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Native Plant Society of Texas

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Event Series Event Series: Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – Get to know Austin chapter members – Feb 25

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February 25 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

This will be a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. The in-person location is Lakewood Clubhouse (off 360) location at 7317 Lakewood Drive, Austin, TX 78750. If the parking lot is full, you can park along the street on both sides. Socializing starts at 6:30, and the meeting begins at 7:00pm.

This month’s speaker is… you!

This month, we are inviting members to share their favorite plants, plant photos and stories with others as a fun way to really get to know each other and what our Chapter does. Here are some ideas of what you could share:

  • Pick a favorite plant and share a photo and a little information about it.* (See details below!)  
  • Have you been a long time member of NPSOT? Tell us a story from the past about our history!
  • Do you have a few photos to share of your native plants from last spring, being visited by a pollinator, or on a snowy day? We want to see them!
  • Our meeting will be held during National Invasive Species Week, so we would especially love to hear how you have fought and removed invasive plants. Do you have any tips to share? 
  • You can choose a specific invasive plant to highlight and tell us what’s important to know about it.* (See details below.)
  • What part of NPSOT has been interesting or helpful to you that others should know about? 
  • Have you been involved with a restoration or gardening event?
  • Do you work with native plants as part of your job?
  • Don’t forget to let us know a little bit about you, too!
  • You are even welcome to create a short video to share with us. 

Details:  Please keep your presentation brief, around 3 minutes, so we have time to get to everyone interested in sharing. You can speak live during the meeting (from Zoom or in the meeting room), or prepare video or audio in advance. You can send submissions to austin.npsot@gmail.com  * If you want to pick a plant species to educate us on, please email us in advance to see if someone else has claimed that plant, so we don’t get too much repeated information on the same plant! 

Deadline: Submit photos/videos/audio by Saturday, February 22 so we have time to assemble them. If we have time for additional stories and photos, anyone wanting to share can do so following those who submitted in advance. Questions? Contact austin.npsot@gmail.com

Click here to register for the virtual meeting option. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. You will also get an email reminder the day prior to the meeting.

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

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