Meet Pam Middleton

**ARCHIVED POST **

Did you ever wonder who processes your membership renewals and sends you confirmation that you are paid up for the coming year?

Do you know who sets up our online registration for the annual symposium and mails out your registration confirmation (in addition to doing a whole lot of background work in preparation for the symposium)? Did you ever ask who the friendly red head at the symposium registration table was who handed you your packet and graciously answered your questions?

Pam at her desk

Do you know who pays our bills at the State Office so that we can hold our symposium, host a website, publish a magazine, issue grants, rebate chapter moneys, and provide any other state services?

Did you know that the Society has to make tax filings with the state government, provide the necessary paperwork to file tax returns with the IRS, and even buy an annual state floral license to authorize our chapter plant sales?

Somebody prepares our quarterly financial statements, makes arrangements for our State Board meetings, and supports the Executive Board in preparation for the board meeting. Guess who?

Ever wonder who the friendly voice is that answers our state office phone with “Native Plant Society of Texas” and provides courteous responses to your questions? Or who it is that answers your email questions sent to state@npsot.org?

Who is the primary interface to the general public for addressing questions about the Society?

Meet Pam Middleton, our State Coordinator at our Fredericksburg office, and a member of the Fredericksburg Chapter!

**ARCHIVED POST**

**ARCHIVED POST LINKS & PICTURES MAY NOT WORK**

**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: lonnie

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason