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Event Series Event Series: Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – Effective Use of Natives in the Landscape – April 16

April 16 @ 7:00 pm 8:00 pm

Join us for part 2 from last month’s topic with Deedy Wright. Last month she told us how to avoid invasive plants, and this month will go into what are better native choices and how to effectively use them in your landscape. The topic is targeted at beginners or frustrated intermediate gardeners.

Deedy Wright is a life-long Texas gardener. Her particular interests are native plants and invasive plants. She has been an active member of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) since 1996. She has completed multiple native plant courses at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and Texas A&M, and the Texas Invaders training on invasive plants.

In addition Deedy was a certified Master Gardener for 15 years in Bexar and Guadalupe counties, with specialist training in propagation and vegetable gardening. A retired secondary language arts and social studies teacher, Deedy has taught adult continuing education classes on various gardening topics in the San Antonio area.

This is a virtual meeting using Zoom. Please check back closer to this meeting to register to get the Zoom for this meeting.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtc-2rqD0iGtYJPdJFgc-egNO4rLRYnyVk

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Here are some resources that Deedy has provided:

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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