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Collin County May Meeting – North Texas Pollinators

Texas Discovery Gardens

May 6 @ 6:30 pm 8:30 pm

Texas Discovery Gardens

Join us for our May 6th chapter program, a hybrid meeting and joint presentation hosted at the John and Judy Gay Library in McKinney and virtually via Zoom. This event is also part of McKinney’s Green Seminars and features Carol Clark as our presenter, speaking on “North Texas Pollinators”.
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Discover the fascinating world of North Texas pollinators and learn how to support them in your own landscape. Carol will share insights about various kinds of pollinators, their importance, and actionable strategies for supporting these essential creatures through pollinator-focused plantings and management practices. She will also highlight her favorite plants for creating pollinator-friendly spaces.

Doors (and Zoom) open at 6:30 PM for socializing and setup. The meeting officially begins at 7:00 PM with a brief chapter update from President Rodney Thomas, followed by Carol’s presentation. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of pollinators and their role in our ecosystems.

Join us in person at the John and Judy Gay Library in McKinney or online via Zoom using the following details:

Carol Clark is an amateur botany enthusiast, a Texas Master Naturalist, and longtime member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and is now a Conservation Specialist with Monarch Watch. She also co-administrates the Texas Native Bee Co-op Facebook page . She and her husband own and operate Clark Haven Farm, a wildlife preserve and custom wildflower seed business in Cooke County. Carol grew up with a nature photographer father and wildlife artist brother, and has spent much of her life looking around in the great outdoors. Her favorite things to do are leading discovery walks in local natural areas, and finding and photographing interesting plants and insects.

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 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