Let’s rewind the clock to the summer of 2000. Back then, Boerne was known for its scenic beauty and friendly folks, but there was something missing: a tribe of native plant enthusiasts to advocate for the rich diversity of flora that makes this region of Texas so unique. The solution? A group of nature-loving pioneers came together with a shared dream, creating the Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT).
Now, imagine the scene: a handful of passionate folks sitting on the back porch of the Cibolo Nature Center (CNC) talking about the future of their beloved Hill Country. They were determined to make the town—and the entire area—greener, in the best possible way. Not by planting exotic species from far-flung places, but by bringing back the plants that have been here for centuries. The natives. They knew that native plants were key to sustaining wildlife, conserving water, and keeping the delicate balance of their unique ecosystem intact.
The Nature-Loving Pioneers
So who were these nature-loving pioneers? In his 2010 article published in the Boerne Star, co-founder Bill Ward recalls: “Rebecca Rogers and Judi Martin wondered why there wasn’t a garden club that focused on native plants. Rebecca contacted Nina Nye, because she heard Nina belonged to “some sort of society for native plants”. Nina sent her to me. At the time, Nina and my wife and I were members of the Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT).”
Rebecca Rogers, Judi Martin, and Bill Ward arranged to meet, and both brought some friends: Janet Doyle. Suzanne Young, Rebecca Yoder, and Lee Knox. The group decided to move forward with the idea of forming a Boerne chapter.
Bill Ward recruited the dozen charter members needed to form a chapter. He was successful: On September 10, 2000, the request to organize a new chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) was submitted by NPSOT members Bebe Fenstermaker, Mary R. Fenstermaker, Olive B. Guild, Lee Knox, Judy and Tom Martin, Nina Nye, Rebecca Rogers, Bill and Kathy Ward, Rebecca Yoder, and Steve and Suzanne Young.
In October of 2000, the pioneers received their answer: The Native Plant Society of Texas officially approved the formation of the Boerne Chapter of NPSOT.
Members of the Boerne Chapter’s very first Board were:
- President: Bill Ward
- President-Elect: Rebecca Rogers
- Vice President of Programs: Rebecca Yoder and Janet Doyle
- Secretary: Suzanne Young
- Treasurer: Lee Knox
- Historian: Judi Martin
The Perfect Meeting Location
A game-changer for the Boerne Chapter came when the newly founded chapter given the green light to hold their meetings and events at the Cibolo Nature Center (CNC).
Hosting our gatherings and events at this beautiful, nature-filled hub was, and has been, an absolute blessing for the chapter. It’s more than just a venue—it’s a place where our missions align, creating a truly symbiotic relationship between us and the CNC.
The chapter has worked hard to nurture this partnership, and it’s been a win-win for everyone involved.
Inland Seaoats becomes the Boerne Chapter Logo
During that initial meeting of the minds, Bill Ward championed the idea of Inland Seaoats as the symbol of the Boerne chapter. The designing of the actual logo came a little while later. As Chapter President and founder Bill Ward tells the story:
Just a day or two before the new chapter’s very first meeting, Suzanne (Young – co-founder and Board Secretary) had an idea—she wanted to create name tags for all the new members and visiting state NPSOT officers. But not just any name tags. She was determined to feature the chapter’s logo, the elegant inland seaoats, and she needed the image right now!
Without missing a beat, Bill Ward dashed out his front door, grabbed a few fronds of inland seaoats, and carefully arranged them on a card, hoping it would look just right. He glued the fronds down, scanned the card, and sent the image off to Suzanne.
Little did they know, that hastily crafted image would become the foundation of the Boerne Chapter’s current logo—still proudly displayed today. A perfect mix of creativity, quick thinking, and a little bit of Hill Country charm, all captured in a single, beautiful design.
Community Impact
Over the years, the chapter has initiated an impressive number of projects and programs to help educate the community on the benefits of native plants:
Bi-Annual Native Plant Sales: In the early 2000’s NPSOT Boerne collaborated with Cibolo Nature Center in their “Mostly Native Plant Sale”. This annual event promoted native plants and educated the public on the environmental benefits of native plant gardens. This event has evolved into an “all native” plant sale that is now held twice a year at Herff Farm.
“Native Grown” Column in The Boerne Star: As the first president of the Boerne Chapter of NPSOT and one of its founding member, Bill was always highly involved in our community outreach programs. To raise awareness about the incredible benefits of landscaping with native plants, Bill became a trusted voice in the community by writing a regular column called “Native Grown” for The Boerne Star from 2002 to 2010. Through this platform, he shared his passion for native landscaping, helping educate readers on how it can positively impact both the environment and the local landscape. Following his passing in January 2011, members of the Boerne Chapter, including Delmar Cain and others, stepped up to continue the column, ensuring that Bill’s vision lived on. Today, these articles remain a valuable resource on our website, offering timeless insights on native plants and their enduring benefits to the Hill Country and beyond.
Demonstration Gardens in and around Boerne: In 2005 the Chapter’s first Native Plant Demonstration Garden was created on the site of the then new Cibolo Nature Center (CNC). NPSOT members not only prepared the native plant garden site, but also rescued native plants from the construction site of the new Cibolo Nature Center (CNC) parking lot. Today, NPSOT maintains two demonstration gardens at the CNC, a demonstration garden at the Boerne Convention & Visitors Bureau, one at the Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department, and one at the Veteran’s Plaza in Boerne.
Operation NICE! (Natives Instead of the Common Exotics!): This program was the brainchild of 2001-2002 Chapter President Rebecca Rogers. This program, now known as the “NICE Partner Program – Natives Improve & Conserve Environments” was adopted by many NPSOT chapters and eventually by State NPSOT.
Adoption of No.9 Greenway: In 2004, the City of Boerne accepted a proposal by the Boerne Chapter to adopt a section of the No. 9 Greenway and to landscape an area using native trees and shrubs. Instrumental in the approval were two local champions Chris Turk, Boerne City Planner, a long time supporter of native flora, and Linda Donarski, City Parks and Recreation Director. Chris and Linda granted us the Blanco Road Rest Station. Linda helped to make the project a big success by arranging to have the holes dug, and providing water and mulch for the trees. Bluebonnet seeds were spread around our section of the trail.
Through the years the Boerne Chapter has continued its efforts to landscape the trail. Today, people walking the trail can see and enjoy the beauty and variety of our native trees and the wonderful shade they provide. For example, in the spring, Texas mountain laurel, Mexican plum and red bud trees provide blossoms and wonderful sweet smells along the trail, while in the fall the big-tooth maple and cedar elm provide us with beautiful colors.
Bigtooth Maples for Boerne: During the fall of 2006, the Boerne Chapter started a multi-year project called Bigtooth Maples for Boerne, which gives away about 100 native maple trees every year to citizens, businesses, and organizations of Boerne. This community-service program is funded by a generous grant from the Lende Foundation. Chapter co-founder Suzanne Young, aka Maple Momma, organizes and administers the project. Nearly 2000 bigtooth maples were planted in the course of 20 years, changing the Boerne landscape forever.
SUN Award: Another Boerne Chapter innovation was the SUN Award (Standing Up for Natives Award), which was the brainchild of Bebe Fenstermaker. The first recipients were Bob and Dani Vollmer in 2004, who appeared before the Boerne City Council to successfully defend their landscaping with native grasses and other native plants. This led to changes in city ordinances that promote using water-saving lawn grasses. The SUN award continues to be awarded each year to this day.
ForWARD Trail:In December 2012, during a potluck gathering, an idea took root: Create a interpretive trail that highlights native plants and the ecological history of the region. This trail would be dedicated to the Wards family, founders of NPSOT Boerne. A planning committee was established. A fundraising campaign was launched to finance the interpretive signs and the native trees and plants. After years of dedication and hard work, the NPSOT-Boerne ForWARD Trail became a reality in 2018.
Today, the NPSOT-Boerne ForWARD Trail, located at the Patrick Heath Public Library, features a diverse array of native trees and shrubs that once thrived in the ancient hardwood forests of the Edwards Plateau. Along the trail, informative signs serve to educate visitors about the native plants in the area, their vital role in supporting local wildlife, and the rich history of the ancient trails that once passed through the region.
Pollinator Garden Assistance & Recognition Program (PGARP): In 2018, in the midst of the Hill Country’s rapid development, NPSOT Boerne member Rachel Thompson and Hill Country Master Naturalist Richard Coleman shared a concern: “We’ve all heard the tales of folks moving to the Hill Country, bringing their Houston or Dallas landscaping mindset, removing existing native plants and replacing them with invasive or tropical species, only to have them fail because of water, soil or sun issues they are not accustomed to.” Using our knowledge, expertise and volunteer time, could we find a way to help small plot gardeners put in new pollinator gardens and recognize them for their efforts? A group of NPSOT members and Master Naturalists put their heads together and designed the PGARP program.
The program, a collaboration between the Hill Country Master Naturalists and the Boerne, Fredericksburg, and Kerrville NPSOT chapters, was introduced in 2018. Richard Coleman shares the group’s vision in a 2018 Boerne NPSOT newsletter: “The idea of having hundreds of small plots that focus on native plants that have drawn pollinators to the Hill Country for centuries, would be worth recognition of the gardeners who were willing to devote even a small portion of their landscape to pollinators.” For more than 7 years now, PGARP volunteers have been assisting and educating Hill Country home owners and businesses to establish pollinator gardens using native plants on their properties.
Boerne City Campus Natural Area (BCCNA): The BCCNA spans 13 acres along the Old No. 9 Trail behind the Boerne library. In partnership with the city and other community organizations, the Boerne Chapter is working to restore this space to a thriving native habitat and wildlife corridor within the city.
The goal is to transform the area into a haven filled with native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses, with a functional riparian zone. This restoration will provide food, water, and shelter for migrating birds, butterflies, and small mammals, while supporting local wildlife year-round. For people, the area will offer a peaceful retreat with hiking paths for exploring the diverse flora and fauna, making it a space for relaxation, observation, and education.
The Boerne Chapter’s Legacy Continues…
Today, the chapter continues to thrive, still advocating for native plants, holding educational events, and giving away wisdom like seeds on the wind. But ask any of our members—and they’ll tell you the same thing: the real magic of the Boerne Chapter isn’t just in the plants, but in the people. It’s in the way they’ve come together to nurture something that benefits not only their community, but the entire ecosystem. The Boerne Chapter is proof that a little dirt, a lot of passion, and the right kind of plants can change the world.
And the best part? The story’s far from over. Every year, the chapter’s roots grow deeper, and the flowers they’ve planted continue to bloom—creating a legacy of native beauty, one plant at a time.
