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Native Plant Society of Texas

Boerne Chapter

Boerne City Campus Natural Area (BCCNA)

The Boerne City Campus Natural Area, also known as 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 of NPSOT 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.

Equally important, this restoration will help the environment by supporting food webs, managing watersheds, sequestering carbon, and nurturing native pollinators—essential for 80% of our food supply. As development continues to encroach on the Hill Country, projects like this are crucial in ensuring our landscapes provide these vital ecosystem services.

The BCCNA project offers many volunteer opportunities.  For example, a group of volunteers meets every first and third Thursday of every month. 

Click here to see the site plan, and more information, including the trees, plants, birds and mammals that will greatly benefit from this project. 

For more information, please contact Jeff Schwarz. 

BCCNA Program Leader Jeff Schwarz and NPSOT volunteer Theresa Butler during a Boerne City Campus Natural Area workday
BCCNA Program Leader Jeff Schwarz and a volunteer laying mulch for pathways at the BCCNA

About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason