South Texas Chapter

Upcoming Events

Have an idea for a program or field trip? Email us and let us know!

March 8 meeting 10:00 am at Gill Garden Center, Corpus Christi Sustaining Wildlife with Native Plants by Wyatt Page, Assistant Manager of Gill Garden and a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas

Our Spring Field trip opportunity is to attend the Welder Wildlife Foundation Wildflower workshop.

Welder Wildflower Workshop Friday April 4, 2025 9:00 am-4:00 pm Activities include education in wildflower ecology, native plant collection on the private Welder Wildlife Refuge, plant identification, and plant preparation & pressing to create your own herbarium or plant material for craft projects. The $50 registration includes educational resources, supplies and equipment, and lunch. Follow this link to register online; welderwildlife.org

Directions to Welder Wildlife Foundation—From the intersection of Texas highways 188, 181, and 89 east of Sinton, turn onto TX 89 and travel 2.0 miles to US 77. Turn right to enter the ramp onto US Hwy 77 north. Go 6.1 miles on 77 to the white Spanish-style gatehouse entrance to Welder. From Refugio, go south on US 77 17.1 miles from the intersection of 77 and Alt 77/183. Turn at the white Spanish-style gatehouse and wait at the gate for the Welder escort

Spring Fling focusing on Native Plants

Lake Corpus Christi State Park, Saturday May 4, 12 pm – 3 pm

  • Some of the activities:
  • Native Plant Sale
  • Make a Seed Ball
  • Wanted: Invasives
  • DIY Insect Antenna
  • Pollinator Coloring Sheet Station
  • DIY Pollinator Friend
  • Drip Line Irrigation How-To
  • Using iNaturalist & Field Guides
  • Native Wildflower Seed Give Away-
  • Native Plant Society of South Texas

Monarch Butterfly Tent with Native Plants, HummerBird Celebration,
September 19,20,21, at Fulton Community Center

Native Plant Sale by Mid-Coast Texas Master Naturalists at the HummerBird Celebration,
September 19,20,21 at Fulton Community Center

Fall Dedication of Monarch Waystation and Monarch Butterfly Program at South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center. Date TBA

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

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 fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason