DeLong-Amaya manages the center's gardens and greenhouses and is passionate about sharing the value of native plants in planned landscapes. A staff member since 1998, she taps into 20 years of experience to guide six horticulture staff in the design and management of the gardens and nursery. She teaches classes in native plant horticulture and has contributed articles on gardening to Taunton's Fine Gardening, Rodale's Organic Gardening, Public Garden, Neil Sperry's Gardens magazine and his electronic newsletter, e-gardens. She oversees the master plan for the Wildflower Center's gardens, currently focused on creating the 4.5 acre Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Turpin Family Garden that incorporates environmentally sustainable landscaping approaches. She received a bachelor's in geography from The University of Texas at Austin, served as a vice president for the Native Plant Society of Texas for two years and is currently the chair of the native plant section of the American Public Garden Association.