Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Garden grant recipients announced

NPSOT Archive

**ARCHIVED POST **

We finalized decisions on the 2021 round of Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas garden grants during the first week of March, and we are delighted to be able to fund 42 grant requests this year, roughly 80% of the number of grant applications. Several other grant applicants have been matched with local resources to assist them in improving and successfully completing their projects.

A team of four grant evaluators graded proposals on their aesthetically appealing use of native plants, usefulness to Monarchs, educational potential, public access, and maintenance plans. All plans must include native milkweeds, and native nectar plants.

This year’s grant recipients include projects at schools, wildlife preserves, universities, senior centers, a museum, a camp, community gardens, libraries, city parks, and worship centers.

Funding for the garden grant program comes from Monarch Watch, the Native Plant Society of Texas, individuals, groups, and regional chapters. There is no paid staff, so all donations go directly towards our work.

 

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

[table “” not found /]

**ARCHIVED POST**

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

**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: carolclark

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