November 2006 Vol. IV No. 3

Directors & Officers

Ruth Loper, Director

Lynn Sherrod, Director

Sonnia Hill, President

Phone 903-849-5357

Sonnia36@hotmail.com

Jim Showen, VP Programs

Elizabeth Parks, Secy/Treasurer

Liz Soutendijk, VP Field Trips

Herb Jarrell, VP Membership

Kay Fleming, Newsletter Editor

FROM THE PRESIDENT

The 2006 NPSOT Symposium in San Antonio, October 19-21, had many interesting speakers, vendors, and scheduled field trips to the nearby areas. The Tyler Chapter was represented by Nora and Cliff Daugherty, Ron and Ruth Loper, Kay Fleming, and me.

I want to tell of some excitement I got into while I was there. During the Friday field trip that I attended at Warbler Woods in Guadalupe County, someone in the group pointed out a plant that no one recognized. I took a small sample of it back to the hotel to show to all the scientists in attendance. The next day, I showed this pitiful, unknown sprig to any botanist that would stand still a few minutes and listen. They were stumped and maybe even a bit annoyed at not being able to solve this mystery. It was quite inconspicuous looking. No showy flowers, just a green leafy branch with only the capsules and the tiny, shiny black seeds. I knew there was a book of Flora of South Central Texas in the Silent Auction room, so I ran upstairs to borrow it for a few moments in hopes that it would help us key out the unknown plant. I put my name on the bidding sheet, added a few dollars to the last bid and went to talk to the people in charge of the auction. In my excitement I blurted out some scientific Latin mumbo jumbo about why I needed it and absconded with the book before they could answer. Evidently, I was gone long enough for some bidders to report the theft, prompting the authorities to send a search squad to recover the contraband and collar the perpetrator.

Then the facts became known. None of the people that I talked to at the silent auction had read my nametag. They all suddenly realized that they could not identify the thief or the location of the purloined item. They all calmed down as I was dragged back to the crime scene and I was able to locate a character witness. The book was put back on the auction table and I am happy to say that I have it here at home with me.

Now let’s get back to the unidentified plant story. On Sunday morning a group returned to Warbler Woods, collected multiple specimens that were given to botanists statewide. It was identified as Celosia nitida, albahaca or slender Celosia, from the Amaranthaceae family. There is information about the plant at this website: http://www.riodeltawild.com/JanJune2004/Celosia%20nitida.pdf Sonnia Hill

NOVEMBER PROGRAM

Our November 6th program will be presented by Keith Hansen, Horticulturist with the Smith County Cooperative Extension of Texas A&M University. He will present a program on "Impact of the Drought on Texas Landscapes."

DINNER FOR GUEST SPEAKER – Our Chapter will be taking the guest speaker to dinner at Gilbert's El Charro at 2623 E. Fifth and the Loop.  We will meet at 5:15 PM prior to our Chapter Meeting.  Jim Showen

FIELD TRIPS

Our next field trip will be to the Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility (LAERF) Saturday, November 11th, from 10:00am – 12:00pm. (Note change in the date!) We will plan to have lunch at Nicks Pizza after the tour. Our host and tour guide Lynde Williams will join us for lunch.

The Aquatic Plant Research Program supports studies on biology, ecology, and management of aquatic plants.  The LAERF utilizes 18 water raceways, 3 large outdoor mesocosm facilities, a research greenhouse, and several laboratories in addition to 53 earthen and 21 lined ponds.  I told Lynde we were interested in the research they are doing on Native and Invasive Plants. If you want to know more about this facility before the field trip, go to: http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/facility/laerf.html

Directions and car pool information will be sent after our November Chapter Meeting. If you do not have Email capability you can call Liz at 903-967-2026. Liz Soutendijk

NEW MEMBERS

We want to welcome new members to the Tyler Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. It’s great to have you with us! If you haven’t come to one of our meetings or our field trips you are missing out. Also, if you have recently joined our chapter and are not listed below, let our Chapter President know. There’s always a possibility that our State office has failed to get the information to us on your membership.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

The Wood County master gardeners will present its 2006 FALL HOME GARDENING CONFERENCE. Titled:  "Garden Hardy - Garden Smart " on Saturday, November 4, 2006 from 8:30 to 11:30 am. The conference will be at the Mineola Civic Center located in the Live Oak Room, 1150 North Newsom,  Mineola, Texas. Registration starts at 8:00 AM

Speakers will be Carol Feldman, Landscape Architect, "Landscaping with East TX Native Plants" and Dr. Steve George, of Texas A&M University, "EarthKind Roses"

--- ADMISSION IS FREE --- Liz Soutendijk

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Invaders of Texas, Citizen Science Program Monday, November 13th, 2006 at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 509 Pecan Street, Fort Worth.

Do you want to help slow down the spread of harmful invasive species and reduce their ecological and economic damage? The first step is to locate where invaders have arrived and get that information to those who can do something about it. That is where citizen scientists come in. Citizen scientists are volunteers who receive expert training to identify and track important invaders in our area.

Local Host: Robbin Brodsky (sbrodsky@charter.net), Rio Brazos Master Naturalist Chapter.

Phone: 817-579-1788

Go to http://www.texasinvasives.org/Citizen_Science/become.html to register for this workshop. Please note: A $10 fee will be collected at the workshop to cover refreshments. All other materials will be provided. Class size is limited to 30 participants. If you have a GPS unit and/or digital camera, bring them with you. Gloria Rognlie

HAS YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGED?

Just a reminder – If you have changed your Email address please let our newsletter editor know as soon as possible. Email Kay at kfleming@mycvc.net and let him know of the change. We don’t want anyone to miss out on any information or changes in an event. It also saves our chapter money if we can Email you instead of sending your newsletter by postal service.

Contributions to Newsletter

The newsletter is normally printed monthly, September through May. Members are encouraged to submit articles for publication in the newsletter. Contributions will be considered on the basis of interest, suitability, and available space. Grammar and spelling corrections will be made at the discretion of the editor. Email your articles and announcements to the editor at kfleming@mycvc.net or mail to Kay Fleming, 809 E. Clinton, Athens, TX 75751. If you are able to receive your newsletter by Email, please send Kay your Email address. This will save the Chapter mailing expenses.

If you have never attended one of our meetings, and you are interested in learning more about native plants and their habitats, we invite you to give us a visit. We have a good time! Our meetings are normally held at the Walter Fair United Methodist Church in Tyler on the first Monday of each month, September through May. Walter Fair United Methodist Church is located just off 5^th Street, (Highway 64) at 1712 Old Omen Road, East of Loop 323.

Tyler Chapter NPSOT

c/o: Kay Fleming, Editor

809 E. Clinton

Athens, TX 75751