s A/C unit and a fruit tree garden integrated into the existing landscape. A new irrigation system was designed to support both the pre-existing plantings and the new additions, ensuring consistent water coverage throughout the site.
During irrigation installation, the crew discovered severely restricted water flow caused by a significant clog in the City of Austin’s water connection. Maas Verde worked persistently with the City to diagnose and resolve the issue, ultimately restoring proper water pressure and allowing the project to move forward as designed.
Once irrigation was complete, a 10-foot-tall pergola constructed with 6″ × 6″ posts was installed to anchor the space and enhance usability. The completed project delivers a cohesive landscape that balances structure, planting, and long-term performance.
