Native Plant Society of Texas

Seed Cleaning Event at the Tye Preston Memorial Library
2025-01-17 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Craig Bruska, Seed Committee Chairman, directs volunteers in cleaning and packaging replacement seed packets for the current lending inventory. The properly labeled envelopes are then placed in specific drawers of the TPML Seed Library cabinet located in the main entry foyer of the library. A great chance to learn more about native seeds and visit with like-minded volunteers. Master Naturalists earn volunteer hours!

An open invitation is extended for anyone to:

1) Donate local native seeds. To donate, put a single species of prepared seeds in a small paper bag and label the bag with species name, date collected and where collected. Donor’s name is optional.

2) Help package seeds for the lending library. Volunteer help is welcomed; and Texas Master Naturalists can earn hours toward their annual 40 hours of volunteer service.

3) Check out and plant up to 5 seed packets per visit to Tye Preston Memorial Library.

January Monthly Meeting - January 16
2025-01-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Our January meeting will include a variety of short segments, including a vote for our 2025 board members, updates from two of our Wildscape grant recipients, and a chapter financial status.

Our monthly chapter meetings are held on every 3rd Thursday, January – November. Our meetings are free and open to the public thanks to our members and sponsors.

The presentation will start at 7:00 pm, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston, TX 77024

Woodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston, TX 77024

Meetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing.

Return to Houston Chapter Page

Clear Lake Chapter Plant Sale Committee Meeting
2025-01-15 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
It’s that time of year again to start making our plans and assessing what needs to be done. Contact Chair Cheryl Barajas for information on joining the committee and/or Zoom meeting details.

Agenda

Which plants made it through the latest cold spell?

What plants are you growing at home to contribute?

Finalizing price points for the sale.

Do you have books to donate for the sale?

Should we organize a raffle? If so, what prizes?

Do we need a workday to repair tables before April?

Open Discussion

NPSOT Website Committee
2025-01-14 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Open to any members who help manage content on their chapter or committee website.No registration required.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 897 7771 6314Passcode: [REDACTED]

The Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape Partnership
2025-01-14 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
Comal Conservation Community Program – January 2025

McKenna Events Center801 W San Antonio StNew Braunfels, TX 78130

Daniel Oppenheimer, Land Management Director at the Hill Country Alliance, will talk about the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape (CBSL) Partnership. This Partnership is a locally led, collaborative group focused on conserving natural resources, strengthening military readiness, and bolstering agricultural productivity around Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis.

Sentinel landscapes are areas where conservation, working lands, and national defense interests converge. They are anchored by at least one high-value military installation or range and contain high priority lands for USDA, DOD, DOI, and FEMA. The CBSL is the first sentinel landscape in Texas. Most of Comal County lies within the CBSL.

Lindheimer Chapter Board Meeting
2025-01-14 09:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
The members of the Board meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Tye Preston Memorial Library in the Founder’s Room.

Habitat Workday @ EIH
2025-01-14 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-07 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-12-17 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Habitat volunteers help weed and mulch flower beds, plant native plants, maintain pathways, and trim trees and bushes. Volunteers may also help clean out the pond on select work days.

No experience necessary—we’ll show you what goes and what stays

Bring your own tools or use ours (we have gloves too)

Don’t forget to bring a reusable water bottle, hat, and sunscreen!

Volunteers must be 18 or older to participate in EIH’s workdays unless prior arrangements have been made.

We do not hold workdays when the university is officially closed. Also, workdays are canceled during inclement weather, though a light sprinkle or drizzle rarely keeps us out of the garden. If you’re not sure, please call 281-283-3950 or 281-283-3045, and we’ll let you know if we’re digging in.

LocationEnvironmental Institute of Houston (Click link for Google Map)University of Houston-Clear LakeNorth Office Annex (NOA) 1 Building2700 Bay Area Blvd.Houston, TX 77058

Pines and Prairies NLCP Committee Meeting
2025-01-13 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Dear NLCP Committee Members,

This Monday begins our first meeting of 2024. We will meet at 7:00pm on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month on this Zoom link:

https://npsot-org.zoom.us/j/87628189964?pwd=[REDACTED]

We’re a small committee, and we don’t get to see each other in person very often, so please plan to join with your camera on.

See you Monday!

—

Jay Gowen, NLCP Chair, Pines and Prairies Chapter, 832-513-5785 (cell)

Incorporating North American Tall Grasses into Your Yard - Hybrid Clear Lake Chapter Meeting
2025-01-13 18:15 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
6:15 Doors Opens – UHCL Bayou Building, Garden Room6:40 Zoom Opens6:45 Business Meeting6:55 Plant of the Month7:00 Guest Speaker

Join us for an evening of delicious pizza, exciting door prizes, seed swap, and the chance to connect with others while learning something new!

In this presentation, Adam Lawrence will explore incorporating native plants—particularly native grasses—into your home landscaping. Learn about the ecological benefits, aesthetic appeal, and practical steps to create a sustainable, nature-friendly garden inspired by the beauty of coastal prairies.

About the Speaker

Adam Lawrence is the Habitat and Stewardship Manager at Artist Boat, where he oversees the Coastal Heritage Preserve, a nearly 1,100-acre expanse of coastal prairie and wetlands on the west side of Galveston Island. An ecologist by trade, Adam holds degrees in ecology and evolutionary biology as well as business from Rice University. He has been engaged in botany research since his teenage years, having done vegetation surveys and monitoring for federal agencies, as a private consultant, and now in the non-profit sector. Adam’s love for prairie ecosystems is reflected in his appreciation for Little Bluestem and Bushy Bluestem, his favorite plants.

Seed Exchange

In addition to our speaker, we will be having a seed exchange. These cold winter days are a great time to review your seeds and package those you have collected in 2023 or 2024. The packet can be any kind of paper envelope and any size. Please label each envelope with the common and botanical names. Check our Native Plant Database if you need help with names. Also, add the location you collected the seeds and the month and year collected.

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 Garden Room at UH-Clear Lake.

University of Houston-Clear Lake2700 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.

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.

Second Saturday Workday, 9:00am - Noon
2025-01-11 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Cibolo Nature Center Demonstration Gardens

Please bring gloves, hat, water, sun and insect protection, and your favorite gardening tools.

Contact Veronica Hawk, veronica.hawk@gmail.com for more info.

Updated Jan6! Creating a Native Seed Library in your Community - Williamson County Chapter Meeting, January 9
2025-01-09 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago)
Jan 6 News! Due to the weather forecast for Central Texas on Thursday evening, this January 9 meeting will now be held only by Zoom and not in-person.

Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, January 9, 2025, when our featured topic will be “Creating a Native Seed Library in your Community” with Craig Bruska. Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM. The guest presentation begins after a short business meeting.

About our topic: Craig’s talk will discuss how to create a native seed library within your community. From building local buzz and getting your library to partner on the project to establishing scientific and common name indexes and creating needed documents, as well as the benefits and the challenges.

About our speaker: Craig has had a lifelong love of nature from visiting scores of National Parks across the country on family vacations. During his 40-year career in construction, engineering, and facilities he worked for eight years for the Lake County (IL) Forest Preserve District overseeing the maintenance and construction of over 100 miles of multi-use county wide trails in the 35,000 acre preserve system. He oversaw the restoration over 1,000 acres of wetlands by removing field tiles. His crews battled invasive species from European Buckthorn to Purple Loosestrife.

Since moving to Texas in 2019 and settling into New Braunfels in 2020 he has worked to learn the plants of the Blackland Prairie and Edwards Plateau. This includes attending various lectures and symposiums on Native Texas Plants. He has also completed the Native Plant Society of Texas – Native Landscaping Certification Program and is a Texas Master Naturalist. Craig has helped create native seed libraries in Comal, Hays, and Guadalupe counties and is working on adding two more. He is also the NPSOT State Chair of the Native Seed Committee.

Jan 6 News! Due to the weather forecast for Central Texas on Thursday evening, this January 9 meeting will now be held only by Zoom and not in-person. NOTE: this month’s in-person location is the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd Floor, 402 W 8th St, Georgetown, Texas 78626. Come early (6:30 PM) for expert advice, to check out the seed swap board, or just to visit.

The link to register for Zoom is below.

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

Seed Cleaning Event at the Mammen Family Public Library
2025-01-09 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Craig Bruska, Seed Committee Chairman, directs volunteers cleaning and packaging replacement seed packets for the current lending inventory. The properly labeled envelopes are then placed in specific drawers of the MFPL Seed Library cabinet of the library. Come as you are, stay as long as you like! Visit with like-minded volunteers while learning about native seeds. Texas Master Naturalists earn volunteer hours.

An open invitation is extended for anyone to:

1) Donate local native seeds. To donate, put a single species of prepared seeds in a small paper bag and label the bag with species name, date collected and where collected. Donor’s name is optional.

2) Help package seeds for the lending library. Volunteer help is welcomed; and Texas Master Naturalists can earn hours toward their annual 40 hours of volunteer service.

3) Check out and plant up to 5 seed packets per visit to the Mammen Family Public Library.

Clear Lake Chapter Education Committee Meeting
2025-01-09 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Education Committee meeting. New members welcome. Request Zoom meeting information at clear-lake-chapter@npsot.org.

Agenda

Review grant reports

Review status of the fall grant recipients

Discuss February application cycle

Workdays at the Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country Demonstration Garden
2025-01-09 09:30 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming Demonstration Garden Workday! This is a fantastic opportunity to get your hands dirty, learn new gardening techniques, and contribute to the beauty and sustainability of our community garden. Contact Mickey Riviere, mr0752@gvtc.com, for details.

What to Expect:

Hands-On Learning: Gain practical experience in planting, pruning, and maintaining a variety of native plants.

Expert Guidance: Our knowledgeable gardeners will be on hand to share tips and answer your gardening questions.

Community Spirit: Meet fellow garden lovers, share stories, and enjoy the camaraderie of working together.

What to Bring:

Comfortable clothing and gardening gloves

A hat, sunscreen, and water

Your boundless enthusiasm and love for gardening!

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this workday is for everyone. Let’s come together to make our demonstration garden a thriving, beautiful space for all to enjoy.

Executive Committee Meeting – Jan 8
2025-01-08 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) Executive Committee meetings occur monthly and any member may attend. Contact the Executive Director prior to the meeting at state@npsot.org for Zoom and applicable document links. Please be prepared to follow the Visitor’s Executive Meeting Protocol.

Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture Demonstration Garden Workday
2025-01-08 09:30 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming Demonstration Garden Workday! This is a fantastic opportunity to get your hands dirty, learn new gardening techniques, and contribute to the beauty and sustainability of our community garden. Contact Craig Bruska for more details: craigbruska@hotmail.com. The garden is located at 1370 Church Hill Dr., New Braunfels, Tx 78130 in the Heritage Village.

What to Expect:

Hands-On Learning: Gain practical experience in planting, pruning, and maintaining a variety of plants.

Expert Guidance: Our knowledgeable garden coordinators will be on hand to share tips and answer your gardening questions.

Community Spirit: Meet fellow garden lovers, share stories, and enjoy the camaraderie of working together.

What to Bring:

Comfortable clothing and gardening gloves

A hat, water, pest repellent, and sunscreen

Your enthusiasm and love for gardening!

Common gardening tools, such as pruners, weeders, and the like. Whatever you use in your garden, as tools will not be provided.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this workday is for everyone. Let’s come together to make our demonstration garden a thriving, beautiful space for all to enjoy.

Houston Chapter Board Meeting - January 7
2025-01-07 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Interested in getting more involved with NPSOT-Houston? Come check out a board meeting and see what happens behind the scenes and see if you can help us further our mission. We meet via Zoom, so you can join from the comfort of home. Email us at nphouston1@gmail.com to request the zoom link.

Our monthly chapter board meetings are generally held on the first Tuesday of each month, January – November. Participation is open to the public.

Return to Houston Chapter Page

Collin County Chapter - No January Meeting
2025-01-07 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
No Chapter Meeting in January.

Chapter Meeting, Hunke Hall, 33 Herff Farm Road, 6:00-8:00
2025-01-07 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Topic: “What are the Deciduous Trees of Central Texas doing these days?”

Presenter: Oscar Van Auken, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Biology, UTSA.

Dr. Van Auken will be discussing the state of deciduous trees and other woody plants within the Edwards Plateau region and the pressures they face.

Dr. O.W. (Bill) Van Auken has been a professor at UTSA for over forty years. Dr. Van Auken earned a Master of Science and Ph.D degrees from the University of Utah. Since 1969 he has lived and worked in Central Texas as a Researcher and Professor in the fields of plant ecology and biology. His research interests include physiological plant ecology and woody plants. His impact on conservation and natural resources extends throughout the region and beyond.

Clear Lake Chapter Board Meeting
2025-01-06 18:30 (America/Chicago)
Our Chapter Board, which includes officers and committee chairs, meets the first Monday of each month to discuss chapter business and plan future events.

Chapter board meetings are open to the public. Request Zoom meeting information at clear-lake-chapter@npsot.org.

No Chapter Meeting
2025-01-02 18:30 (America/Chicago)

January 1: New Year's Day (no Lakes and Pines Chapter meeting)
2025-01-01 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago)

2024-12-23 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Dear NLCP Committee Members,

This Monday begins our first meeting of 2024. We will meet at 7:00pm on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month on this Zoom link:

https://npsot-org.zoom.us/j/87628189964?pwd=[REDACTED]

We’re a small committee, and we don’t get to see each other in person very often, so please plan to join with your camera on.

See you Monday!

—

Jay Gowen, NLCP Chair, Pines and Prairies Chapter, 832-513-5785 (cell)

Seed Cleaning Event at the Tye Preston Memorial Library
2024-12-20 14:30 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Craig Bruska, Seed Committee Chairman, will direct volunteers in cleaning and packaging replacement seed packets for the current lending inventory. The properly labeled envelopes are then placed in specific drawers of the TPML Seed Library cabinet located in the main entry foyer of the library. Come as you are, stay as long as you like! Learn more about local native seeds and visit with like-minded volunteers. So much fun!

An open invitation is extended for anyone to:

1) Donate local native seeds. To donate, put a single species of prepared seeds in a small paper bag and label the bag with species name, date collected and where collected. Donor’s name is optional.

2) Help package seeds for the lending library. Volunteer help is welcomed; and Texas Master Naturalists can earn hours toward their annual 40 hours of volunteer service.

3) Check out and plant up to 5 seed packets per visit to Tye Preston Memorial Library.

NPSOT-Houston Holiday Dinner - December 19
2024-12-19 18:30 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
Our holiday tradition continues!

Rather than hold our regular third-Thursday monthly meeting during this busy time of year, our tradition is to gather for a meal and some fellowship with other native plant enthusiasts. This year we will meet at Fadi’s Meyerland Mediterranean Grill. Join us any time after 6:30pm. Fadi’s is cafeteria style with dishes prepared fresh daily and some made-to-order options (shawarma anyone?). Please RSVP here; we have space for 30 people.

4738 Beechnut StreetHouston, TX 77096713.666.4644

Return to Houston Chapter Page

Lindheimer Monthly Chapter Meeting - Christmas Party
2024-12-17 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
Location: Tye Preston Memorial Library, 16311 S. Access Road, Canyon Lake, Texas 78133. Social time 5:30 p.m., business meeting 5:40 p.m., Plant-of-the-Month 5:50 p.m., hour-long meeting at 6:20 p.m. This meeting will not be available on Zoom or recorded for our YouTube channel. Please bring a side dish to share and a donation of socks for the needy. You can sign up to bring a side dish or dessert here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084AABAD2DAB9-53047607-holiday

An Assessment of Native Seed Needs and the Capacity for Their Supply - December 17
2024-12-17 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago)
A 2023 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says the insufficient supply of seeds from native plants is a major barrier to ecological restoration and other revegetation projects across the United States. The report calls for concerted action to build a more robust native seed supply and industry, especially as climate change increases the possibility of extreme weather events and wildfires that often damage natural areas. We will review findings and recommendations from the report, as well as progress that has been made since the report release.

This presentation by Kay Havens, Chicago Botanic Garden is part of the Monarch Conservation Webinar Series by Monarch Joint Venture.

Beaumont Chapter Meeting
2024-12-16 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Tyrell Park, 6088 Babe Zaharias Drive, Beaumont, Texas, 77705
Join us for our monthly chapter meetings. You do not need to be a member to attend. We meet the 3rd Monday of each month.

Meeting Location: Tyrrell Park – 6088 Babe Zaharias Drive, Beaumont, TX 77705

We meet in the Binks Horticultural Center in the Beaumont Botanical Gardens area of the park.
