Boerne Chapter

Articles by Bill Ward

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 have been educating the public about the virtues of landscaping with native plants and of protecting native-plant habitats since April 2002. They reflect the wisdom and insight Bill was able to impart with us, as he taught us some of his favorite subjects.

– 2010 –
January

NICE! 10 for ’10 — starting with an old favorite by Bill Ward
Still green after being in the freezer by Bill Ward
Early-Blooming Redbud, NICE! Plant for February by Bill Ward

February

The Native-Plant Guru of the Trans-Pecos Collected in Kendall County by Bill Ward
Coral honeysuckle, a NICE! vine for landscaping by Bill Ward

March

“Native-Plant Watch” — helping Boerne school children grow native by Bill Ward
NICE! plant for April — an American beauty by Bill Ward

April

Plant Rescue — saving native species during urban sprawl by Bill Ward

May

Esperanza, a NICE! hope for summer blooms by Bill Ward
Tree of Heaven or Tree from Hell? by Bill Ward
Turk’s cap, a NICE! bloomer during the hot summer by Bill Ward

June

“Boerne Bean” finally gets some respect — it’s a new species by Bill Ward
Lindheimer muhly — the NICE! grass for 2010 by Bill Ward

July

Mountain cedar — does it deserve such disdain? by Bill Ward
Mountain cedar — water guzzler of the Hill Country or not? by Bill Ward

August

NPSOT — not a society of garden clubs by Bill Ward
Backyard wildflowers — something a little different by Bill Ward

October

Salvias are NICE! for all seasons, especially the fall by Bill Ward
Boerne Chapter NPSOT turns ten by Bill Ward
Possumhaw, the NICE! Holiday Holly for the Hill Country by Bill Ward

November

Fredericksburg Nature Center — big diversity of native plants in a small area by Bill Ward
Maple Momma and her volunteers did it again! by Bill Ward

December

More big red sage found in the Texas Hill Country! by Bill Ward
Mexican white oak — barely native, but a NICE! tree by Bill Ward

– 2009 –

January

Yucca – aquifer-friendly landscape plant by Bill Ward
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part VIII – the Female Factor by Bill Ward
Everblack sumac – a favorite shrub that bears another mention by Bill Ward

February

The Texas Hill Country is Fern Habitat, Too by Bill Ward

March

Acacias are NICE! in this part of the Hill Country by Bill Ward

April

What’s Blooming during this Brown Spring? by Bill Ward
SUN shines on Chuck Janzow by Bill Ward

May

Anacacho Orchid Tree, a NICE! Landscape Plant for the Hill Country by Bill Ward
Steve Lowe suggests May as month of the “maguey lily” by Bill Ward
Rose Pavonia – NICE! Bloomer for Hot, Dry Summer by Bill Ward

June

Sustaining Mother Nature with Native Plants by Bill Ward
Pigeon-berry — NICE! plant for shady spots by Bill Ward

July

Native Plants and the Drought — Some Random Observations by Bill Ward

August

“Texas Native Plant Week” signed by the Governor by Bill Ward
Bluebell Gentian, Favorite Wildflower of the Drought by Bill Ward
Black dalea – NICE! for hot, dry gardens by Bill Ward

September

Yards of the future – which native plants will be used? by Bill Ward
Texas Ash — NICE! tree for October by Bill Ward

October

Early fall is “springtime” in the Chisos Mts of Big Bend by Bill Ward
Big Red Sage Near Boerne, Then and Now by Bill Ward

November

Nolina — the “bunch grass” that isn’t grass by Bill Ward
Prairies — more than grass on flat land by Bill Ward
The ligustrum woods of Boerne — landscape at its worst by Bill Ward

December

The native-plant garden and nursery in Medina, Texas by Bill Ward
100 More Bigtooth Maples Line the Streets of Boerne by Bill Ward

– 2008 –

January

Native Evergreens Get Me Through the Winter by Bill Ward (299KB)

February

Blanco Crabapple – A Kendall County Beauty by Bill Ward (92KB)
One-of-a-kind Publication – a Book on Rare Plants of Texas by Bill Ward (124KB)
Eve’s necklace, mountain laurel’s first cousin, is NICE! too by Bill Ward (116KB)

March

Under Assault – the Habitat Most Important to Our Water System! by Bill Ward (75KB)

April

Hiking through Eden with Bill Carr by Bill Ward
Dry Year or Wet Year – Mealy Blue Sage is NICE! by Bill Ward

May

Indian grass and other bunchgrasses make NICE! landscape plants by Bill Ward (93KB)
No Shortage of Endemic Plants in the Texas Hill Country by Bill Ward

June

People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part V by Bill Ward (66KB)
Agaves, NICE! drought-tolerant landscape plants by Bill Ward

July

People Names in Plant Names, Part VI – the Geologists Connection by Bill Ward (71KB)

August

People Names in Plant Names, Part VII by Bill Ward (81KB)
Butterflies think blue mistflower is very NICE! by Bill Ward

September

Driven Up the Wall by Herbivores by Bill Ward

October

The Devils River Valley – a Botanical Wonderland by Bill Ward

November

The common agarita – NICE! shrub for landscaping by Bill Ward
Trip to the “Cielo” of Native-Plant Diversity by Bill Ward

December

NICE! fall color – the understory factor by Bill Ward
Ball moss – the good, the bad, and the “ugly” by Bill Ward

– 2007 –

January

Upstairs to the Native Prairie for Morning Coffee by Bill Ward (74KB)
Lacey oak, a NICE! little tree for Hill Country yards by Bill Ward (78KB)
What’s in a Native-Plant Name? by Bill Ward (78KB)

February

Silktassel, One of Our NICEst Native Shrubs by Bill Ward (76KB)
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part II by Bill Ward (75KB)

March

Mexican plum, a NICE! bloomer in early spring by Bill Ward (440KB)
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part III by Bill Ward (77KB)

April

Crossvine, NICE! everblack decoration for walls and fences by Bill Ward (80KB)
People Names in Native-Plant Names, Part IV by Bill Ward (78KB)
Pink evening primrose, NICE! for spring, summer, and fall by Bill Ward (82KB)

May

Fifth birthday for a NICE! idea in Boerne by Bill Ward (83KB)
Coralbean, not Hill Country native, but NICE! anyway by Bill Ward (83KB)

June

Solved: the Mystery of the First-Collected Big Red Sage by Bill Ward (92KB)

July

Mister Texas Wildflower by Bill Ward (78KB)

August

Book Signings, Art Exhibits, and Yard Tours by Bill Ward (83KB)
Sign On Harvest Moon: Authors and Artists to Visit Boerne by Bill Ward (77KB)

September

Copper Canyon daisy, NICE! marigold for fall gardens by Bill Ward (85KB)

October

Soapberry – so much NICEr than chinaberry by Bill Ward (79KB)

December

Kendall County is in Texas Madrone Country! by Bill Ward (526KB)
Brush – It’s a Matter of Perspective by Bill Ward (73KB)
Anaqua, the sandpaper tree, is NICE! for local yards by Bill Ward (80KB)

– 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

Vines in Native-Plant Landscaping by Bill Ward (109KB)

– 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

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)

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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