The Grapevine

Williamson County Chapter

Native Plant Society of Texas

Dec 2006/Jan 2007

Contents Upcoming Events Program Notes Club Activities 2007 Conference Featured Plant Winter Garden Garden Guides Resource List Club Information

We all owe a debt of gratitude to Carol Mechu for her consistently outstanding efforts a editor of the Grapevine for the last seven years. Her high level of professionalism and dedication will be hard to match. I would wish her a nice rest except I know that she will continue to be very busy with her other activities. This issue of the newsletter is the first to be done in a simpler single column color format to facilitate electronic reading. Focus will also change slightly to provide more member photographs and more specific information on native plants. I would like to give special thanks to Mitch Mitchamore (Hill Country Natives), Reid Lewis (Sweetbriar Nursery) and Agnes Plutino for their review of the plant and garden guide information. Also thanks to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for most of the plant photographs (including our grapevine) and for plant technical information on their web site and thanks to the web site desert-tropicals.com for their beautiful picture of the Anacacho orchid tree.

Upcoming Events

Semi-annual Pot Luck Supper

December 14; 7:00 PM

Williamson County Agriculture Center

Bring your favorite dish and get to know fellow members.  There will be no speaker.

January Meeting Program

January 11; 7:00 PM

Williamson County Agriculture Center

Landscaping using Ecology by Pat McNeal

Learn how to choose the correct native plant palette for our individual growing conditions using nature as a model. Pat McNeal is the owner of McNeal Growers in Manchaca, a wholesale grower of native and adapted grasses, ground covers and flowering perennials that are suited to the condition of the western two-thirds of Texas. He specializes in plant solutions to the problems of urban, suburban and rural development and construction and has been instrumental as a consultant for restoration projects including restoring impacted grasslands, woodlands and other naturally occurring plant communities. Pat also is a consultant in water management engineering structures such as rain water control, erosion control, and watershed development.

Meeting Notes

Meeting minutes can be found on the website http://www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/. Copies will be available at the meeting.

October 12 Program Notes

Cathy Slaughter of Gabriel Valley Farms presented a program on native and adapted herbs for Texas. Texas has a large number of native herbaceous annuals and perennials such as Stachys coccinea (Texas betony), Monarda citriodora (Horsemint, Lemon mint), and Lepidium virginicum (Peppergrass). Adapted herbs tend to come from the Mediterranean area and include varieties of such plants as Lavender, Oregano, Rosemary and Sage. Samples of many of these varieties were shown to the audience. Almost all herbs have common growing requirements including: lean, alkaline soil with good (fast) drainage and full to half a day of sun. Because of these requirements, herbs do best if they are given little to no fertilizer and very low water.

November 9 Program Notes

by Susan Waitz

Brian and Shirley Loflin, biologists and co-authors of "Grasses of The Texas Hill Country" were our guest speakers in November.  Originally asked to prepare a small brochure of the grasses of Wild Basin, the quality of their work was so good they were asked to compile a book on native grasses 5 years ago.  Since there are over 600 grass species in Texas, with 280 in the Hill Country alone, the scope had to be limited. The book covers 75 species determined important for forage, wildlife habitat, and in soil stabilization.  Forage as a food crop for cattle and other domestic animals,  wildlife habitat providing food, nesting material, and/or cover; and soil stabilization in helping to prevent

erosion.  With full color photographs taken with the latest photography techniques, the book simplifies the identification of some of our most important native grasses.  There is also a section in the book naming the important parts of the plants to help learn how to identify different species.  (Identification in the book is arranged by spike or panicle seedhead/inflorescence types. Panicle types include spicate, digitate spicate branches, alternate spicate branches, verticillate spicate branches, contracted, and open. – ed.) Brian and Shirley provided an informative and entertaining slide show on the most informative field guide to grasses now available for our area. Pictured above are Janet Church, Phyllis Dolich, and Agnes Plutino looking at Herbarium specimens of grasses as Shirley Loflin (far right) explains.

Club Activities

2006 NPSOT Symposium

The 2006 NPSOT meeting, “Convergence and Diversity: Native Plants of South Central Texas,” was held October 19-22 in San Antonio. Topics ranged from how the earth formed in Bexar County to the life of the soil, how birds and butterflies co-evolved with plants, what that means to today’s ecology, and local restoration projects. The symposium was accompanied by numerous guided tours to special natural areas, an awards dinner and silent auction. Many of our members attended at least part of the symposium and associated trips.

Lady Bird Johnson Fall Plant Sale

The annual Fall Lady Bird Johnson Plant Sale began gloriously Friday, October 13. Our volunteers had already spent September 29 at Gabriel Valley Farms in Jonah preparing the plants for sale and a half a day Thursday, October 12 getting our plant sale booth ready for the opening. The sale was a success thanks to Janet Church and her group of volunteers. Many thanks to the following for their hard work at the sale:  Billye Adams, Christy Barber, Bob and Judy Davis, Phyllis Dolich, Dick and Kathy Galloway, Bob and Janie Houck, Brian Hetherington, Dianne and Milton Mallory, Kathy and Mitch Mitchamore, Randy Pensabene, Dennis and Marilyn Perz, Agnes Plutino, Cheri and Dar Richardson, Ramona Urbanek, Susan Waitz, and Charles and Sue Wiseman.

Randy Pensabene, Marilyn Perz, Phyllis Dolich, Billye Adams, Billye’s Aunt Dede (seated), Janet Church, Janie Houck, Dar

Richardson (not shown) and Agnes Plutino (photographer) prepare 4” pots in the green house for sale. To the left, Bob Houch, Kathy Galloway, and Brian Hetherington prepare gallon pots for the sale. (Agnes Plutino, photographer) Following is a group of our plant sale volunteers during shift change on Sunday

Field Trips

Burleson Prairie

October 7 Bob and Mickey Burleson discussed their Blackland Prairie restoration project to members of NPSOT, the Native Prairie Association of Texas, Audubon Society, and Master Naturalists. This tallgrass prairie project has been restored over the years through their collecting and planting a wide diversity of grass and wildflower seed from disappearing prairie remnants in the area. The group then hiked through the restored prairie, shown at right.

A number of wildflowers including Helianthus maximilianii (Maximilian sunflower) and Salvia farinacea (Mealy blue sage) and numerous native grasses including Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) and Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) were identified during this hike.

Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve

October 8 NPSOT and Sun City Nature Club members went to Selah, the Bamberger Ranch Preserve. On the left, David Bamberger shows the group a beautiful Arbutus xalapensis (Texas Madrone). He discussed with the group the superior filtration ability of native grasses;

demonstrating the clarifying quality of water that has been strained through grass as oppose to the dark, stained water that has filtered through cedar (Juniperus ashei) . On the right, Dale and Marna McQuinn.  For more information, visit the Selah web site at http://www.bambergerranch.org/ .

Granger Lake Prairie

November 26 Thirty eight (38) members of NPSOT, NPAT, and Travis Audubon were treated to a wonderful hike on a perfect Fall afternoon at one of the very few remnant prairie sites that can be found around Granger Lake in West Taylor Park. Scott Lenharth and Diane Sherrill lead the way and explained the various development stages of these prairie areas. Along the way, they identified grasses, rosettes and a few flowering plants. This picture shows Scott leading the hikers.

Library Garden

The club has developed a maintenance guide for the library garden to be provided to the City of Georgetown. The guide provides a planting plan and plant pictures to aid in identification in addition to the maintenance requirements. This guide was shared club members at the October meeting and is currently being discussed with the city. Once this guide is finalized it will be provided to club members.

2007 State Symposium                                                                   by Agnes Plutino

2007 is a big year for the Williamson County Chapter of NPSOT.  It is our 10^th Anniversary as a chapter.  Most importantly, our chapter is hosting the 2007 State Symposium  jointly with the Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT).  The theme is The Blackland and Grand Prairies and Edwards Plateau Grasslands, highlighting the endangered and disappearing tallgrass prairies and grasslands that make up our native ecosystems.

Set aside the third weekend in October, 2007 for this event.  If you’ve never attended a state symposium this will be a great opportunity to see what NPSOT is all about, from the state level down.  You meet great unforgettable people.

The symposium will feature topics such as the geology, native plants and plant communities, and wildlife of our native prairies, gardening for wildlife with native prairie plants, and conserving and restoring prairies and grasslands.  The need to protect and restore native prairies as the habitat for grassland birds, the most declining group of birds in North America, will also be a major topic.

Most of Williamson County and a significant portion of Texas was tallgrass prairie when the settlers arrived, but most of the prairie was destroyed during the last 150 years by plowing, overgrazing, and development.  Now less than 1% of Texas’ tallgrass prairie heritage remains. 

With a message of hope and action, the symposium will draw attention to the beauty of our native plants and the need to protect and restore our few remaining native tallgrass prairie and grassland remnants before they disappear forever.

Serious planning has already begun and we need your input and help.  Phyllis Dolich is in charge of planning and had done a tremendous job of putting together a list of required Committees.

The Committees are; Communication, Education, Events, Finance, and Logistics.  Contact Phyllis (512-869-0356) soon if you are interested in joining a committee.

Even if you are not inclined to chair a committee, please volunteer to help in whatever capacity you are comfortable.  Feel free to attend any and all planning sessions.  They are not just for the chairpersons.  It will take a tremendous effort on our part to make this the best State Symposium ever.

In the meantime, enjoy your gardens, take a walk, or pick up a good book to read.  I’d recommend “Prairie Time, A Blackland Portrait” by Matt White.  I read it while on vacation in Missouri and found it extremely interesting.  It was a bit depressing at times as it makes you realize how quickly so much of our natural world is disappearing.  It also made me feel good to know that what I am doing in my own backyard, as small as the effort might be, is on the right track.

Featured Plant

Bauhinia lunarioides (B. congesta)

(Anacacho Orchid Tree)

Photo: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/	Bauhinia lunarioides is a beautiful, small, deciduous tree or shrub native to shrub lands in the canyons and arroyos of the limestone hills in the southwest Edwards Plateau (Anacacho Mountains in Kinney County and an isolated site in Val Verde County) and the adjacent Coahuila and Nuevo Leon counties in northeast Mexico.  Average rainfall is 15 “ a year or less.  Soils are usually shallow and underlain by limestone or caliche.  Although rare in the wild, B. lunarioides is becoming more common in the nursery trade. B. lunarioides is fast growing to 6-12 feet high and wide.  It is usually multi-trunked although it can be pruned to a single trunk and rarely grows vertically, usually leaning toward the light.  The 5/8-1 3/16” light green leaves are divided into 2 leaflets that look like cloven hooves.  The white to pale pink orchid like flowers appear in umbel like 1 ½ - 2”clusters March to April.  In their native habitat, most of the flowers are pinkish; most of the plants in the nursery trade have white flowers.  The 5 petaled flowers have 5 sepals and 9-10 extended stamens, only one of which is functional.  The flowers are followed by flat 2-3” long seed pods containing one to four brown seeds.  When ripe, the pods dry and twist open, quickly dropping the seed.  Collect seed pods from early July to August after they have turned brown and are slightly dried out
but before opening.  Air dry the pods for a few days to make it easier to split the pod open.  Store in sealed containers in a cool dry place for up to 2 years. This is a great deer resistant tree for a patio and will do well in a large pot for years.  It also does well as an understory tree.  Plant in well drained alkaline soil in full sun to part or dappled shade; flowering will be less in denser shade and the tree will be less dense and lanky.  It will grow in sandy soil or loam but seems to prefer soils with high		http://www.wildflower.org/

limestone content.  Because this tree is somewhat tender here, it is recommended that it be placed where it can get winter sun but be protected from the winter wind.  However, it does not need the reflected heat in the summer and will benefit from some shade.  Once established, it does not need supplemental irrigation although it can withstand regular garden water.  Fertilizer is generally not needed although it is recommended that a rock or native hardwood mulch be used to cover the roots.  Pruning is seldom needed and is used only to standardize (make a single trunk) or eliminate crossing branches or dead wood.  Although young trees respond well to pinching of the apical bud, which stimulates new branches, pinching or tip pruning of the branches typically causes awkward, unsightly branching.

B. lunarioides are best propagated by seed.  The seed will germinate better if you pour boiling water on the seeds and let them cool in the same water before planting.  Plant the seed in a cold frame in the fall or store the seed and plant in the spring.  Seeds should be planted in deep containers to accommodate long roots and covered with about ½” of soil or vermiculite.  Soil should drain very well.  Plant up to larger pots as required, plant in the ground quickly, or plant in root-pruning containers to prevent root girdling.  For heavy soils, amend with sand and some (not too much) compost to assure good drainage, add limestone rock if soil is acidic, and plant the tree a little higher than ground level.  It takes about 2 years to get a 5 gallon sized plant although it will bloom after about 1 year. 

Most of the good companion plants come from the same alkaline area.  Some of these plants are Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo), Ericameria laricifolia (Turpentine bush), many of the salvia and penstemon spp., Wedelia hispida (Zexmenia), Hesperaloe parviflora (Red yucca), Nolina texana (Basketgrass), Yucca spp., Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy), Chrysactinia mexicana (Damianita), and many of the spring annuals.  Information on all of the above except the annuals is given in the article on the winter garden.  Note that these plant are all drought tolerant; plants that take regular garden watering can be used as long as there is good drainage.

This plant can be found at Barton Springs Nursery in Austin, Hill Country Natives in Leander, Bloomers Garden Center in Elgin, McIntyres Nursery in Georgetown, Sweetbriar Nursery in Belton and The Natural Gardener in Austin.  Local nurseries can also order this plant from the wholesale Native Texas Nursery.  It has also been sold at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plant sales, usually at the Spring sale.

References:

1. Correll, Donovan Stewart and Marshall Conring Johnston, “Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas,” Fourth Printing, University of Texas at Dallas, 1996.
2. Nokes, Jill, “How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest,” Revised and Updated Edition, University of Texas Press, 2001, ISBN 0-292-75574-0.
3. Wasowski, Sally and Andy, “Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region,” Second Edition, Lone Star Books, 1998, ISBN 0-89123-077-7.
4. http://www.itis.usda.gov/
5. http://www.wildflower.org/
6. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/bauhinialunarioid.htm

The Winter Garden

The annuals are gone and most of the perennials, shrubs and trees are dormant.  We’ve all been told that brown is a color too and interesting effects can be achieved with plants that have turned brown or tan.  Think of the swaying of grass with the dried plume stalk above it, the architectural effect of a dried perennial with a large flower/seed head, or the beautiful colors of some tree and shrub trunks.  However, these effects are often enhanced by the use of evergreen plants (including perennial winter rosettes) and winter berries.

If you are establishing a new garden, some designers recommend that you first design your garden for the winter season and then add in plants that provide interest the other seasons.  Whether you do this or simply want to add more winter interest to your current landscape, it often helps to list the plants that currently provide interest and then add plants that will enhance this interest.  The following provides a partial list of evergreen or berried native plants that are often used effectively.

Key:  Feature (E = Evergreen; SE = Semi-evergreen; T = Tender; WR = Winter rosette of leaves; spr =- Spring; sum = Summer); TX = Texas range (C = Central; E = East; etc.); Exp = Exposure (S = Sun, PS = Part Shade; Sh = Shade); H = Height (flw = flower height); W = Width; Wat = Water (Low = Low, M = Moderate, H = High); DR = Deer resistant

Name	Feature	TX	Exp.	H	W	Wat.	DR
Trees/Large Shrubs
Arbutus xalapensis (TX madrone)	(Rare) E; red berries	C/W	PS	20-30’	15-25’	L-M
Condalia hookeri (Bazilian bluewood)	E, T; fruit turns red then blue	C/S/ W	S/PS	12-30’	12-35’	L
Diospyros virginiana (Persimmon)	Orange fruit	C/E	S/PS	20-30’ (50’)	30’	M
Ilex deciduas (Possumhaw)	Red berries	C/E	S/PS	12-20’ (30’)	12’	L-M	X
Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon holly)	E; red berries	C/ EC	S-Sh	12-20’ (25’)	10-15’	M	X
Juniperus ashei (Ash Juniper)	E; blue berries, gray shaggy bark		S/PS	20’	15’	VL	X
Myrica cerifera (Wax myrtle)	E	E	S-Sh	12-15’ (40’)	15’	M	X
Pinus remota (Remote pinyon)	(Rare) E; reddish cones	C/W/ S	S	10-20’ (30’)	15’ (30’)	VL	X
Pistacia texana (TX pistachio)	SE; red fruit	C/W	S/PS	10-20’ (40’)	15-20’	L
Pithecellobium flexicaule (Texas ebony)	SE, T; interesting branches	S	S	30’ (50’)	30’	L	X
Prunus caroliniana (Cherry laurel)	E; white flowers spring	E	S/PS	15-20’ (40’)	12-15’	M
Quercus fusiformis (Escarpment live oak)	E; small acorns	C/W	S	20-50’ (80’)	25-40’	VL	X
Quercus polymorpha (Monterrey white oak)	SE; acorns	SW	S	30-40’ (65’)	30-40’	VL
Quercus virginiana (Southern live oak)	E, small acorns	C/E	S	40-60’	50-80’	M	X
Rhus virens (Evergreen sumac)	E (burgundy when cool); red berries	C/W	S/PS	8-10’	6-8’	L
Sophora secundiflora (TX mountain laurel)	E; blue flowers spring	E/W	S/PS	6-20’	6-12’	VL	X
Small Shrubs
Aloysia gratissima (Beebrush)	SE, white flowers spring-fall	C/W/ S	S/PS	4-10’	3-4’	VL	X
Artemesia ludoviciana (White sagebrush)	E silver foliage	C/W/ E/S/N	S/PS	1-3’	3’	L	X
Dasylirion texanum (Sotol)	E; yellow flowers on stalk spring	WC/ W	S/PS	2-4’	3-4’	VL	X
Dasylirion wheeleri (Wheeler’s stool)	E (gray); white flowers on stalk spr.	WC/ W	S/PS	3-4’	4-5’	VL	X
Ephedra antisyphilitica (Mormon tea)	E; conifer like foliage	C/W S	S/PS	3-4’	3-6’	VL
Ericameria laricifolia (Turpentine bush)	E; yellow fall	W	S/PS	1-3’	2-3’	VL	X
Fallugia paradoxa (Apache Plume)	SE; white to pink plumes May-Dec.	C/W	S/PS	2-6’	2-4’	VL	X
Fouquierias splendens (Ocotillo)	E stems; red flowers after spr/sum rain	W	S/PS	12’ (30’)	6’	VL	X
Hesperaloe parviflora (Red yucca)	E strap leaves; red flowers spr-frost	C/W	S/PS	2-3’ (5’ flw)	2-4’	L-VL	X
Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’ (Dwarf yaupon holly)	E; compact	E	S-Sh	2-4’	2-4’	L-M	X
Larrea tridentate (Creosote bush)	E, yellow flowers spring-summer	C/W	S/PS	3-5’ (10’)	4’	VL	X
Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo)	E silver leaves; violet flowers spr-sum	C/W/ S	S	4-8’	3-5’	L	X
Mahonia swaseyi (Texas barberry)	(Rare) E; yellow flowers spring	C/ NW	S/PS	3-5’	3-5’	L	X
Mahonia trifoliata (Agarita)	E; yellow flowers spr.; red berries	C/W/ S	S/PS	3-6’	3-6’	L	X
Malpighia glabra (Barbados cherry)	E above 25°F; pink flowers Mar-Dec.	S	S/PS	2-4’ (8’)	1-2’ (4’)	M
Myrica pusilla (Dwarf wax myrtle)	E; tiny blue berries	E	S/PS	2-6’	1.5-2’	M	X
Nolina texana (Basketgrass)	E; white flowers May	C/W S	S/PS	1.5-3’	3-4	VL	X
Opuntia imbricata (Cholla)	E cactus; pink flowers spring	W	S/PS	3-6’ (9’)	3-4’	VL	X
Opuntia engelmannia (Prickly pear)	E cactus; yellow flowers spring	C/W S/N	S/PS	3-4’ (10’)	3-4’	L	X
Sabal minor (Dwarf palmetto)	E palm; white flowers spring	C/E/ S	S-Sh	3-7’ (10’)	4-6’	M	X
Salvia ballotiflora (Blue shrub sage)	E if mild winter; blue flowers spr-fall	C/S	S/PS	2-6’ (8’)	2-3’ (5’)	L	X
Salvia greggii (Autumn sage)	SE; red, pink, white, purple flowers spring-frost	C/W/ S	S/PS	2-3’	2-3’	L	X
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (Coralberry)	Red berries late fall-winter	C/E/ N	PS	1/5-6’	1.5’	M	X
Yucca pallida (Paleleaf yucca)	E; white flowers summer	C/N	S/PS	1-3’ (flw 6’)	1-3’	L	X
Yucca rupicola (Twistleaf yucca)	E; white flowers summer	C	S/PS	1-2’ (flw 5’)	2’	L	X
Perennials
Aquilegia canadensis (Red columbine	E; red w/yellow flowers spring	C	PS/Sh	.5-3’	1-2’	M	X
Aquilegia chrysantha (Yellow columbine)	E; yellow flowers spring, rarely fall	W	Sh	1-4’	1-2’	M	X
Berlandiera lyrata (Chocolate daisy)	WR; yellow flowers spring	W	S/PS	1-2’	1’	L	X
Callirhoe involucrata (Winecup)	WR; magenta flowers spring	C/S/ N	S/PS	.5-1.5’	2-3’	L
Chrysactinia mexicana (Damianita)	E; yellow flowers spring-fall	C/W	S/PS	1-2’	1-2’	VL	X
Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf coreopsis)	WR; yellow flowers spring	E	S/PS	1.5-2’	1’	M	X
Echinacea angustifolia (Narrow leaf coneflower)	WR; red purple flowers spring	C/N	S/PS	2-3’	1-1.5’	M	X
Engelmannia peristenia (Engelmann daisy)	WR; yellow flowers spring-fall	C/W/ S/N	S/PS	1.5-2’	1-2’	L
Manfreda variegate (Manfreda)	WR; strap leaves; yellow flowers spring	S	S/PS	1’ (flw 2-4’)	1’	L	X
Marshallia caespitosa (Barbara’s buttons)	WR; white flowers spring	C/N/ S	S/PS	1-1.5’ (2’)	3”	L	X
Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy)	SE; white flowers spring-fall	C/W S/N	S/PS	.5-1’	1’	VL	X
Monarda fistulosa (Beebalm)	WR; lavender flowers spring to fall	NE/ NC	S/PS	1.5-5’	2’	M	X
Oenothera speciosa (Evening primrose)	E; pink flowers spring	All	S/PS	1-1.5’	1’	L-M	X
Packera obovata (Golden groundsel)	E; yellow flowers spring	C/NE/ NC	PS/Sh	1-2’	.5’	L-M	X
Penstemon baccharifolius (Rock penstemon)	E to 20°F; red flowers summer-fall	C/W	S/PS	1-1.5’	1’	L
Penstemon cobaea (Wild foxglove)	WR; white to lavender flowers spring	C/W/ S/N	S/PS	1-2’	.5-1’	L
Penstemon havardii (Harvard penstemon)	WR; red flowers spring	W	S/PS	2-6’	1-2’	VL
Penstemon tenuis (Gulf coast penstemon)	E; purple flowers spring	E/S	PS	1.5-2’	1’	M
Penstemon triflorus (Hill country penstemon)	WR; red flowers spring	C	S/PS	1.5-2’	1.5’	L
Phyla nodiflora (Frogfruit)	EG; white flowers spring-fall	All	S-Sh	3-4”	1-3’	L-M	X
Salvia azurea var. grandiflora (Pitcher sage)	WR; blue flowers fall	C/W/ E/N	S/PS	1.5-3’	2’	L-M	X
Salvia engelmannii (Engelmann’s sage)	WR; blue flowers spring	C/NC	S/PS	1-1.5’	1-2’	L	X
Salvia lycioides (Canyon sage)	E; blue flowers spring – fall	W	S	1-2’	1.5’	VL	X
Salvia lyrata (Lyre leaf sage)	E; blue flowers spring	E/EC	PS/Sh	1-1.5’	1’	L-M	X
Salvia penstemonoides (Big red sage)	WR; wine flowers summer-fall	C	S/PS	2-3’ (5’)	1.5’	L-M	?
Salvia roemeriana (Cedar sage)	WR; red flowers spring-summer	C/W	PS/Sh	1’	1’	L	X
Salvia texana (Texas sage)	WR; blue flowers	C/W	S/PS	1-1.5’	1-2’	L	X
Scutellaria wrightii (Shrubby skullcap)	E; blue flowers spring-frost	C/NC	S/PS	.5’	.5-1’	L	X
Tetraneuris scaposa (Four nerve daisy)	WR; yellow flowers spring-fall	C/W/ S/N	S/PS	1’	1’	L	X
Viguiera stenoloba (Skeletonleaf goldeneye)	E/SE; yellow flowers spring-frost	C/W/ S	S/PS	1.5-4’	2’	L	X
Viola affinis (Sand violet)	E; lavender flowers spring	C/NC	PS/Sh	.5’	1’	M
Wedelia hispida (Zexmenia)	E; yellow flowers spring-fall	C/W/ S	S/PS	1.5-3’	2-2.5’	L	X
Vines
Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine)	E; yellow w/red flowers spring	C/E/ NC	S-Sh	20-30’	3’	L	X
Gelsemium sempervirens (Casrolina Jessamine)	E; yellow flowers spring	NE	S/PS	10-20’	6-8’	M	X
Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle)	E; coral red flowers spring-fall	NC/E	S/PS	10-20’	6-12’	M	X

References:

1. Wasowski, Sally and Andy, “Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region,” Lone Star Books, 2^nd Edition, 1997, ISBN 0-89123-077-7.
2. Correll, Donovan Stewart and Marshall Conring Johnston, “Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas,” The University of Texas at Dallas, 4^th Printing, 1996.
3. Diggs, George M. Jr., Barney L. Lipcomb, and Robert J. O’Kennon, Shinners and Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas,” Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 2^nd Printing, 2000, ISBN 1-889878-01-4.
4. Wrede, Jan, “Trees, Shrubs, and Vines of the Texas Hill Country,” Texas A&M University Press, 2005, ISBN 1-58544-426-X.
5. http://www.itis.gov
6. http://www.wildflower.org
7. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/plantguide/searchplant.cfm
8. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu
9. http://extension-horticulture.tamu.edu
10. http://www.npsot.org/plant_lists/deer_resistant.html
11. http://www.efloras.org
12. http://www.fs.fed.us
13. http://www.desertusa.com
14. http://en.wikipedia.org

	December Garden Guide
Propagation	Plant container trees, shrubs, vines outside  Transplant dormant trees, shrubs, vines
Fertilize	Add Soil amendments to correct soil deficiencies before planting  Root stimulator for new greenhouse plants if desired
Water	Newly planted or transplanted plants  Potted plants  Plants as required if weather dry
Pruning	Repair frost damaged plants  Continue clean up and cut back perennials that have stopped blooming  Begin pruning of red and live oak trees mid month after freeze
Disease/Pest Control	Apply corn gluten as a pre-emergent to lawn and beds  Use horticulture oil as required to control scale and other difficult insects Watch for aphids and caterpillars if mild; treat if desired  Cut annual cool season weeds  Pull perennial cool season weeds
Other	Stake plants as required  Remove tree stakes that have been in place 9-12 months  Remove remains of diseased plants from beds; do not compost  Spread leaves and mulch over beds
	January Garden Guide
Propagation	Plant perennial and annual seeds in greenhouse  Plant container trees, shrubs, vines outside  Transplant dormant trees, shrubs, vines
Fertilize	Seedlings as required  Add soil amendments to correct soil deficiencies before planting  Root stimulator for new greenhouse plants if desired
Water	Newly planted or transplanted plants  Potted plants  Plants as required if weather dry
Pruning	Mow buffalo grass if needed to reduce thatch  Deciduous shade trees and live oak trees  Summer flowering/needle evergreen trees, shrubs and vines  Begin cutting back grasses at end of month  Continue cutting back of dormant perennials  Repair frost damaged plants  Branches of spring flowering trees and shrubs to bring indoors for forcing into bloom
Disease/Pest Control	Use horticulture oil as required to control scale and other difficult insects  Check for aphids, white flies, caterpillars, snails and slugs during mild weather; treat if desired  Cut annual cool season weeds  Pull perennial cool season weeds
Other	Keep bed well mulched  Plan spring bed planting  Clean and sharpen tools

Resource List

Garden Centers

Barton Springs Nursery 3601 Bee Caves Road Austin, Texas 78746 512-328-6655	Bloomers Garden Center 507 HWY 95 North Elgin, Texas 78621 512-281-2020 www.bloomerselgin.com	Forever Garden 6970 Williams Drive Georgetown, Texas 78628 512-868-3373 www.ForeverGardens.com
Green and Growing 601 West Pecan Street Pflugerville, Texas 78660 512-251-3252	Kimas Tejas Nursery HWY 71 4 miles E of Bastrop, TX 78602 512-303-4769 www.texasgrown.com	McIntire’s Garden Center 303 Leander Road Georgetown, Texas 512-863-8243 www.mcintiresgarden.com
The Natural Gardener 8648 Old Bee Cave Road Austin, Texas 78735 512-288-6113 www.naturalgardeneraustin.com	Sunshine Landscape & Garden Center 2002 HWY 620 South Austin, Texas 78734 512-263-5275 www.sunshineaustin.com	Sweet Briar Nursery 48-B FM 2271 Belton, Texas 76513 254-780-4233 www.vvm.com/~reid

Wholesale Nurseries

Hill Country Natives 308 Mesa Oaks Drive Leander, Texas 78641 512-259-0253 www.hillcountrynative.biz

Native Texas Nursery 16019 Milo Road Austin, Texas 78725 512-276-9801

Seed Source	Wildflower Center
Native American Seed 127 North 16^th Street Junction, Texas 76849 1-800-728-4043 http://www.seedsource.com/	Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center 4801 La Crosse Avenue Austin, Texas 78739 512-292-4200 www.wildflower.org

Web Sources

	Native Plant Society of Texas www.npsot.org/		Williamson County Chapter NPSOT www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/
	Bennie Simpson Native Texas Trees http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/		Bennie Simpson Native Texas Shrubs http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/
	USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service http://plants.usda.gov/		Noble Foundation Plant Image Gallery www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/
	Flora of North America www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=1		Integrated Taxonomic Information System www.itis.gov/
		Club Information

Club Meetings

2^nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM

Williamson County Extension Office

3151 SE Inner Loop Road, Suite A

Georgetown, Texas

Website and email list: http://npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/

Club Positions

Position	Name	Telephone
President	Phyllis Dolich	512-869-0356
Past President	Billye Adams	512-863-9636
Secretary	Kathryn LeBlanc	512-773-4573
Treasurer	Kathy Galloway	512-259-7350
Program	Susan Waitz	254-793-3748
Field Trips	Marilyn Perz	512-864-3828
Membership	Kathy Mitchamore	512-259-0253
Volunteer Coordinator	Janet Church	512-585-0996
Historian	Agnes Plutino	512-863-0421
Heritage Gardens	Marilyn Perz	512-864-3828
Web Master	Jason Spangler, jasons@wumple.com	512-249-7868
Newsletter	Janice Charnley	512-863-7355

Membership Application

Name
Street Address
City
State
Zip Code
Phone
E-mail
New/Renewal
Address Change
Chapter	Williamson County

Dues (Effective 4/1/06)		Send application and check to:
· Student	$15.00	NPSOT State Office PO Box 3017 Fredericksburg, TX 78624 830-997-9272
· Senior (Age 65)	$20.00
· Senior Couples	$30.00
· Individual	$25.00
· Couple/Family	$40.00