This section of our website is dedicated to our much-loved Bill Ward, who passed away in January 2011. Besides being 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 and an irreplaceable force of enthusiasm that spurred much of the achievements and friendships in our organization.
What is listed here are his articles which appeared in The Boerne Star newspaper under the title “Native Grown”. These articles educated the public about the virtues of landscaping with native plants and of protecting native-plant habitats from April 2002 through December 2010. They reflect the wisdom and insight Bill was able to impart with us, as he taught us some of his favorite subjects.
Below are Bill Ward’s articles in chronological order from 2002 to 2010:
– 2010 –
January
NICE! 10 for ’10 — starting with an old favorite
Still green after being in the freezer
Early-Blooming Redbud, NICE! Plant for February
February
The Native-Plant Guru of the Trans-Pecos Collected in Kendall County
Coral honeysuckle, a NICE! vine for landscaping
March
“Native-Plant Watch” — helping Boerne school children grow native
NICE! plant for April — an American beauty
April
Plant Rescue — saving native species during urban sprawl
May
Esperanza, a NICE! hope for summer blooms
Tree of Heaven or Tree from Hell?
Turk’s cap, a NICE! bloomer during the hot summer
June
“Boerne Bean” finally gets some respect — it’s a new species
Lindheimer muhly — the NICE! grass for 2010
July
Mountain cedar — does it deserve such disdain?
Mountain cedar — water guzzler of the Hill Country or not?
August
NPSOT — not a society of garden clubs
Backyard wildflowers — something a little different
October
Salvias are NICE! for all seasons, especially the fall
Boerne Chapter NPSOT turns ten
Possumhaw, the NICE! Holiday Holly for the Hill Country
November
Fredericksburg Nature Center — big diversity of native plants in a small area
Maple Momma and her volunteers did it again!
December
More big red sage found in the Texas Hill Country!
Mexican white oak — barely native, but a NICE! tree
– 2009 –
January
Yucca – aquifer-friendly landscape plant
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part VIII – the Female Factor
Everblack sumac – a favorite shrub that bears another mention
February
The Texas Hill Country is Fern Habitat, Too
Acacias are NICE! in this part of the Hill Country
March
What’s Blooming during this Brown Spring?
April
Native Penstemon – NICE for spring
SUN shines on Chuck Janzow
May
Anacacho Orchid Tree, a NICE! Landscape Plant for the Hill Country
Steve Lowe suggests May as month of the “maguey lily”
Rose Pavonia – NICE! Bloomer for Hot, Dry Summer
June
Sustaining Mother Nature with Native Plants
Pigeon-berry — NICE! plant for shady spots
July
Native Plants and the Drought — Some Random Observations
August
“Texas Native Plant Week” signed by the Governor
Bluebell Gentian, Favorite Wildflower of the Drought
Black dalea – NICE! for hot, dry gardens
September
Yards of the future – which native plants will be used?
Texas Ash — NICE! tree for October
October
Early fall is “springtime” in the Chisos Mts of Big Bend
Big Red Sage Near Boerne, Then and Now
November
Nolina — the “bunch grass” that isn’t grass
Prairies — more than grass on flat land
The ligustrum woods of Boerne — landscape at its worst
December
The native-plant garden and nursery in Medina, Texas
100 More Bigtooth Maples Line the Streets of Boerne
– 2008 –
January
Native Evergreens Get Me Through the Winter
February
Blanco Crabapple – A Kendall County Beauty
One-of-a-kind Publication – a Book on Rare Plants of Texas
Eve’s necklace, mountain laurel’s first cousin, is NICE! too
March
Under Assault – the Habitat Most Important to Our Water System!
Creek Plum – NICE bright white harbinger of spring
April
Hiking through Eden with Bill Carr
Dry Year or Wet Year – Mealy Blue Sage is NICE!
May
Indian grass and other bunchgrasses make NICE! landscape plants
No Shortage of Endemic Plants in the Texas Hill Country
June
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part V
Agaves, NICE! drought-tolerant landscape plants
July
People Names in Plant Names, Part VI – the Geologists Connection
August
People Names in Plant Names, Part VII
Butterflies think blue mistflower is very NICE!
September
Driven Up the Wall by Herbivores
October
The Devils River Valley – a Botanical Wonderland
November
The common agarita – NICE! shrub for landscaping
Trip to the “Cielo” of Native-Plant Diversity
December
NICE! fall color – the understory factor
Ball moss – the good, the bad, and the “ugly”
– 2007 –
January
Lacey oak, a NICE! little tree for Hill Country yards
What’s in choosing a Native-Plant Name?
February
Silktassel, One of Our NICEst Native Shrubs
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part II
March
Mexican plum, a NICE! bloomer in early spring
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part III
April
Crossvine, NICE! evergreen decoration for walls and fences
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part IV
Pink evening primrose, NICE! for spring, summer, and fall
May
Fifth birthday for a NICE! idea in Boerne
Coralbean, not Hill Country native, but NICE! anyway
June
Solved: the Mystery of the First-Collected Big Red Sage
July
Remembering Mister Texas Wildflower
Big Red Sage – Where Might It Be Hiding?
August
Book Signings, Art Exhibits, and Yard Tours
Sign On Harvest Moon: Authors and Artists to Visit Boerne
September
Copper Canyon daisy, NICE! marigold for fall gardens
October
Soapberry – so much NICEr than chinaberry
November
Early Fall is springtime in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend
Kendall County is Texas Madrone Country!
December
Brush – It’s a Matter of Perspective
Anaqua, the sandpaper tree, is NICE! for local yards
– 2006 –
February
Old-fashion garden plant is NICE! for February by Bill Ward (79KB)
March
Texas Mock Orange, a NICE! Uncommon Endemic by Bill Ward (82KB)
To Attract Hummingbirds, Plant Natives by Bill Ward (78KB)
Winecups Are NICE! Spring Flowers by Bill Ward (79KB)
May
Goldenball Leadtree – Nice! Without April Showers by Bill Ward (79KB)
Prairie Grasses Might Lower Gas Prices Someday by Bill Ward (77KB)
August
Flame acanthus, NICE! bloomer in the summer heat by Bill Ward (79KB)
September
Barbados Cherry – Not Quite Native, But NICE! by Bill Ward (75KB)
October
Yard Tour Gives Native Plants a Good Name by Bill Ward (74KB)
Bigtooth Maples for Boerne – Very NICE! by Bill Ward (79KB)
November
The native plant attraction – late fall bloomers bring out the butterflies
Vines in Native-Plant Landscaping by Bill Ward (109KB)
December
Upstairs to the Native Prairie for Morning Coffee
– 2005 –
January
Endangered Native Plants Unprotected By Law by Bill Ward (77KB)
February
Prickly Pear, NICE! Everblack for Boerne Gardens by Bill Ward and Ann Black (82KB)
Texas Native Plants Benefit from So Many Roads and Fences by Bill Ward (74KB)
Big-Tooth Maple, NICE! Choice for Fall Color by Bill Ward (65KB)
March
What Does It Mean To Be Native? by Bill Ward
Yellow Jasmine, NICE! Vine for the Hill Country by Bill Ward (77KB)
April
Plants that will Attract the Most Butterflies
Some Native Plants for Butterfly Gardens by Bill Ward (73KB)
Texas Betony is NICE! All Summer Long by Bill Ward (74KB)
May
A Different Kind of Hosting at CNC by Bill Ward (73KB)
Nolina is NICE! Plant for June by Bill Ward (71KB)
July
Twist-leaf Yucca — the Kinder, Gentler Yucca by Bill Ward (77KB)
Rare Plants Hidden in Canyons of the Hill Country by Bill Ward (77KB)
Flowering Vines of the Hill Country by Bill Ward (74KB)
August
Bluebonnets in August by Bill Ward (76KB)
September
Native Dogwood is NICE! for Fall Planting by Bill Ward (79KB)
October
Shrubs and Trees of the Upper Cibolo Drainage Basin by Bill Ward (84KB)
It’s a NICE! Time to Plant an Orchid-Tree by Bill Ward (77KB)
November
Early-Fall Color is in the Stream Valleys by Bill Ward (71KB)
If the Deer Eat It, Plant It! by Bill Ward (74KB)
December
Are Those Scientific Names Really Necessary by Bill Ward (75KB)
A Remnant of the Boerne Marsh at CNC by Bill Ward (79KB)
– 2004–
September
Kendall County – Big Red’s Last Stand? Part I
October
Big Red Sage, Part 2, finding its roots
November
Kendall County – Big Red’s Last Stand, Part III
– 2003 –
January
January NICE plant Evergreen Sumac good all year ’round
Getting rid of thirsty cedars won’t necessarily in crease water supply
February
Texas Redbud recommended for Hill Country landscapes
What’s on the deer’s menu in your neck of the woods?
March
Evergreen columbine great for border plant in shade
Sage advice about growing salvias
April
Natural vegetation maintains, attracts variety of wildlife
Cedar Sage provides drought-tolerant ground cover
May
Native Plant Society appeals to plant experts, admirers
June
Plant rescue committee seeks help in protecting native plants
July
Hill Country’s vegetation similar to Spain’s
August
August a good time to go native in the library
Gulf Muhly: pink glow at sunrise and sunset
September
Hot-weather wildflowers blossoming
Flameleaf Sumac – such a NICE choice for fall color
October
Bur Oak – a NICE big tree for landscaping
November
A NICE! idea is taking root here in Boerne
December
Christmas Wishlist of Native Plants
– 2002 –
March
Being NICE in the Hill Country
April
Mountain Laurel is NICE! Plant of the Month
May
Blackfoot Daisy – Pretty but tough
Mowers coming to a right of way near you
June
Lindheimer muhly: NICE plant of the month
Another view of native plant diversity
July
Rose Pavonia: NICE bloomer for July
August
Carefully choose exotics for landscape
Beautyberry shrubs put on splendid show in fall
September
Foreign Invaders – exotic plants make trouble when they love it here
Blue asters are NICE and reliable for color
October
NPSOT Growing Well In Native Soil
Nothing says Hill Country holidays like Possumhaw
November
Big-tooth Maple – fall color that might’ve been
Thank those cretaceous critters for wildflowers
December
Aliens have landed along Cibolo Creek
Volunteers Help Mother Nature at Cibolo Center
