Sponsor a Native Bird Garden in the Texas Hill Country
A living tribute for cardinals, warblers and monarchs — we plant it, we care for it, and your name stays with it.
It Started With a Grandfather Who Loved to Watch the Birds
Al's Hideaway is named for my grandfather, Albert "Al" Banis. Al served on D-Day, and he was later held as a prisoner of war. He came home carrying things most of us will never understand, and he found his peace in the Texas Hill Country — in the quiet, in the open sky, and in watching the birds and deer move through the trees.
When I was a kid, Al would load up the grandkids and bring us out to these hills to hunt, camp, and just be outside. He wasn't one for big speeches. He'd sit still, point out a cardinal or a hawk, and let the land do the talking. Those trips were our hideaway.
Today, those same hills are where we welcome guests from all over the world. And the thing Al cared about most out here — the peace, the quiet, the wildlife — is exactly what we want to protect and grow.
Every garden plot is a small way of passing on what Al gave us: a place to sit still, breathe, and watch nature do its thing.
Al's full story, where you'll find him as Albert "Abe" Banis, from Normandy to the POW camps to coming home, is told beautifully by our family member Rebecca Nance in Albert's Journey on the WW2 Letter Project. We're grateful to her for sharing it.
Why This Garden Matters
Only about 3 of our 20 acres are developed. The rest is native Hill Country woods, two creeks and walking trails — home to golden-cheeked warblers (an endangered songbird that nests only in Central Texas), woodpeckers, more cardinals than we can count, and the winter migrants that pass through every year.
We want the entrance and exit of our trails to become a true haven for birds, butterflies and bees, with quiet spots out in the woods where anyone can sit and watch. We don't have the budget to build it all at once, so we're inviting people who care to help us plant it, one plot at a time.
- For nature: Native, low-water plants feed birds, butterflies and pollinators through Texas heat and drought, and give migrating birds a place to rest and refuel.
- For our guests: Families, birders and folks who just need some quiet get a place to slow down, step away from screens, and see wildlife up close — the same way Al showed us.
- For conservation: Every plot adds to the habitat Central Texas wildlife depends on, and supports Bandera County's effort to become a certified Bird City Texas community.
- For you: A lasting, living tribute with your name, your family's name or a loved one's name on it.
Ways to Help
Choose the sponsorship that fits you. Each button takes you to our secure online store to check out.
Friend of the Garden
Every dollar goes toward buying native plants for our bird, butterfly and bee gardens. A simple way to be part of it from anywhere.
Become a FriendBirdhouse or Feeder Sponsor
We install a birdhouse or feeder along our trails with an engraved name tag — yours, your family's, or someone you're honoring.
Sponsor a BirdhouseTrail Plot
Sponsor a native plant section along our walking trails, where the bird, butterfly and bee haven is taking root. Finished with a 6×9 inch plaque. Includes 15% off a stay of up to two nights as our thank-you.
Sponsor a Trail PlotCabin Garden Plot
Adopt a low-water native garden with a bird bath in front of one of our cabin porches, finished with a 6×9 inch plaque. Includes 15% off a stay of up to two nights as our thank-you.
Adopt a Cabin PlotIn our store, look for the item with the same name. Sponsorships support a family-owned business and are not tax-deductible.
A Gift That Grows
A garden plot makes a meaningful gift for the bird lover, gardener or Hill Country fan who already has everything — or a gentle way to remember someone who loved the outdoors. Their name goes on the plaque, and the garden keeps blooming and feeding wildlife long after the holidays are over.
How It Works
- Live far away? No problem. We do the planting and watering for you.
- Live nearby? You're welcome to plant your own plot on whatever date fits your schedule — there's no single planting day. Kids and scout troops are welcome to help.
- Pick your spot. Choose a cabin or a spot along the trails.
- Make it yours. Wind chimes, solar lights, painted rocks and garden sculptures are all welcome. Business logos are welcome on plaques too.
- Bee-friendly where it fits. Cabin-front plots use a low-bee design for guests with allergies, while the trail gardens welcome bees and butterflies.
- Visit anytime we're open. Sponsors can stop by during business hours — just let us know you're coming.
🌿 Your plaque is here to stay. Plaques remain for the life of the garden. If a plot is ever moved, your plaque moves with it. If a plot is ever removed, we'll return your plaque to you as a keepsake.
Questions
Do I have to live near Pipe Creek to sponsor?
Not at all. Sponsors anywhere can take part, and we handle the planting and watering for anyone who can't make it out.
Can I dedicate a plot to someone?
Yes. Many sponsors honor a parent, grandparent or friend who loved birds and the outdoors. Just tell us the name you'd like on the plaque.
What if a plant dies?
Texas weather can be tough. We'll work with you to replace it, either by you or by another arrangement that works for both of us.
Is it tax-deductible?
No. We're a family-owned business, not a nonprofit.
Who do I contact with questions?
Call 830-510-3331, text 830-271-3331, or email us.
Thank you for helping us grow something Al would have loved.
— Jennifer