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

MARCH NEWSLETTER - 2006

 NATIVES ON THE GROW

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

Propagation of Native Plants

Propagation of Native Plants will be discussed at the Native Plant Society’s meeting on Tuesday, March 7 at Riverside Nature Center in Kerrville at 2:00 pm.  Fay Drozd will give the program.  Fay is a Texas Master Gardener and a Master Gardener Specialist in Plant Propagation and Entomology.  She is also a Leader Trainer for Junior Master Gardeners. Fay lives in Ingram and is a known fiber artist who taught classes and had a store in Ingram.  She is very interested in Hill Country plants that can be used for dye and in promoting good gardening practices to help preserve soil, water and our health.

This is a special program for everyone who is interested in successfully growing plants, especially from seeds.  People will learn how to do it during this detailed presentation with instructional graphics and handouts.  Come to this program so you can grow your own native plants from seed and have beautiful native plants gardens near your home.

Everyone is invited to attend Native Plant Society meetings.

********************************************************************************************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.  If you have any questions about the Native Plant Society of Texas, or this program, please call Cynthia Johnson at 895-5173.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

(Julia Campbell)

 When I moved to the Hill Country in 1991 from the state of Washington, I added to our garden five big trees. They were the popular tree of the time here in the area- highly recommended by the landscapers. I saw them all around town – big, impressive pine trees reminding me of the beautiful state of Washington.  They were Afghan Pines. It was logical. They liked alkaline soil and were drought tolerant. They seemed perfect for the situation. All those trees are now cut down, victims of a fungus no one had foreseen. Is it any wonder I am a proponent of native plants?

Our organization, The Native Plant Society of Texas, performs such a valuable service by educating not only newcomers to the area, but also native Texans- those from a different part of the state, or those who perhaps have not paid attention to plants in their youth but now want a garden which will flourish without constant watering, or those who wish perhaps for a field of native grasses and wildflowers.

Please help to continue to educate those eager for information by responding to the nominating committee when they call asking for your assistance on the Board. We need a slate of officers by April to be voted upon in May. Do your bit to help. You’ll feel good about it.

Earth Day is approaching on April 22. This is the biggest event of the year for our chapter and the Native Plant Sale is our fund raising event. We will be needing lots of volunteers on this day so please sign up for the time and place of your choice.

Calendar

Monday, February 27

   Organization:  Master Naturalists – Hill Country Chapter
    Location: Riverside Nature Center, 150 Francisco Lemos St.
    Time:  7:00 PM
    Topic:  How Geological Diversity Increases Plant Diversity
    Speaker:  Bill Lindemann, President, Texas NPSOT

 Tuesday, February 28

    Organization:  Native Plant Society of Fredericksburg
    Location: Gillespie County Historical Society Bldg., 312 W. San Antonio St.
    Time:  7:00 PM
    Topic: Magnificent Diversity: Flora and Fauna of the Chihuahuan Desert
    Speaker: Beth Francell, Landscape Designer, Rebloom Designs - NPSOT-Big Bend Chapter

Tuesday, March 7

    Organization:  Native Plant Society-Kerrville Chapter (See above)

Tuesday, March 7

  Organization:  Native Plant Society – Boerne Chapter
   Location:  Cibolo Nature Center, Highway 46 east of Boerne
    Time:  7:00 PM

Thursday, March 9

    Organization:  Riverside Nature Center – Brown Bag Lunch
    Location:  150 Francisco Lemos St., Kerrville
      Time:  12:00-1:00 PM
    Topic:  Hill Country Wine Making
    Speaker:  Danny Hernandez of Sister Creek Winery
     ($3 per person, free to RNC members) –
   (call 830-257-4837 for  more info)

Saturday, March 11

    Organization:  Native Plant Society – Bandera Chapter
    Location:  Medina Community Library
    Time:  2:00 PM
 

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

 Jerrian Kelly

G. Shannon Smith

Thanks to all those that renewed their memberships.

DOOR PRIZES

Door prizes will be available at our March meeting.  Each member or guest who signs in at the Welcoming Table will receive a free ticket for a door prize.  Be sure to pot up those native plants for donations for the meeting!  

REFRESHMENTS

Refreshments for March will be provided by  Bob Richie and Julia Campbell.  Be sure to give them a BIG Thank You!

Please send any suggestions or comments on this newsletter to the Editor:  John Quinby at jsquinby@hctc.net or 367-4612.

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.

Officers and Board Members – 2005-2006

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