Clear Lake Chapter

Chapter Meeting: Native Landscape Design in Practice

Monday, February 9 • 6:15 p.m.
Hybrid Meeting

6:15 Doors Open – UHCL Bayou Building, Forest Room (1430)
6:40 Zoom Opens
6:45 Business Meeting
6:55 Plant of the Month
7:00 Guest Speaker

Join us for an evening of delicious pizza, exciting door prizes, and the chance to connect with others while learning something new. Bring your own beverage.

Native landscaping is more than a design trend; it reflects a shift in how we understand the purpose of our landscapes. In this talk, Beverly shares her path into sustainable landscape design, the challenges that shaped her work, and lessons learned through hands-on experience. She explores where the industry is headed and offers practical guidance for homeowners and designers interested in creating resilient, wildlife-supporting landscapes. The talk concludes with an open Q&A.

About the Speaker

Beverly Hill Blondell is the founder of Bayou Native Landscape Design and Consulting, based in Houston, Texas. With a strong background in art and design, she creates landscapes that are both visually compelling and ecologically grounded in Texas native plants. Drawing on years of research and hands-on experimentation, she combines practical design principles with sustainable gardening practices and native plant expertise to create beautiful, low-maintenance, water-wise landscapes. Through her work, Beverly empowers Houston homeowners to transform their properties, at any budget, into resilient landscapes that support local wildlife.

In-person – Parking Pass Required

DO NOT park in faculty/staff 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, while supplies last.

Visitors: Non-members may purchase a temporary parking permit 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