Newsletter

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.

Our regular monthly meeting will be a tour of the Medina Garden Nursery demonstration gardens. This nursery has long been a source of native trees, shrubs and other plants for local gardeners and landscapers, but is also noteworthy for its 2 acres of gardens showing how to utilize native plants with little or no irrigation. The demonstration area, on the Medina River, includes a caliche garden (with caliche brought in) to show off plants that thrive in difficult conditions. Birds and butterflies abound. The owner, Ernesto Carino, will share his tips for successful planting. Bring your native plant-shopping list if you would like to purchase plants at the end of the meeting.

Drive directly to the Nursery for our 2:00 meeting OR meet at the Riverside Nature Center at 1:15 to arrange carpools or caravan. Come equipped for walking outdoors in whatever the weather brings that day, e.g. hat, walking shoes, water bottle, as appropriate.

Directions: From Kerrville: Take Sidney Baker south, then go left at Hwy 173, traveling south about 14 miles. After passing Camp Verde and the Bandera County line, go right on State Rd. 2828 about 9 miles to where it runs into Hwy 16. Turn right toward Medina. Go about a mile and watch for the Nursery sign on the left, on the outskirts of the town of Medina. We will meet at the front of the nursery. Driving time is about 30 minutes from Kerrville.

Tuesday, Nov 4, 2 pm - Kerrville Schreiner Park Butterfly Garden & local butterfly monitoring.

Saturday, October 4

Down by the Riverside at Riverside Nature Center will be Saturday October 4. The Native Plant Sale opens at 8:00 am. If you are a member of RNC or a Master Naturalist you can attend the presale Friday from 5:00 to 6:30 and get first choice of the plants. You can join RNC the night of the sale. Fall and winter are the best times to plant trees and many native trees that grow exceptionally well in the Hill Country as well as perennials will be at the plant sale. If you are at Down by the Riverside on Saturday, please stop by NPSOT’s information table on Saturday and say hello.

Bring finger foods and plants to trade. Now is the time to start collecting seeds or rooting cuttings of woody plants.

Did you know that 15% of your state Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) dues are returned to our Kerrville Chapter?

The money that is returned to us covers most of our chapter’s operating expenses. NPSOT’s share of the profits from the Earth Day spring plant sale at Riverside’s Nature Center are used mainly for NPSOT grants and projects that promote the use of Native Plants in the Kerr County.

Grants in the past four years include native plant projects at Hunt School, Ingram Middle School and B.T. Wilson (Kerrville ISD), signage and plants at Riverside Nature Center (RNC) and the Schreiner Park Butterfly Garden and native plants for the Dietert (senior) Center.

The annual NPSOT symposium will be held in Beaumont, October 16-19. I plan to attend and I hope others will too. There are always excellent speakers and field trips. You should have received registration information or go to www.npsot.org.
Mark you calendar (and save your native plants and seeds) for NPSOT’s First Annual Native Plant Exchange and Christmas Party at Riverside Nature Center on Tuesday evening December 2. This will be a great time to get to know other native plant lovers.
October is a great time for native plants so enjoy them.

Edna Platte

The next Library Garden Party will be at 9:00 am October 14 behind the Butt-Holdsworth Public Library. This sounds a lot better than a library garden workday doesn't it. Thank you Cindy for suggesting a new name for the workday. Bring yourself and some yard tools. We usually work about two hours.

Good news!! The sign for the library garden that faces Water Street will cost only $40.00 to replace. Bob Richie who arranged for the two library garden signs several years ago will make arrangements with Kerrville Screen to make another sign, and he will install it on the existing post, He will use bolts that cannot be undone. Bob has been working in Alaska (part time?) for almost 2 years but he is now back in Kerrville. Welcome home!

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

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.)

If joining or renewing

Student $15

Senior Individual (65+) $20

Senior Couple (one 65+) $30 (new category)

Individual $25

Couple/Family $40

Group $50

Patron $100

Benefactor $250

Supporting $500 (new category)

Corporate Sponsor $1,000

Lifetime $1,000 (one-time payment)

Benefits of Joining the Native Plant Society of Texas

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.

The Plant Haus 2

528 Jefferson St

Kerrville, TX 78028

Phone:830-792-4444 or 1-800-887-3014

Karen King Smith

Texas Certified Master Nurseryman

ksmith@ktc.com

Natives of Texas

Hill Country Native Plants

Open Fri & Sat 9-4

Sunday 11-4 or by appointment

4256 Medina Hwy, Kerrville, TX 78028

830-896-2169

http://www.nativesoftexas.com/

dwinningham@mac.com

Native American Seed

Texas Native Grass and Wildflower Seed

…restoring the earth

FREE Catalog

1-800-728-4043 Junction, TX

http://www.seedsource.com/

Golden Eagle Landscape

#1 in Waterwise Design

Texas Native Nursery

TX Certified Nursery Professionals

Between Ingram & Kerrville - 830-367-4144

http://www.goldeneaglelandscape.com/

Wildgoose Gallery and Store

Manufacturers of Luggage & Leather Goods, Backpacks, Fanny Packs, Totes, Native Plant/ Wildlife Field Guides, Wildlife & Western Art Gallery Custom Furniture, Accessories & Great Gifts

Come See Us!

3187 Junction Highway, Ingram, TX 78025-3189

830-367-5553 or 800-749-1805, M-F 9-5:30, Sat 10-5

Alltex Nursery/Landscapes

Unique garden gifts – Circle E candles Landscape Design & Installation

Irrigation Design & Installation

Danny & Wendy Massey

1245 Bandera Highway, Kerrville, TX 78028

(O)-895-5242 TX Lic#6713 (F)-895-5887

www.alltexlandscapes.com

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.