Clear Lake Chapter

Clear Lake Chapter Holiday Party & Gift Exchange

Monday, December 8 • 6 – 8 p.m.
Forest Room (1430), Bayou Building, UHCL

Potluck – To change up the responsibilities this year, we ask that you use your last name for the following suggestions of your supper contribution:

A – D: Bring a Main Dish
E – J: Bring a Dessert
K – P: Bring an Appetizer
Q – Z: Bring a Salad

You may bring your own meal if you would rather not participate in the potluck dishes.

Everyone needs to bring their own cup or glass, plate and silverware. Iced tea and water will be provided.

Gift Exchange – Please bring an unwrapped native plant or gardening related gift to participate in the gift exchange. What to bring? What garden gifts are on your own Christmas list? Maybe a special book, gloves, an interesting tool, something from the garden or even some of your own art or craft work.

Native Plants to Swap or Seeds for Outreach – Bring your extra plants or seeds to share.

The evening will include instrumental holiday music by two talented high school local musicians. Also included in the evening’s frivolity will be the always popular Native Plant Bingo, Member of the Year Award, and announcements.

Parking DO NOT park in employee parking (enforced 24/7).
Clear Lake Chapter Members: If you have a pass, don’t forget it – you will not get another one if you picked one up previously. If you need your new pass, arrive early enough to pick one up in the meeting room and place it in your car.

Visitors: Non-members may purchase a pass for $5, or “rent” one (while supplies last) — if returned at the end of the meeting, the $5 will be returned. Temporary parking permits may also be purchased at the kiosk in front of the Recreation Center or via T2 Mobile Pay.

Bayou Building, Forest Room (1430)
University of Houston-Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, TX 77058

Meetings are open to members and non-members. If you would like to become a member, you may join online. For more information about the Native Plant Society of Texas and the benefits of membership please visit: www.npsot.org.

Hosted by the Environmental Institute of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason