NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS
Kerrville Chapter
Website:  www.npsot.org/kerrville

 April 2007

 NATIVES ON THE GROW

Dedicated to the understanding, preservation and enjoyment of the native flora of the Hill Country

The Kerrville Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas holds monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the month (September through June) at Riverside Nature Center, 150 Francisco Lemos St. in Kerrville.  These meetings are free and open to the public

 IMPORTANT INFORMATION for EVERY HILL COUNTRY RESIDENT

Conservation Landscaping with Native Plants will be presented at the NPSOT meeting on April 3, 2:00 p.m. at Riverside Nature Center. The guest speaker will be Elizabeth Drozda-Freeman, the Conservation Landscape Specialist for the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).
 
This illustrated talk will cover the basics of landscaping to conserve water and the soil. We will explore some of the great Hill Country native plants that are especially suitable to use in Kerr County. Participants will learn simple techniques to choose and grow plants and keep them healthy in our hot and dry summers.
Elizabeth provides water conservation educational outreach with a focus on conserving water in the landscape throughout the LCRA service area. LCRA sells the electric power it produces to 43 electric cooperatives and publicly-owned utilities in Central Texas which includes Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB).

Prior to working for LCRA, Elizabeth was the Grow Green Coordinator for the City of Austin.  She has owned landscaping business in Texas and California and has taught horticulture classes at Austin Community College and at the University of Texas.  She has also spent time as an outdoor environmental education and an 8th grade science teacher.  Elizabeth holds a master of environmental management degree from Duke University in resource and landscape ecology and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California.
 
Ask your neighbors, friends and anyone who is interested in landscaping and growing plants on their Hill Country property to attend.  It will be an interesting program by a knowledgeable person.
 
We hope to see you and your friends on Tuesday April 3.

 

 

 

 

 

Nominating Committee to Present Proposed Slate of Officers for 2007-2008  The committee will present the proposed slate of officers at the April chapter meeting, and the election will be held at the May meeting.

Earth Day Celebration and  Native Plant Sale
Saturday    April 21, 2007    8 am. -4 pm.      At Riverside Nature Center

"Water… Our Future…One Drop at a Time" is our theme. Our focus will be on how we use, store, collect, conserve water and more. Please mark your calendars to attend this fun day sponsored by Riverside Nature Center and Kerrville Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas

MOSTLY NATIVE PLANT SALE – 8am -3pm we will have gathered a great selection of plants to start your spring planting and offer expert advice on caring for your plants. RNC & NPSOT members are invited to a pre-sale Friday evening 5-6pm.
 
SPEAKERS:                                                                                            
10 am – Mike Mecke - Forecasting future water demands.
11:15 am – Feather Wilson - Where we get our Hill County water. Water cycle, aquifers, groundwater management and how you can help.
12:30 pm – John Kight - Living without the need for a public water system and methods he has employed to be self sufficient.
1:45 pm – Jim Stanley – Managing your land to better capture, retain and conserve all the rainfall you receive.
 
Kids’ activities and water-related displays will continue throughout the day.  
 
The plant sale is a joint fundraiser for our Kerrville NPSOT chapter and the Riverside Nature Center.  This is the chapter’s only fundraiser for the year, and we need your help to make it a success.

 Looking ahead

 Other Kerrville Chapter Programs Planned for 2007

May:   Field Trip to Kerr Wildlife Management Area in West Kerr County   Dale Prochaska will be our guide. Complete information in the May newsletter

June:  Butterflies and How to Attract Them   presented by Tom Collins

 Additional Opportunities

Don’t’ Forget!

The Library Garden Project Is Back in Business

The Kerrville Chapter of the Native Plant Society has accepted the responsibility for its development and maintenance.  Members meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 9:00 to spend an hour or two to keep this garden looking great. 

Date:  Second Wednesday of each month
Time: 9:00-1:00 depending upon amount of work to be done
Place: Meet at Library Garden

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBER

Oran  Gerrian    

Helpful hints about membership dues

Membership dues cannot be accepted locally.  They must be sent to the State Office which is now in Fredericksburg at the following address.

Native Plant Society of Texas
P.O. Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

The membership form is available at chapter meetings and the NPSOT website www.npsot.org.

When completing the form please indicate the Kerrville chapter name because our chapter gets refunded a portion of the dues for our chapter expenses.

If you are renewing your membership, please send your renewal to the address above and include your membership ID to ensure we credit the correct account.
Also include any address, phone or email changes.
(You will find your membership ID printed on the mailing label of the state newsletter.)

 Membership Categories and Annual Dues:

 Benefits of Joining the Native Plant Society of Texas

Goals:

    To educate both its members and the general public and to foster a greater awareness and understanding of our native flora;
    To preserve rare and endangered species and their habitats;
    To encourage landscaping with appropriate native plants, for their beauty, ease of maintenance, and water-conserving qualities;
    To protect, conserve and restore native plants threatened by development;
    To encourage the responsible propagation of native plants;
    To promote an appreciation and understanding of current, historical and potential uses of native plants.

 THANKS TO THOSE WHO RENEWED MEMBERSHIPS

See membership information above.

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