Feb 25, 2023
Program
Prior to the meeting at the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and Nature Center we were given a very thorough introduction to the plants in the Tamaulipan Thornscrub Biotic Area by Kris Kirkwood, STNPSOT member.
The meeting was called to order by President Katie Swanson at 3:07. Ray Kirkwood moved to accept the minutes for January’s meeting, seconded by Rebecca Elzner and passed by membership.
Treasurer’s Report
There was no Treasurer’s report, tabled until next meeting.
Old Business
Looking for ideas on what to do with the $5,000.00 we had offered the botanical gardens years ago for a native plant area there that we have taken back since they have never acted on it. Ray Kirkwood suggested that since the Monarch butterflies are endangered that we look at using that money to create monarch way stations at different locations locally; schools, churches, businesses or other places interested in putting in milkweeds and nectar plants. There is also apparently a population of monarchs that do not migrate, about which little is known, which could benefit from the way stations as well. Ernie Schertz suggested looking at the existing hummingbird/butterfly plants at the Botanical Gardens and see what works as attractants. Katie Swanson suggested we work with the Botanical Gardens to identify and update year-round bloomers, and maybe design an informational pamphlet for homeowners. Ernie will be the point person for developing this idea. Her email is ernieshertz@proton.me. More will be presented on this project at the next meeting.
Katie asked for anyone interested or able to restart the Landscape series of classes. Ray and Kris Kirkwood have presented some of the classes and said it is a lot of work and can be difficult to fill classes as the state committee consists of 18 members making rules, a student has to complete the first course to be able to take the second course, there has to be a certain number of students per class in order for it to go forward, etc. No one volunteered to chair that committee as yet.
New Business
It was suggested that we choose a wildflower or native plant as our logo for our local NPSOT. Suggestions can be sent to Katie (katie.swanson@utexas.edu) and she will make up a PowerPoint and we will vote on it at the next meeting. Suggestions mentioned at the meeting include: 1. Crucita, 2. Turk’s cap, 3. Texas Lantana, 4. Spanish Dagger, 5. Kidneywood, 6. Coreopsis, and 7. Greenthread.
Karen Easton suggested that our chapter join the Botanical Gardens. That would allow us to hold 1 meeting/year which they will set up for us, indoors or out, and they will also provide a program for us. Ray Kirkwood made a motion that we join the Botanical Gardens, Rebecca Elzner seconded it and the motion was carried.
We are members of the Corpus Christi Area Garden Council and are tasked with being cohosts, with the Bromeliad Society, for next month’s meeting, which will be held at the Greely Senior Center on Tuesday, March 14 at 10:00 am. Nueces county AgriLife agent Kevin Gibbs will discuss different varieties of lantanas. Membership in the Garden Council affords us insurance coverage at any events that we host.
The meeting adjourned at 3:30, after which we walked the Brenneke Nature Trail and saw many of the Tamaulipan thornscrub plants pointed out to us by Kris.
Rebecca Elzner, Secretary
January 28, 2023
Start: 10:12am
Finish: 10:27am
Location: Bay Education Center, Rockport, Texas
Participants: 11 members
10:00-10:15—Business Meeting
10:15-11:00—Science on a Sphere Presentation by Sarah Melendez
Meeting Notes
$5k Project proposal solicitation—We will discuss potential project ideas for the $5,000 at our next meeting in February.
The South Texas NPSOT is co-hosting the March Corpus Christi Area Garden Council Meeting, located at the Garden Senior Center at 5325 Greely Street, Corpus Christi. Any member of our chapter is welcome to attend any of the CC Garden Council meetings. Our chapter has purchased kolaches for the event. We need volunteers to help setup around 9am.
There was discussion to cancel February’s meeting to allow for members to attend the State’s Spring Symposium being held at the UT Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center that same day. The group voted on keeping our scheduled local meeting on February 25th. Agenda Items for February’s Meeting:
- Updated bylaws: Executive Committee is working on updating our Chapter bylaws.
- Update outreach materials: Discussion on what currently exists and what to do moving forward.
Native Plant Society of South Texas 2023 Meeting Calendar
- 1/28/2023 10:00am BEC Science on the Sphere presentation by Sarah Melendez
- 2/25/2022 2:00pm CC Botanical Gardens Presentation: Tamaulipan Thornscrub presentation and trail walk (Kris Kirkwood) and meeting
- 3/14/2023 10:00am Garden Senior Center, Corpus Christi Garden Council Meeting
- 3/25/2023 10:00am Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve Presentation and tour by Sara Jose
- 4/22/2023 10:00am Fennessey Ranch Presentation: Grasses (R. Kirkwood), meeting and tour
- 5/27/2023 10:00am La Retama Central Library Presentation, Meeting, Blucher Park walking tour
- 6/24/2023 10:00am Harte Library, Flour Bluff Meeting, Presentation by Joan Salge on the Xeriscape Garden by the Art Museum
- 7/22/2023 10:00am Harte Library, Flour Bluff Presentation: Dr. Ed Profit from TAMU-CC
- 8/26/2023 10:00am Harte Library, Flour Bluff Meeting and Speaker Kristen Acock City of Corpus Placemaking Manager
- 9/15-17/2023 9:00am Rockport Hummingbird Festival Tent
- 10/28/2023 10:00am Ernie’s House Meeting and tour
- 11/25/2023 Happy Thanksgiving! – No meeting.
- 12/9/2023 2:00pm TBD Christmas Party
October 22, 2022 Meeting
A meeting of the South Texas Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas was held Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 2 PM to 4:15 PM at Gill’s Nursery. There were 10 chapter members in attendance.
Program—James Gill gave a talk and question and answer time concerning natives the nursery carries and other topics of interest. He covered the cultural requirements and needs of over 20 different plants, including grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees.
Business Meeting
The meeting was called to order at 3:15 by secretary Becky Elzner. The minutes of July 23 were approved as read after a motion by Ray Kirkwood and a second by Rhoda Poenisch.
Treasurer’s Report—Secretary Becky Elzner reported a balance of $7526.91. This included a $52.08 membership rebate from the state.
Old Business
Hummingbird Festival Outreach Report
Kris Kirkwood reported on the butterfly tent we hosted at the Hummingbird Festival in Rockport. She said it was well attended and people enjoyed seeing monarch, red admiral, painted lady and mourning cloak butterflies. Native plants were placed inside the tent to provide food and structure for the butterflies. These plants were lent to us by the Mid-Coast Chapter, Texas Master Naturalists from their HummerBird Celebration native-plant-sale stock.
New Business
Botanical Garden Funds—Members present discussed the $5000 offer made to the botanical gardens years ago to landscape when their new building goes up. That has not happened. So we are asking members to think about other places in the community to use that $5000 and to talk about your ideas again at our February meeting.
Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP)—Ray Kirkwood explained the program as a four part course, held in different places around the state. One must complete course 1 before they can move on to course 2 and so on. Our South Texas chapter has not offered a local-area course for the last few years. Any volunteers interested in leading the effort to begin the NLCP anew please contact Katie Swanson. Mission-Aransas NERR can offer space and support. There are some virtual offerings provided by the state. Katie Swanson can provide details on them as well.
Corpus Christi Area Garden Council (CCAGC) Membership—The CCAGC has asked that we host the council meeting of March 14, 2023. After some discussion about the benefits of membership in the Council, Ray Kirkwood moved that we remain as members, Rhoda Poenisch seconded and the motion carried unanimously. We will be looking for volunteers to assist with the March 14 meeting.
Christmas Party—Kris and Ray Kirkwood have offered to host a potluck Christmas party to be held beginning at 2 pm Sunday, December 11, 2022. More information and a signup sheet will be forthcoming.
2023 Calendar of Events and Proposed Time Change—Members discussed changing the time for our meetings from the afternoon to 10 AM. After more discussion it was decided that we would meet each month instead of quarterly except November and December (social) and have a speaker and a sit-down meeting on even months, and a field trip or visit to members’ home gardens on odd months. Don Ganer made a motion to accept this policy, Rhoda Poenisch seconded it and it carried unanimously. A draft 2023 schedule will be sent to members in November and posted on our website.
Other New Business—Ray also recommended more outreach to potential new members, with handouts at every meeting to engage people more.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:04 PM.
July 23, 2022 Meeting
The meeting was held Saturday July 23, 2022, 12:00-2:00 pm at the Ben F. McDonald Library, 4044 Greenwood Dr, Corpus Christi TX 78416. Sixteen chapter members and 6 guests attended.
Program
Ernie Schertz presented “Now is the Time to Plant Wildflowers” on growing wildflowers of our Coastal Bend area including soil preparation, planting, pretreatment needs of the seeds, harvesting seeds, and related information.
Business Meeting
President Ray Kirkwood called the meeting to order at 1:15 pm.
Minutes—Secretary Kris Kirkwood stated that no corrections to the minutes of the May 14, 2022 meeting as posted on the chapter website had been received. Rhoda Poenisch moved the minutes be accepted, Carlos Valdez seconded. Minutes approved.
Treasurer’s Report—Ernie Schertz reported an April 2022 balance of $9423.99, a deposit of State’s rebate of dues totaling $75.84, a check to Corpus Christi Garden Council in payment of $25.00 annual dues and a check for $2,000.00 as a donation to the Kate Hillhouse Scholarship fund. The current balance in the account is $7474.83. Carlos Valdez moved the report be accepted; Donna Bailey seconded. Report approved.
President’s Remarks—Ray Kirkwood
Fall class plans and dates—the South Texas chapter will not be holding Native Landscaping classes this fall, since we are trying to reorganize and restart after 2 years of Covid. Classes in other areas will be posted on the state website, but information learned there will not necessarily fit our area.
Upcoming Events
- Butterfly Tent at HummerBird Celebration Fri–Sun, Sep 16-18, 2022
- Sat, Oct 22, 2022, 2:00 pm—Gill Landscape Nursery, 2810 Airline Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78414. Speaker: Owner and SoTX member James Gill, presenting on natives the nursery carries, fall planting, and other topics of interest.
- Two Spring 2023 Meetings:
- Mar 25, 2023, 2–4 pm—Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve and Learning Center—Guided native plant walk
- Apr 22, 2023, time TBD—Mission-Aransas NERR—Fennessey Ranch Tour
- State Events
- Fall Symposium (Hybrid)—Sep 22-25, 2022 in Alpine, TX
- State Board Meetings—3rd Saturday of each quarter
Old Business
NPSOT Recognition Pins—15- and 20-year pins were presented to Marion Alaback, Rebecca Elzner, Rhoda and Don Poenisch. Carlos Valdez volunteered to deliver James Gill’s pins. Not present to receive pins: June Herbst, Jann Miller, Christina Mild. Rhoda Poenisch was recognized as a lifetime member, and received a special lifetime bluebonnet pin.
Kate Hillhouse Scholarship Fund—Ray read the letter from Meg Inglis, Executive Director of the Native Plant Society of Texas:
Dear Members of the South Texas NPSOT chapter,
On behalf of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT), I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your generous donation of $2,000 towards the Kate Hillhouse Scholarship fund.
The scholarship fund was established in 2008 to honor an extraordinary leader of the Society who was dedicated to educating the public about natives – just like you. Your scholarship donation will be awarded to a junior or senior college undergraduate student who plans to pursue a career related to Texas native plants or to the conservation and restoration of native plant habitats in Texas.
There is no doubt in my mind that NPSOT has the most dedicated, hard-working and passionate members around. Your education and outreach efforts make a huge difference. By sponsoring the education of a student in the field of native plants you inspire and motivate others to do the same. What more can we desire?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Meg Inglis, Executive Director
Native Plant Society of Texas
New Business
Area Invasive Plant List—the State organization has requested a list of invasive plants in our area, along with suggestions for native plants to replace them. Kris Kirkwood put together the list of invaders in the Coastal Bend based on lists developed by SoTX chapter in the past. Christina Mild, expert in invasive and native plants in deep south Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, added to the list, marking Coastal Bend invaders that also invade that area and adding four plants that are not presently a problem in the Coastal Bend. Ray stated that members do not feel that a one-to-one list of replacement plants would be valuable, given that a homeowner was unlikely to want to replace an invasive grass, for example, with a native grass in every case. Members agreed and it was decided to present State with a list of good natives in our areas—including soil, sun, and water needs—that might be fitted to the habitat from which a homeowner was removing invasives.
NPSOT Butterfly Tent—the chapter will again sponsor the event at HummerBird Celebration Fri–Sun, Sep 16-18, 2022. A signup sheet will be available, and members are requested to help Rhoda and Kris to staff the booth. It’s great fun to watch the public enjoy the butterflies and answer questions about them and about native plants.
Election of Officers—Rhoda Poenisch and Ernie Schertz served as nominating committee to find new officers to replace long-serving current members. Rhoda presented the candidates:
President: Katie Swanson
Vice-President: Karen Easton
Treasurer: Janet Cunningham
Secretary: Rebecca Elzner
Rhoda moved that the slate of officers be elected by acclamation, and Carlos Valdez seconded. Motion passed.
There being no further business before the chapter, Ray requested a motion to adjourn. Becky Elzner so moved; Carlos Valdez seconded; motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 1:40 pm.
Kris Kirkwood, Outgoing Secretary
SoTX NPSOT
May 14, 2022 Meeting
The meeting was held Saturday, May 14, 2022, beginning at 1:00 pm at the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve & Learning Center, 2446 N. Oso Parkway, Corpus Christi, TX 78414. Eleven members and 4 guests attended.
Program
Sara Jose, Preserve Manager, welcomed us and provided an introduction to the Preserve and Learning Center, and then led a walk on two trails at the preserve: the Story Walk, and a walk through native vegetation to the Oso Bay Shore Overlook. The Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve is always looking for volunteers willing to assist with the education programs (K-12 field trips, toddler program, homeschool days, summer camps, and scout groups), to sit at the welcome desk in our Learning Center to greet visitors and answer questions, or to assist our maintenance team with trail and mulch-bed work. Anyone interested in learning more about the volunteer program should contact Recreation Coordinator Lauren Piorkowski.
Business Meeting
The meeting was called to order at 1:20 pm.
Minutes of the last meeting before the Covid shutdown (January 25, 2020) were approved as posted on the chapter website.
Treasurer’s Report—Ernie Schertz reported $25.80 in rebates for member dues in the 1st quarter of 2022, expenses of $142.92 for mailing membership pins to members during shutdown, and an ending balance of $9,423.99.
President’s Remarks:
Milkweed Seeds—a Mid-Coast Master Naturalist member who is working a project to add Monarch waystations in several locations throughout the Coastal Bend is requesting that anyone who has native milkweed seeds to contribute to the project contact Patrick Hartigan.
Raffle tickets—A quilt will be raffled at the he Native Plant Society of Texas Fall Symposium September 22-25, 2022 in Alpine. Chapters have been tasked by state to buy or sell raffle tickets to help fund the Ann Miller Gonzales Research Grant Fund and the Kate Hillhouse Scholarship Fund. Several members purchased tickets to support the projects.
Scholarship—Further discussion clarified that the Native Plant Society of Texas offers two scholarships for undergraduates at Texas colleges who major in biology, horticulture, or related fields and who will be juniors or seniors in Fall 2022. Becky Elzner made a motion that we give $1000 to the scholarship fund. Rhoda Poenisch seconded the motion and suggested that the amount be raised to $2000. The amendment and the motion were both approved. Ray Kirkwood is contacting State for additional information on scholarships.
Nominating Committee—Ray Kirkwood discussed the fact that membership and meeting attendance seem to be declining, and he believes we need to hold an election and get new leadership to address the issues. Rhoda Poenisch and Ernie Schertz were appointed as a nominating committee, tasked with providing a slate of officers for election at the July 23 meeting.
Meeting Dates—Our remaining quarterly meetings for 2022 will be July 23 at 2:00 pm a Corpus Christi library to be determined, and October 22, tentatively planned as a field trip. A meeting March 25, 2023 will be at Oso Bay, including a guided plant walk.
Old Business
None
New Business
None other than addressed under President’s Remarks
The meeting was adjourned at 1:40 pm, and the guided plant walk began at 1:50 pm.
Kris Kirkwood
Secretary, SoTX NPSOT
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Minutes prior to this date have been archived, and are synopsized at South Texas Chapter History.
