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Native Plant Society of Texas

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Event Series: Austin Chapter Meeting

Just Enough Latin To Go Plant Shopping with Carol Clark – Austin Chapter Meeting

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November 18 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Our next Austin Chapter meeting will be tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18 at 7PM (with social time at 6:30PM).

Location: Lakewood Clubhouse at 7317 Lakewood Dr, Austin, TX 78750.
The meeting will have a Zoom hybrid option as well. See below for registration link.

Carol Clark will be presenting “Just Enough Latin To Go Plant Shopping.”

The scientific names of plants might seem like a giant pain to learn, but they carry more useful information than you might think. Learning just a few common roots for form, size, color, origins, shape and habitat can help you decipher those names and choose the right plant for the right place, save you time and money, and lead to a whole new avenue of enjoyment in your gardening life. We’ll keep it fun and simple, so don’t let your fear of Latin keep you away. (Reference handouts included.)

Carol Clark is an amateur botany enthusiast, a Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist, a Texas Master Naturalist, and longtime member of the Native Plant Society of Texas. She and her husband own and operate Clark Haven, a wildlife preserve and custom wildflower seed business in Cooke County.  She has been messing about with plants ever since she can remember. Her favorite things to do are leading discovery walks in local natural areas, and finding and photographing interesting plants.

You are welcome to bring seeds to swap and optionally a dish or beverage to share!

If you are joining us on Zoom, please register before the meeting to get the link sent to you.

Lakewood Clubhouse

7317 Lakewood Dr.
Austin, Texas 78750 United States + Google Map

Lakewood Clubhouse

7317 Lakewood Dr.
Austin, Texas 78750 United States

+ Google Map

About the Region

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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