NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS
KERRVILLE CHAPTER

Website:  www.npsot.org/kerrville
June, 2009

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

Featured Native Plant for June

Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii, formerly Eupatorium greggii)

Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii, formerly Eupatorium greggii)

 Note time change

June 2   7:00   Riverside Nature Center

Author’s Talk and Book Signing on Tuesday June 2 at 7 P.M.  Remarkable Plants of Texas: Uncommon Accounts of our Common Natives (University of Texas Press, 2009) by Matt Warnock Turner explores little known facts behind our everyday botanical landscape.  Matt will talk about these plants and have a book signing at the June 2, meeting of the Kerrville Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. The meeting will be held at Riverside Nature Center at 7:00 pm.
Matt is a naturalist, teacher and free-lance writer who works at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. An alumnus of UT Austin (1983), he also has a Master’s in Spanish (Harvard) and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature (Yale). His father is the botanist, Prof. Emeritus B.L. Turner of UT Austin. Matt is fifth-generation Texan and a native of Austin where he currently resides.

     Matt approaches the natural world from a humanities perspective. He grew up around taxonomy and the love of plants and plant lore.  An active member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, he has published both scientific and popular articles on botanical topics, and has given lectures and nature walks at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Remarkable Plants of Texas is a beautifully illustrated book. It explores the little-known facts— be they archaeological, historical, medicinal, culinary, or cultural — behind our everyday botanical landscape. This book makes a great gift for both plant lovers and people interested in Texas history as well as being a useful and enjoyable book for your personal library.  Several NPSOT, Kerrville members already own the book.
     The author has spoken at both the Fredericksburg and Boerne Native Plant Societies’ meetings. Ask your friends and others to come to this discussion and book signing at 7:00 pm.

For more info and to order book: 

http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/excerpts/exturrem.html   

 Website:  www.drmattturner.com  

 President’s Message

Dear Native Plant Lovers,
Thank you Kerrville-Schreiner Park Butterfly Garden volunteers for the very interesting field trip. The weather was pleasant, and everyone learned so much about some of the 145 different native plants at the Butterfly Garden.  We had at least five people to show us around and answer questions. 
 The board of NPSOT Kerrville Chapter voted to provide a $823 matching grant to Riverside Nature Center for educational signs.  Schreiner University students designed the signs in a contest.  They are colorful and sturdy and will add a lot to RNC’s gardens.  You can see the preliminary signs in the meeting room at RNC.
Congratulations!! Two members of NPSOT, Kerrville Chapter won the Water Savers Landscape Contest. Sharon Walling won first prize for her yard at 2062 Summit Crest and Jerry Brown, NPSOT treasurer was one of the three runners-up for his home at 637 Oak Hollow Dr.

  Riverside Nature Center (RNC) is having their annual fund raiser, SEED on September 19. SEED is a dinner with live and silent auctions. I hope that many of you will purchase tickets in order to support the many activities at RNC.  Perhaps NPSOT can have designated tables for NPSOT members and friends so we can enjoy this event together.

 I hope to see you at the June 2 program and book signing. The speaker has talked to both the Fredericksburg and Boerne Native Plant Societies , and it was indicated that he is outstanding.

New officers begin their term on July 1. I am pleased to continue as president for another year. I appreciate everyone’s cooperation during the past year. We will have many interesting activities next year.

Edna Platte

 President

Native Plant Society of Texas, Kerrville Chapter

Library Garden

Library Garden party will be on Tuesday June 9 from 8:00 am until about 10:00.
The garden looks good!

New Officers Elected for 2009-2010

Featured Native Plant of the Month

Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii, formerly Eupatorium greggii)

Family: ASTERACEA

 Type: Forb, Perennial

Habit: Colonizes

Height: 1 to 2 feet, usually

Bloom period: May-October

Bloom color: lavender, bluish

Sun

Supplemental watering needed in drought periods.

Deer resistant

Availability: May be found at nurseries where native plants are sold.

 Remarks: Butterflies, especially the Queens, cannot leave this nectar plant alone. It colonizes extensively, but unwanted plants can easily be removed. In the heat of the summer it is in full bloom. Stop by the Butterfly Garden at Kerrville-Schreiner Park during the summer to see a beautiful display of this plant.

 Betty Gardner

Common Name: Texas Firecracker Plant, Flame Acanthus

Scientific Name: Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii

Photographer: Bill Lindeman

Another Wonderful Opportunity

Greetings all,
BWonder if any of you can spare an hour or so on Thursday mornings to come to the Butterfly Garden at Kerrville Schreiner Park and glean seeds? This is an open invitation for the remainder of the growing season. When you arrive, stop at the office and tell them that you are helping in the butterfly garden.
Today, Perfume Ball (Gaillardia suavis) and the Dutchman's Breeches (Thamnosma texana) were ready. Soon Prairie Bishop's weed (Bifora americana), Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella,) Greenthread (Thelesperma filifolium) and Scarlet Leatherflower (Clematis texana) will be ripe enough to glean. All of these are in Enquist.
Begging also for gallon planting pots. If you have them to spare, either bring them on a Thursday to the Butterfly Garden or put them in the fenced in area, between the shed and the Lawson Store at the RNC.
Thanks very much. Hope to see you soon. Don't forget to bring envelopes and a pen.
Barbara Lowenthal

 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.

Please support our sponsors!

DO YOU NEED A NPSOT NAME TAG?

Some new members do not have a nametag. Some members have misplaced their nametag.  Nametags are kept at RNC and brought out for each NPSOT meeting. If you do not have a nametag, please contact the VP-Membership, Mike Mecke mmecke@stx.rr.com or 830-896-0805 so we can make you one.