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Native Plant Society of Texas

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Train the Trainer—Teaching About Monarchs in Low-tech Spaces – Hybrid Clear Lake Chapter Meeting

Monarch on Greem Milkweed

May 12 @ 6:15 pm

6:15 Doors Open – UHCL Bayou Building, Garden Room (1510)
6:40 Zoom Opens
6:45 Business Meeting
6:55 Plant of the Month
7:00 Guest Speaker (1.5-2 hours)

Join us for an evening of delicious pizza, exciting door prizes, and the chance to connect with others while learning something new! Bring your own beverage.

Join us for a special extended meeting with Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist Carol Clark. This session is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to teach about Monarch butterflies in outdoor and other low-tech settings using just two waterproofed posters.

In the first hour, Carol will provide an in-depth look at Monarch migration, life cycle, their needs, and the importance of Texas to this species. The second part is devoted to how to condense that information into a very brief talk, perfect for outdoor spaces like school gardens, nurseries, and cemeteries, and indoors at information table events. Participants will receive a sample script and information on how to acquire a poster set of their own.

Carol is also bringing a variety of educational display items, including:

  • Seed packets for native plant species not commonly available (suggested donation: $3 each or 2 for $5).
  • Laminated, mounted poster sets (suggested donation: $25).

Don’t miss this hands-on opportunity to deepen your Monarch knowledge and enhance your outreach toolkit!

About the Speaker

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 also serves as a co-administrator of the Texas Native Bee Co-op Facebook page. She and her husband own and operate Clark Haven, a wildlife preserve and custom wildflower seed business in Cooke County.

In-person – Parking Pass Required

If you have a pass, don’t forget it – you will not get another one if you picked one up previously. If you need a pass, arrive early enough to pick one up in the meeting room and place it in your car. DO NOT park in faculty/staff parking (enforced 24/7).

Map and Directions – The meeting will be held in the Bayou Building, Forest Room (1430) at UH-Clear Lake.

University of Houston-Clear Lake
2700 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, TX 77058

Online – Zoom

Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

REGISTER HERE

This is a FREE EVENT. Meetings are open to members and non-members. If you would like to become a member, you may join online. For more information about the Native Plant Society of Texas and the benefits of membership please visit: npsot.org.

Hosted by the Environmental Institute of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Clear Lake Chapter

View Organizer Website

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About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

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