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The Native Landscape Certificate program is expanding into North Texas.
Carol Feldman, a former president of the Native Plant Society and a landscape architect in Dallas, is organizing an initial training program on November 10-11 at the Dogwood Canyon Audubon facility in Cedar Hill.
The session will only be open to members of the Society and will be a fast-track certification process that will enable those who complete the program to become trainers for the certification program. Classes for the public have not yet been announced.
The Native Landscape Certification program began in 2008 in San Antonio under the leadership of Melissa Miller. It is aimed at professional landscapers, landscape architects and designers, urban developers, surveyors, community garden & park employees, homeowners and environmental volunteers. The program teaches the identification of Texas natives, their place in the local ecosystem and which conditions will allow them to thrive in a landscape. With each level, knowledge of conservation, ecosystem assessment, wildlife benefits, restoration value, appropriateness of plants for landscapes and taxonomy increases.
Eventually there will be of four levels of expertise, earned through the use of classes and field study. With more than 40 plants featured at each level, participants at completion of the program will be able to identify more than 160 native plants, identify invasive species problems and design low maintenance landscapes using natives instead of common exotics. They will also understand the culture, installation and maintenance requirements of native plants in natural areas and urban landscapes and be be able to utilize concepts learned to preserve, enhance and maintain native landscapes that comply with local regulations.
The program was developed and is sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Alamo Master Naturalists, City of San Antonio, and the Native Plant Society of Texas. As of Summer 2012, 160 Level 1 certificates had been awarded and 48 Level 2 certificates had been awarded. Level 3 and Level 4 classes are still under development.
The program was recently awarded a grant of of $10,000 from the Shield-Ayers Foundation and another grant of $5,000 from the John Newman Family Charitable Trust. These grants will be used to facilitate the expansion of the program. Donations are also being accepted from interested individuals through our online donation page or through the State Office.
Members of the Society in the North Texas area interested in the program may download an application form for the initial class and check out the description for the two-day class.
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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: Bill Hopkins
