NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS

Kerrville Chapter

SEPTEMBER  NEWSLETTER - 2003

NATIVES ON THE GROW

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

September Program:

How to Identify Shady Characters

Susan Sander will give a presentation entitled “How to Identify Shady Characters” at our September 2nd meeting  beginning at 2 PM.  Her talk will focus on what makes trees worthy of study, and how to look at a tree for clues to its identity.  Susan’s slides will point out shared characteristics of particular tree families. 

Attendees are encouraged to bring “mystery leaves” from their trees for identification by Susan.

Susan is a native of Wisconsin, and holds a BA degree in philosophy and a MA in environmental land-use planning.  After founding Riverside Nature Center in 1987, she served as its education director for ten years.  She has authored a book, Treasury of Texas Wildflowers: The Botanical Watercolors of Marie C. Wesby.  Susan served on several environmental committees for the City of Kerrville, and wrote a weekly column on environmental topics for 11 years.  Susan currently works with the Texas Forest Service in Kerrville.

Calendar

Tuesday, September 2nd at  2 PM  “How to Identify Shady Characters” by Susan Sander of the Texas Forest Service at NPSOT - Kerrville Chapter meeting held at Riverside Nature Center, 150 Francisco Lemos St, Kerrville

Wednesday, September 3rd at  9 AM:  Garden maintenance at the Kerrville Library Native Plant Garden, call John Quinby at 367-4612 for more information.

Tuesday, October 7 at   2 PM “Bigtooth Maples & Why There Aren’t More of Them” by Baxter Adams at NPSOT - Kerrville

NOW LADEN with BERRIES:

AMERICAN BEAUTYBERRY

Photo by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

American Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

American Beautyberry is a mounding multi-trunked shrub 4 - 6 feet tall with long, arching branches.  This native of the Edwards Plateau bears tight clusters of small greenish yellow flowers in the leaf axils.  In late summer, these flowers develop into showy bright magenta berries forming a ball around the stem.  The berry clusters often remain on the stem into winter after the leaves have dropped.  Though fairly drought tolerant, the American Beautyberry will not thrive on hot, dry, rocky hills and may temporarily defoliate in prolonged drought.  It will grow in full sun if kept well watered.  This shrub grows well in morning sun, in open shade, and as an understory shrub.  American beautyberry is fast growing and can be used as a screen plant.  It will thrive in moist conditions and brighten a shady spot in the garden.  Birds, especially mockingbirds, love the fruit.

The American Beautyberry is also available as a variety with white berries, and as a smaller magenta-berried variety reaching only about 4 feet, with smaller leaves and berries.  (Ref: How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest by Jill Nokes, Revised and Updated Edition, pp. 155-157).

FALL PLANTING

Fall is the best time to plant native perennials and trees in the Hill Country.  While prime planting time for the northern U.S. is Spring, that is because their most challenging season for plants is their snowy winter with frozen ground.  Here in the Hill Country, our plants face greater challenges in our blazing hot summers, often with little rain.

Native Perennials in September

If you have been thinking about adding a native plant or two (or more) to your garden, September is the ideal time to plant perennials.  The searing heat of our summer is mostly behind us, so the new plant is less likely to be stressed by the transplanting, especially if you keep it watered until it settles into its new home.  September planting gives your new plant several months to grow new roots before our weather becomes cold.

Native Trees on Halloween

Nursery trees have a smaller root system relative to their size than potted perennials.  Thus, trees do better when planted in October, when the weather is typically cooler than in September.  The Texas Forest Service recommends planting trees on Halloween in the Hill Country:  late October is even cooler, and Halloween is an easy date to remember.  Most tree roots are deep enough to grow all winter in the Hill Country. 

Both trees and perennials planted in the Fall grow faster and better than similar plants planted the following Spring.

Wildflower and Native Grass Catalogs Available

Our sponsor, Native American Seed of Junction, TX, has sent us their new catalog, which includes advice on how and when to plant their seeds.  We had great results from following their detailed instructions.  Come get your catalog at our September meeting.  September and October are great times to plant wildflowers in the Hill Country for an impressive display next Spring.

NOW BLOOMING

Photo by Raul Pena

SKELETON –PLANT

Lygodesmia texana

Lavender blooms from April through August

The Skeleton-Plant derives its common name from its tall, essentially-leafless stems (10 – 24 inches).  Skeleton-plant is commonly seen in sunny fields and dry, rocky roadsides.  The pink to lavender flower heads are 1 – 2 inches in diameter.  As the seedheads suggest, Skeleton-Plant is in the dandelion tribe (Tribe Cichorieae).  This tough, xeric perennial plant brings welcome color to wildflower areas during the dog days of summer.  (Ref: Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country by Marshall Enquist p.253).

Riverside Nature Center:  Painting Party and Annual Meeting

September 13th

Riverside Nature Center (RNC) and NPSOT share similar missions of educating members and the public about native plants.  RNC is requesting volunteers to help paint the historic Lawson Store (the smaller building near Town Creek).  The painting begins at 8 AM, followed by the RNC Annual Meeting at 11 AM, with a sausage & hotdog cookout and & side-dish potluck to follow.  Painters are requested to bring ladders and brushes.  Any donations of refreshments (cookies, lemonade etc.) for the painters would be appreciated.