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Fredericksburg Chapter

Fredericksburg

Chapter meetings are suspended for November and December to allow all our members to celebrate the holiday season with family and friends. Please plan on joining us again at St Joseph’s Halle or on YouTube on January 28, 2025. 

The Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas

invites you to explore the heart of our native Edwards Plateau ecosystem.

Willkommen ~ Welcome

We are Hill Country!

Draw an equilateral triangle. Austin and San Antonio anchor the easternmost points.

The triangle climbs into the hill country and onto the Edwards Plateau, its tip touching Fredericksburg and Gillespie County.

The pink dome of Enchanted Rock rises to the north of us.

This entire area is an intricate patchwork of oak and juniper woodlands,

savannas interwoven with grasslands, tree mottes and shrubs. Always native blossoms stand ready to amaze the viewer.

Ours is truly a rich and diverse natural heritage.

The Fredericksburg chapter meets the 4th Tuesday of each month.
(November and December meetings are cancelled – reserved for holidays.)
 
   St. Joseph’s Halle   (click link for a map)
(212 W. San Antonio St., Fredericksburg).

6:30 greeting friends new and old

7:00 ~ This month ‘s business meeting & presentation:

If your day doesn’t quite manage in-person attendance,

Join us @ 7:00 p.m. on our YouTube channel: Fredericksburg Texas Native Gardening.  Click “live” to see the scheduled meeting. Click on that meeting to join. The chat window will be open for questions during the presentation for those who have subscribed to the channel.

25 Native Plant Lessons from 25 Years of Experience

“There are hundreds of wonderful Texas natives in Texas, but trying to figure out which ones do the best in your particular area of Gillespie County, can take time,” noted Matt Kolodzie, owner of Friendly Natives Nursery. “I’m going to share with you what I’ve learned in the last 25 years so you can shorten your learning curve, be more successful faster, and save money.”

Read More »
Fall Aster – a well-behaved NICE plant for your “fall” flower garden

Also called the Hill Country Aster, Aster oblongifolius is a well-behaved perennial native plant that is surprisingly easy to grow. It is hardy all the way from the Texas Hill Country which can get down to 10-15 degrees in the winter – up through the Texas panhandle with temperatures which can drop to -5 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact his plant is happy over most of the Northeastern & central U.S.

Read More »
Jordy Bennet photo
View: No More Monoculture Lawns

on Fredericksburg Texas Native Gardening Handout: NO MORE MONOCULTURE GRASS LAWN OR WHY TO USE GROUNDCOVERS!Kathy Saucier The how’s, why’s, and what’s to plant

Read More »
View: Land Stewardship for Birds

Nearly 50 years of data tells us that bird populations are declining at an alarming rate. Author Rufus Stephens, co-author of the book, Land Stewardship for Birds: A Guide for Central Texas, will speak about conserving and enhancing local habitats to produce the cover, food, and water needed for thriving bird populations.

Read More »
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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