Texas Native Plant Week began with the vision of Faye Tessnow and Barbara Anderson, two members of the Highland Lakes Chapter, who led the effort to push the proclamation to the Texas legislature. Their vision emphasized the role of native plants in conservation efforts and saw Texas Native Plant Week as an incentive for the Texas education system to teach school children the importance of native plants.
Faye Tessnow provides the following insider’s view:
The original idea came from me and Barbara Anderson. It began as discussion for a day to be set aside where we could have greater emphasis on our goals and implementing our educational outreach. We began this idea by contacting the office of our district representative, Donna Howard at the Capitol. Her staff was very helpful in writing up the proposition. It was then taken in committee and put on a schedule for a hearing. We were invited to come down for the hearing and speak.
Barbara spoke first and I spoke second. I shortened my talk because of the issues and proclamation presented before us involved getting nurseries to downplay the sale of invasives This did not pass. But the speakers had emphasized the importance of native plants.
I had read Bringing Nature Home by Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy. I talked about an experiment by Aron Flanders in South Texas that was described in the book. Aron Flanders and his coworkers compared bird communities in duplicate plots of land consisting of approximately 494 acres.
The study demonstrated a comparison between native plants and forbs on one parcel of land and the other, which was dominated by two invasives that were imported in the 1940’s. The invasive species were Eragrostis lehmanniana, Lehmann lovegrass and Cenchrus ciliaris, Buffelgrass. The Flanders study proved that the grassland plant community with alien plants restricted the insect and bird communities. The comparison between the two plots of land showed 60% more abundance of arthropods and insectivorous birds with the native plants and forbs versus the 35%, which had the introduction of the lovegrass and buffelgrass. I think that it impressed the committee.
The proposition went through all the committees and was passed unanimously! We were thrilled at that. The bill, H.B. 1739, was signed into law on June 19, 2009. The original proclamation signed by Governor Perry was presented to our state office. A few months later, I was honored at an Austin city meeting. Mayor Leffingwell gave me a certificate to honor the occasion.
The greatest honor came to our Highland Lakes Chapter when the 2009 State Symposium presented us with the historical quilt. We were also named Chapter of the Year. This award is based on outstanding work done to promote the use of native plants and cooperation with communities to educate them.
My vision is that greater emphasis will be placed upon the use of native plants because of our drought conditions. This limits the use of water in the landscape. I also want to help maintain our wonderful butterflies in their life cycle and other pollinators which are so important in our area. (Faye Tessnow, Lago Vista, Texas July 27, 2013)
On behalf of those recognizing the importance and impact of native plants, we thank Faye and Barbara.
Native Plant Society is partnering with other organizations to plan Texas Native Plant Week, educating citizens scorched by drought and seeking alternative landscaping practices. The third week of October has been designated Texas Native Plant Week. Our activities will celebrate the rewards and benefit of planting with natives.
Communities throughout Texas will offer wildflower walks, tours of local native plant gardens, talks by experts about native plants, and chapter meetings of the Native Plant Society of Texas. As planning progresses for the week, information can be found at the Texas Native Plant Week page Watch the site for more information on events for native plants.
We have teamed with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center of The University of Texas at Austin, City of Austin Grow Green programs, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and National Wildlife Federation, Central Texas Gardener, and San Antonio Botanical Gardens and many others in promoting native plants.
