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Rediscovering the MoKan Prairie – Williamson County Chapter Meeting, September 12

September 12 @ 7:00 pm 8:30 pm

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, September 12, 2024, when our featured topic will be “Rediscovering the MoKan Prairie” with Ashley Landry.  

Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM.  Our guest speaker’s presentation begins after a short business meeting.

This month’s guest presentation will NOT be recorded for our YouTube channel.

About our topic: This presentation will tell the story of the forgotten MoKan Prairie of Williamson County. This prairie was the “crown jewel” of our Central Texas prairies, and you’ll hear the dramatic (but ultimately futile) account of the efforts to protect it. We’ll also explore some of the special MoKan Prairie plants and our efforts to save those plant genetics through seed collecting and plant salvage.

About our speaker: Ashley Landry is a Texas Master Naturalist, a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and the founder of the Native Plant Rescue Project. She has been featured in Wildflower magazine, The Austin Chronicle, Central Texas Gardener and the Liberty Hill Independent. She is an avid iNaturalist user and enjoys spending her free time botanizing.

NOTE: this month’s in-person location is the Georgetown Parks & Rec Administration Building, 1101 N College St, Georgetown, Texas 78626.

The link to register on Zoom is below.

The original meeting announcement is here on the Williamson County Chapter’s blog page.

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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