The “Native Grown” column is published in the Boerne Star newspaper. This column was originated by Bill Ward as a community outreach to educate the public about the virtues of landscaping with native plants and of protecting native-plant habitats. Bill started this column in April 2002 and published numerous articles until he passed away in January 2011. Other members of the Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas have volunteered to continue this column as a valued reference for people in Boerne and the surrounding Texas Hill Country.
Retama—A NICE Sun Lover
By Delmar Cain These cool mornings are very refreshing. The coffee smells better, tastes better and puts me in the mood to get the dogs out for their morning run.
In The Hill Country Or Blackland Prairie—It’s Still Prairie Tea
By Delmar Cain A few weeks ago while I was taking the dogs for a walk, a neighbor, Sandy Alvarez, stopped her car, directed my attention to the area beyond
Flame Acanthus—A NICE Plant for A Hot Summer and Fall
By Delmar Cain It has not been a bad Texas summer. And I hope that in making that statement I do not doom us to an awful September. Yes it
Prairie Coneflower… Deer Proof… Maybe
If you ever become a member of NPSOT (Native Plant Society of Texas), and specifically a member of a Hill County chapter such as the Boerne Chapter, you will not
A Tree By Every Other Name Is Still The Same
By Delmar Cain In her book, “Trees, Shrub, and Vines of the Texas Hill Country”, Jan Wrede describes one of our Hill Country natives as follows: “Usually encountered as a
A Look At Some Of The Supporting Cast
By Delmar Cain Even though it is almost August this year I can enjoy taking a walk around the yard to see what plants are still making some headway in
Native Plants Work On A Public Site
By Delmar Cain OK, you have the land and the structure on a high, rock and caliche site. Now what do you do for low–maintenance landscaping in our sometimes rain/sometimes
The seed ball, demystified
By Emily Weiner On June 16th the Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) entered a float in the Berges Fest parade. Hopefully, you were able to
A Steady Bloomer for A Dry Spot
By Delmar Cain When the NICE (Natives Instead of Common Exotics) Committee of the Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) decided on the candidates to recommend
Letting Nature Do The Work
By Delmar Cain The rains that were supposed to come in April finally arrived in May. The early blooming wild flowers have extended their blooming period and the Central Texas
No Mercy for the Musk Thistle Either
By Delmar Cain Some of our citizens have a way of motivating others. Jan Wrede, naturalist, author, and former research director at the Cibolo Nature Center, does it as well
Desert Willow—A Cool Plant For A Hot Spot
By Delmar Cain Desert willow. Isn’t that a wonderful name for a tree in the Southwest? It evokes a cool and refreshing spot to find relief from the sun in
Malta Starthistle—A Really Bad Actor
By Delmar Cain Growing up in East Texas I hated sandburs. You have probably seen the kind that I am referring to. Since it is a grass (Cenchrus echinatus), it
Mexican Buckeye—A Good Suggestion For the Plant Sale
By Delmar Cain My, my what a wonderful spring so far. I don’t know how much our long-term drought condition has been helped, but the rain, coming as it has
Our friends are back, but for how long
By Delmar Cain I have reports that “they” are back. I told my friend Kip Kiphart that I thought that I had seen one last week in Boerne and another
Ten Years of NICE!
By Delmar Cain It could still freeze but this warm weather really feels like spring. Kip Kiphart has been sending pictures of small blooming plants and thinks that just because
Letting Nature Make The Call
By Delmar Cain At the last meeting of the NPSOT in Boerne, Wendy Leonard, a Park Naturalist for the City of San Antonio Natural Areas, gave an interesting presentation about
Damianita—Cold Hardy and Drought Tolerant
By Delmar Cain I am sure that it goes without saying that age does not necessarily improve everything. The creaks in my knees that show up with the changes in
Rewarded By Waiting
By Delmar Cain When we built our house in Boerne, we tried to keep our house footprint small and only cut those trees and shrubs that were absolutely in the
Teaching and Planting for the Future
By Delmar Cain As of December 21 the winter is upon us. There is still time left in the prime tree-planting season. A tree that you might want to consider
A Tough Plant For The New Year
By Delmar Cain Since it is January it is a good time to look forward, since here in the Hill Country the summer can occasionally arrive in a hurry. But
Rethinking Riparian Management
By Delmar Cain Ideas and models can stay in our heads for years, especially when they are formed in our early years. But just because we get them early does
Drought Tough Plant
By Delmar Cain The middle of the fall season might be a good time to consider a few plants that have weathered this extended drought with a degree of class.
The Wonders of Rain And Another NICE Tree
By Delmar Cain There is simply no substitute for rain. Over the last few months I had tried to keep a few plants alive by hand watering with well water,
Setting A Good Example
By Delmar Cain Last week I had occasion to revisit the new Patrick Heath Public Library, opened by the City of Boerne on June 4, 2011. It was not the
Lacey Oak Revisited
By Delmar Cain There is little that is more satisfying than spending time, even if it is only briefly, with an old friend. Bill Ward, the creator of Native Grown,
Why Native Plants For Your Yard?
By Delmar Cain Recently Ryan Bass, Watershed Coordinator for the Upper Cibolo Creek Watershed Project for the City of Boerne, contacted Suzanne Young about giving a presentation on native plants
Include Thoroughwort In Your Gardening Plans
By Delmar Cain Toward the end of summer having moved through a brutal year of drought, many of us might be wondering what is going to happen to our yards
Prickly Pear Cactus, The State Plant—Trouble on the Horizon
By Delmar Cain In my last article I gave my reasons for applauding the Legislature for making the prickly pear cactus the State Plant of Texas, specifically because of its
Prickly Pear Cactus—A Good Choice for The State Plant
By Delmar Cain In the last article for Native Grown I reported that the prickly pear cactus was selected by the Texas Legislature in 1995 to be the State Plant
Yahoo! Check Out That Blooming Wahoo by Delmar Cain, April 29, 2016
A Short Winter and A Long Spring Mostly by Bill Ward With Some Additions by Delmar Cain, March 25, 2016
Filling Spaces with Spiny Hackberry and a Poor man’s Rope by Delmar Cain, February 12, 2016
Oasis for Wildlife or High Maintenance Still Life by Delmar Cain, May 1, 2015
Webworms are Coming…Learn to Combat Them by Mark Peterson, April 27, 2015
Got Drought? Grow Native, Part 3 by Carolyn Walden, April 2, 2015
Got Drought? Grow Native, Part 2 by Carolyn Walden, March 19, 2015
Got Drought? Grow Native, Part 1 by Carolyn Walden, March 13, 2015
NPSOT Plan Youth Photo Competition by Rheda Boardman, February 27, 2015
Two Thousand Years and Few Degrees of Connection by Delmar Cain, February 6, 2015
Ashe Juniper is Really More Good Than Bad by Jane McAuliffe and Mary Dunn, January 25, 2015
Mistletoe and Ball Moss – Pleasure or Peril by Delmar Cain, January 16, 2015
Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) – Native Holly of Texas by Don Fraser, December 12, 2014
Primal Matter for Your Garden by Christine Westerman, November 13, 2014
Twoleaf Senna – A Hardscrabble Star by Les Barnes, October 17, 2014
Are Native Plant Gardeners Lazy? Hmmm? by Christine Westerman, August 22, 2014
Climate Change…Learning Experiences by Becky Eterno, July 18, 2014
Connections to the Past by Delmar Cain, June 20, 2014
Frogfruit–A NICE! Plant With A Tangle Of Common Names by Delmar Cain, June 6, 2014
A Limestone Canyon, A Memorable Trip and a NICE! Plant by Delmar Cain, May 9, 2014
Texas Honeysuckle – Not a Wanderer by Delmar Cain, April 25, 2014
A NICE! Plant that Attracts Butterflies and Could Bring Rain by Delmar Cain, April 11, 2014
Cluttering the Beauty of the Native Grown by Delmar Cain, March 28, 2014
One Eye Forward and One Eye Back by Delmar Cain, March 14, 2014
Double up with NICE! Understory Plants by Delmar Cain, February 28, 2014
Two Law Officers, but I Got the Chicken-Thief by Delmar Cain, February 14, 2014
Native in Texas, and from Coast to Coast by Delmar Cain, January 31, 2014
For Winter Inspiration, Just Follow the Snout by Delmar Cain, January 20, 2014
Plant a NICE! Treasure for January by Delmar Cain, January 3, 2014
For Christmas in the Hill Country by Bill Ward and a few lines by Delmar Cain, December 20, 2013
Way Stations for Hungry Travelers by Delmar Cain, December 6, 2013
Surprising Hill Country Beauties by Delmar Cain, November 22, 2013
Plan Long Term – Plant a NICE! Tree by Delmar Cain, November 8, 2013
Paying Attention to the Small Faces in the Crowd by Delmar Cain, October 25, 2013
A Faithful Reader and a NICE! Goldeneye by Delmar Cain, October 7, 2013
Opportunities And Surprises For The Season by Delmar Cain, September 27, 2013
A New NICE Plant and Hardy Early Fall Bloomers by Delmar Cain, September 13, 2013
Two Sennas–Cool Plants For the End of Summer by Delmar Cain, August 30, 2013
Name That Borer Moth by Delmar Cain, August 16, 2013
Want A Vine That Will Climb—Try A Clematis by Delmar Cain, August 2, 2013
One Real Honest to Goodness Weed by Delmar Cain, July 19, 2013
Buckley’s Yucca—A NICE Ball With Points by Delmar Cain, July 5, 2013
Buck Moths, Green Dragons and the Fiery Searcher by Delmar Cain, June 14, 2013
Not In Control—Save Some Seeds by Delmar Cain, May 31, 2013
In The Battle Against Invasives-Save Some Seeds by Delmar Cain, May 17, 2013
Prairie Verbena—A NICE Ten-Month Performer by Delmar Cain, May 5, 2013
In Love and Stranded in the Hill Country—Wild (Eastern) Red Columbine by Emily Weiner and Delmar Cain, April 19, 2013
Yellow Spring Flowers And A Memorial Butterfly Garden by Delmar Cain, April 5, 2013
Pink Mimosa—NICE, But Not Near A Walkway by Delmar Cain, March 22, 2013
The Early Show May Be The Best by Delmar Cain, March 8, 2013
Something Pleasant—Bush Palmetto by Delmar Cain, February 22, 2013
Rough-Leaf Dogwood—A NICE Tree For A Wet Spot by Delmar Cain, February 8, 2013
Rosettes of Renewal by Delmar Cain, January 25, 2013
Pecan—A NICE Old Favorite by Delmar Cain, January 11, 2013
Ashe Juniper—Wanted Dead or Wanted Alive by Delmar Cain, December 28, 2012
Cenizo–A Western Plant For Dry Conditions by Delmar Cain, December 14, 2012
Pondering The Future by Delmar Cain, November 30, 2012
Attractive Grasses For Fall Color by Delmar Cain, November 16, 2012
Zexmenia—A Hardy and Versatile Performer by Delmar Cain, November 2, 2012
Celebrate Texas Native Plant Week With A Field Trip by Delmar Cain, October 19, 2012
Retama—A NICE Sun Lover by Delmar Cain, October 5, 2012
In The Hill Country Or Blackland Prairie—It’s Still Prairie Tea by Delmar Cain, September 21, 2012
Flame Acanthus—A NICE Plant for A Hot Summer and Fall by Delmar Cain, September 7, 2012
Prairie Coneflower… Deer Proof… Maybe by Delmar Cain, August 24, 2012
A Tree By Every Other Name Is Still The Same by Delmar Cain, August 10, 2012
A Look At Some Of The Supporting Cast by Delmar Cain, July 27, 2012
Native Plants Work On A Public Site by Delmar Cain, July 13, 2012
The seed ball, demystified by Emily Weiner, June 29, 2012
A Steady Bloomer for A Dry Spot by Delmar Cain, June 15, 2012
Letting Nature Do The Work by Delmar Cain, June 1, 2012
No Mercy for the Musk Thistle Either by Delmar Cain, May 18, 2012
Desert Willow—A Cool Plant For A Hot Spot by Delmar Cain, May 4, 2012
Malta Starthistle—A Really Bad Actor by Delmar Cain, April 20, 2012
Mexican Buckeye—A Good Suggestion For the Plant Sale by Delmar Cain, April 6, 2012
Our friends are back, but for how long by Delmar Cain, March 23, 2012
Ten Years of NICE! by Delmar Cain, March 9, 2012
Letting Nature Make The Call by Delmar Cain, February 23, 2012
Damianita—Cold Hardy and Drought Tolerant by Delmar Cain, February 9, 2012
Rewarded By Waiting by Delmar Cain, January 27, 2012
Teaching and Planting for the Future by Delmar Cain, December 30, 2011
A Tough Plant For The New Year by Delmar Cain, December 16, 2011
Rethinking Riparian Management by Delmar Cain, December 2, 2011
Drought Tough Plant by Delmar Cain, November 18, 2011
The Wonders of Rain And Another NICE Tree by Delmar Cain, November 4, 2011
Setting A Good Example by Delmar Cain, October 21, 2011
Lacey Oak Revisited by Delmar Cain, October 7, 2011
Why Native Plants For Your Yard? by Delmar Cain, September 23, 2011
Include Thoroughwort In Your Gardening Plans by Delmar Cain, September 9, 2011
Prickly Pear Cactus, The State Plant—Trouble on the Horizon by Delmar Cain, August 26, 2011
Prickly Pear Cactus—A Good Choice for The State Plant by Delmar Cain, August 12, 2011
Following A Midsummer Rabbit Trail by Delmar Cain, July 29, 2011
A Yard For the Wet And Dry Years by Delmar Cain, July 15, 2011
Planning For Drought In The Future by Delmar Cain, July 1, 2011
A Native Not For Swingers by Delmar Cain, June 17, 2011
Hope In A New Revolution by Delmar Cain, June 3, 2011
Preservation: Challenge Or A Piece Of Cake by Delmar Cain, May 20, 2011
Passing On The Hill Country at Stanbio Laboratory by Delmar Cain, May 6, 2011
At Home in the Hill Country – Escarpment Black Cherry by Delmar Cain, April 8, 2011
A Tale of Two Plants by Delmar Cain, March 25, 2011
What’s In A Name — The Texas Fall Elm by Delmar Cain, March 11, 2011
Got Milkweed? Monarchs Need It To Survive by Kip Kiphart, February 25, 2011
Chinquapin Oak – a NICE! good looking shade tree by Carolyn Walden, February 12, 2011
Tribute to a Wonderful Life by Bill Lindemann, January 28, 2011
Native Grown But Widely Loved by Delmar Cain, January 14, 2011
Desired future conditions apply to more that just the aquifer by Delmar Cain, September 20, 2010
