NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF  TEXAS
  Kerrville Chapter

JANUARY 2003 NEWSLETTER
NATIVES ON THE GROW
Dedicated to the understanding, preservation and enjoyment of the native flora of the Hill Country

JANUARY program:
ORGANIC GARDENING

Our January 7th meeting will feature a program entitled “Recipes That Betty Crocker Never Gave You” by Bruce Deuley, who writes a weekly column in the Kerrville Daily Times and has a television show on HTV10 on this topic.

Deuley’s philosophy is to feed the soil and then let the soil feed the plants.  He will discuss formulations made from various in-home products that one might use in the garden in place of synthetic pesticides and herbicides.  

Deuley grew up in the country in Georgia where his family raised vegetables, fruits, chickens and turkeys.  His interests in organic gardening led to his majoring in biology at the University of Valdosta in Georgia.  Deuley predicts a continued increase in interest in organic gardening.

Calendar

Tuesday, January 7th at 2 PM “Recipes Betty Crocker Never Gave You” by Bruce Deuley at NPSOT-Kerrville meeting held at Riverside Nature Center (RNC)

Wednesday, January 8 at 9 AM:  Gardening at the Kerrville Library Native Plant Garden

Kerrville Library Garden Monthly Workday Changed

This group will now meet on the Wednesday after our regular NPSOT meeting at 9 AM at the Kerrville Public Library to take care of this native plant display garden.  You don’t have to be a plant expert to help.  This is a great learning opportunity to work along side more experienced members.  Call John Quinby at 367-4612 for more information.  

Our Chapter installed this garden to acquaint the public with the beauty of native plants.  We want to keep it looking its best.  Come join us at the Library Native Plant Gardens!!!

WHY USE NATIVE PLANTS?

Native plants provide an essential role in the environment including economic benefits from reduced energy costs, water and maintenance; ecological benefits including enhancing ecosystem stability and reducing chemical use; and aesthetic benefits through the beauty and regional natural heritage they provide. 

• 200 species of Texas native plants are currently a conservation concern.  28 of these are threatened or endangered.  Many of these species are endemics (they grow no where else in the world).

• An acre of lawn can use more than 12,000 gallons of water a week, while a native landscape (once established) requires little, if any, supplemental water.  

•  Native plants flourish without fertilizer or pesticides, which means less work, less expense and less pollution of our streams and ground water.

•   To help restore what we have lost, and are continuing to lose daily, to land development.

•   To help others recognize the values and ease of growing of native plants.  

•   To attract and provide food and shelter for animals, birds and insects.

• To keep the beauty of the landscape as we remember it in our youth…and to leave this splendor for our grandchildren. 

Collected from Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center articles

	ROBUST AND RED!
	Flame Acanthus

Plan for Spring planting!  Flame acanthus is a fast-growing, pest-free, native shrub with abundant tubular red to orange flowers from June to frost.  With supplemental water during dry spells, this 4 ft shrub will bloom nearly continuously.  It grows well in sunny, exposed sites, even with poor soil, as long as it has good drainage.  Flame acanthus is native to southwestern Texas.  Butterflies and hummingbirds love it.

Member Ernest Tremayne reports that he grew 6 inch cuttings into 5 foot tall bushes, which bloomed last summer even though he did not water them.  

Plants Needed for Earth Day Plant Sale

It is not too late to begin growing seeds or cuttings to become handsome plants for our Earth Day Plant Sale on April 26th.  This event is the annual fundraiser to support our programs in encouraging native plantings in the greater Kerrville area.  Earth Day is a joint effort of our Native Plant Society (NPSOT) Chapter with Riverside Nature Center.  Together, we share both the work and the profits.

THINK “NATIVE” WHEN YOU PLANT

THANKS!!!

Raffle plants for our December meeting were generously provided by: Natives of Texas and Lowe’s in Kerrville.  THANKS FOR YOUR DONATIONS!!

 Please send any suggestions or comments on this newsletter to Priscilla Stanley at jpbstan@ktc.com