San Antonio Chapter Meeting - Stressed Out: A Look at Tree Health in San Antonio and How to Strengthen Our Urban Landscape
2025-01-28 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Arrive at 6:30pm to share or find native plants at the Plants x Donation table.

This will be a “hybrid” meeting, attend in-person or online.

In person: The Gathering Center at the Urban Ecology Center at Phil Hardberger Park, 8400 NW Military Hwy

Online: Please register in advance to attend via Zoom.

Presentation by Michael Nentwich. Stressed Out: A Look at Tree Health in San Antonio and How to Strengthen Our Urban Landscape.

Join us for a discussion about the stresses on our urban forest in San Antonio with Bexar Branches Alliance President Michael Nentwich. Is it the extreme heat during the summer, the extended heat waves, the severe cold events, the extended drought, or all of it? Once we can identify and name the stresses, let’s consider what we can do to maintain tree health and diversity in Bexar County.

Michael has more than 15 years of experience in community forestry management and program development. Currently the President and founder of Bexar Branches Alliance, Michael previously was San Antonio’s first City Forester and later served as City Forester with the City of Norfolk, Virginia. He has a BA in Environmental Science and MS in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin University.

If you are attending in person, there is no need to register. However, if you are attending via Zoom, please register here before the meeting begins as late registration and entry will not be allowed. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Note: The Zoom meeting is limited to 100 viewers at any time. If our Zoom meeting participants exceed that number online, you may not be able to access the meeting live. We apologize for the inconvenience, but the meeting will be available within days after the meeting on our YouTube channel.

Q1 State Board Meeting – Feb 1
2025-02-01 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
Native Plant Society of Texas State Board MeetingZoom – Virtual Meeting9 – 11:00 am (join Zoom meeting as early as 08:30 pm)

This event is free and all Society members are welcome! Voting members include chapter presidents (or their representatives), state-level executive officers and state standing committee chairs.

Register to attend the meeting: Registration link coming soon!

NPSOT Dallas February 1, 2025 - Chapter Garden Maintenance
2025-02-01 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Maintenance needed for our Dallas Chapter’s Native Garden. Come on out and give a hand!We will remove non-native plants, trimming and general cleaning of area.Several plants need to be divided/transplanted for the plant sale in May, at Native Plants and Prairie Day. For more details, see our homepage: https://www.npsot.org/chapters/dallas/

Clear Lake Chapter Board Meeting
2025-02-03 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.

Habitat Workday @ EIH
2025-02-04 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-11 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

Chapter Meeting, Hunke Hall, 33 Herff Farm Road, 6:00-8:00
2025-02-04 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
We are excited to have natural resources planner and ecologist Elizabeth McGreevy present at our Tuesday February 4th chapter meeting!

For 100 years, we’ve fought the woody brush that spreads across limestone regions of Texas called karst country. Much of this woody cover consists of mountain cedars, a type of juniper that prefers limestone. Instead of causing harm, we now know mountain cedars are benefitting the region since they regenerate degraded karst country or sustain groundwaters, healthy soils, deep carbon storage, biodiversity, while reducing fire risk and flooding. You will learn why we need to use mountain cedars and other nature-based solutions to help regenerate and protect these lands.

Elizabeth McGreevy, a sixth-generation Texas and Texas A&M graduate, is a natural resources ecologist and author of the book “Wanted! Mountain Cedars, Dead and Alive“. As the owner of Land Steward, she relies on more than 25 years of experience to produce site-specific ecosystem management plans for Hill Country landowners. In 2022, she founded Project Bedrock, now in partnership with The Watershed Association, to promote using mountain cedars and other nature-based solutions to regenerate the limestone karst country regions of Texas.

Collin County February Meeting - Gardening for Birds with Native Plants
2025-02-04 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago)
Our Tuesday, February 4th chapter meeting will be virtual only via Zoom. We will not hold an in-person gathering at the Heard Museum in February, so please plan to join us online.

Our meeting will open at 6:30 for the testing of connections, with a short chapter update by our president, Rodney Thomas, at 7:00, followed by our February presentation. We will return to our regular hybrid meetings in March, with attendance available via Zoom and at the Heard Museum in McKinney.

Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/yn85nbzdMeeting ID: 885 5459 6572Passcode: [REDACTED]

The February meeting is on “Gardening for Birds with Native Plants“, presented by Jane Tillman. Jane will explore the ways you can enhance your landscape or local greenspace for birds and other wildlife using native plants. You will deepen your understanding of various backyard birds’ preferences for food, shelter, and water. Plus, learn how your plant choices, landscaping design, and gardening practices can help birds thrive and bring your landscape to life.

Jane is a past president of the Native Plant Society of Texas, Austin Chapter. Since 2003, Jane has been teaching people how to attract birds to their yards with native plants. She teaches beginning backyard birding classes and gives talks about Central Texas birds and gardening in the Austin community. Jane teaches a Birds of Central Texas class for the local non-profit Lifetime Learning Institute. She also teaches for the statewide Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP), and she helped create the NLCP Landscape for Birds class.

Gardening for Birds Colllin County NPSOT 2025Download

NPSOT-Houston Board Meeting
2025-02-04 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
The Houston chapter is always looking for dedicated volunteers who are passionate about the native plant mission in their city. Join our team to participate in important habitat, outreach, and planning efforts the support our mission. Anyone is welcome to attend our board meetings on zoom. We would love to have you join one of our committees and start the fun and rewarding work that goes into our various projects.

We use Slack to organize and communicate. Please email us at nphouston1@gmail.com for the slack link.

Meeting ID: 845 237 64852Passcode: [REDACTED]

Return to Houston Chapter Page

Houston Chapter Board Meeting - February 4
2025-02-04 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

Outreach: Monarch Butterflies & Milkweed Etiquette
2025-02-05 11:00 (America/New_York)
Learn all about Monarch butterflies and how to choose the correct milkweed for your garden this spring. Free native milkweed seeds will be available!

LocationEvelyn Meador Branch Library2400 North Meyer AvenueSeabrook, TX 77586

Lakes & Pines Chapter Meeting - Tim Siegmund, Texas Parks & Wildlife (via Zoom)- "Natural Grassland Restoration"
2025-02-05 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago)
“Native Grassland Restoration”

Boerne City Campus Natural Area (BCCNA) Workday
2025-02-06 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
Join us for BCCNA workdays!

The BCCNA project involves the restoration and enhancement of the Boerne City Campus Natural Area (BCCNA). The BCCNA is comprised of 13-acres on either side of the Old No. 9 Trail, behind the library. We are working towards restoring this area to a native pollinator habitat, creating a wildlife corridor and haven within the city.

BCCNA Workdays take place on the first and third Thursdays of each month in 2025.

Our meeting place will be in the Boerne Patrick Heath Public Library parking lot near the windmill. If you don’t see us at the windmill, walk out behind the library across the creek as we’ve likely already started!

Each volunteer will be required to fill out the City of Boerne’s liability waiver the first time he or she volunteers in 2025.

Contact Jeff Schwarz at jeffschwarz27@gmail.com for more info.

Workdays at the Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country Demonstration Garden
2025-02-06 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.

Post Oak NPSOT Chapter Meeting: Native Plants for Green Roofs and Walls in Texas and Beyond
2025-02-06 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
You are invited to join us at our chapter meeting- Dr. Bruce Dvorak will present “Native Plants for Green Roofs and Walls in Texas and Beyond “

February 6th, Thursday

6 pm: Meet and Greet

6:30 pm: presentation

Gary Halter Nature Center at Lick Creek Park

Teddi Zonker Creating a Suburban Oasis for Pollinators, North Central Chapter Meeting
2025-02-06 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago)
Creating a Suburban Oasis for PollinatorsWhat are the best practices for creating a suburban oasis? Master Gardener, Master Naturalist and NPOST member Teddi Zonker will discuss the best plants to add to your landscape, the difference between host and nectar plants, and so much more! Learn all about the synergies of butterflies, bees and birds in your garden.

Teddi Zonker is a self-taught butterfly hobbyist for nearly 20 years, award-winning photographer and local municipality fitness manager. She is a Tarrant County Master Gardener, Cross Timbers Master Naturalist, Monarch Watch Monarch Conservation Specialist, member of the Native Plant Society of Texas and Native Prairies Association of Texas. She has also completed the Native Landscape Certification Program and Volunteer Advanced Training/Entomology program. Teddi is also a Garden Coach, helping others convert suburban landscapes into pollinator habitats and Monarch Waystations. With a B. S. in Public Relations and a M.S. in Recreation and Leisure Studies, her goal is to educate others on the need for pollinator spaces and show how simple (and enjoyable) it is to meet this need starting with their own back (and front) yard!

Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Orchid & Iris Room

3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, Texas 76107

6:30 socializing and snacks

7:00 Business meeting and announcements

The presentation will follow our business meeting.

This meeting is hybrid; in person with a virtual Zoom option.

Advance registration is required to receive the Zoom link: Zoom Registration
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Second Saturday Workday, 9:00am - Noon
2025-02-08 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.

Outreach: How To: Grow Native Milkweed
2025-02-08 11:00 (America/New_York)
Free workshop by Greg Pearson. Learn how to grow native milkweed for our migrating Monarchs and receive free milkweed seeds.

LocationJimbo’s Nursery15019 8th StreetSanta Fe, TX 77517

Garden Workday at Phil Hardberger Park
2025-02-09 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
Come help prune shrubs and woody perennials, remove weeds and woody volunteer plants in the landscaped areas. Bring gloves, pruners and loppers, pruning saws, shovels and other weeding tools. AAMN approved.

To register, click here.

Climate Change and Southeast Texas’ Native Plant Communities - Hybrid Clear Lake Chapter Meeting
2025-02-10 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

Andrew Sipocz returns to provide an update to his 2018 talk, Plant Communities and Climate Change. Since then, new climate change research has been published. This time, Andy will focus on the anticipated effects on specific plants and potential changes to native plant communities.

About the Speaker

Andrew Sipocz earned a Bachelor of Science in forestry and wildlife management at Purdue University and a master’s studying wetland ecology from Texas A&M University. He has been with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department since 1990 where he now plans and implements landscape restoration and natural area management in southeast Texas state parks.

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.

Pines and Prairies NLCP Committee Meeting
2025-02-10 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)

Lindheimer Chapter Board Meeting
2025-02-11 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.

NPSOT Website Committee
2025-02-11 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]

Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture Demonstration Garden Workday
2025-02-12 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.

Executive Committee Meeting – February 12
2025-02-12 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.

NPAT Zoom Series – Climate Change and the Implications for the Fayette Prairie Ecosystem - Feb 13
2025-02-13 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
The NPAT Fayette Prairie Chapter will host a February 13th meeting to focus on recognizing the potential to bridge the gap between ideal restoration and real-world impact on landowners and other stakeholders for:

Disaster Mitigation

Economic and Ecological Benefits

Thoughtful, Long-Term Public Policy

Improved Water Quality & Groundwater Infiltration

Economic Advantages for Landowners and the Community

Use this Zoom for the meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5579994496?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 557 999 4496

The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession – Williamson County Chapter Meeting, February 13
2025-02-13 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago)
Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, February 13, 2025, when our featured topic will be “The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession” with NYT best-selling author Amy Stewart. Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM. The guest presentation begins after a short business meeting.

Our guest speaker will be joining us via Zoom. This month’s presentation will not be recorded for YouTube.

About our topic: When Amy Stewart discovered a community of tree collectors, she expected to meet horticultural fanatics driven to plant every species of oak or maple. But she also discovered that the urge to collect trees springs from something deeper and more profound: a longing for community, a vision for the future, or a path to healing and reconciliation.

In this 45-minute talk, Amy introduces audiences to several of the remarkable people she met from around the world whose lives were transformed by their relationships to trees. Accompanied by her own hand-drawn illustrations of people and their trees, this talk inspires audiences to reconsider their own connections to trees – and maybe start a collection!

About our speaker: Amy Stewart is the New York Times best-selling author of fourteen books, including The Tree Collectors, The Drunken Botanist, Wicked Plants, and several other popular nonfiction titles about the natural world. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

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.

==> To attend via Zoom, register at https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/A_RDWrA4Qr2WIFIDHNRSiw#/registration

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

Seed Cleaning Event at the Tye Preston Memorial Library
2025-02-14 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.

NICE Partner Plant Sale at The Nectar Bar
2025-02-15 09:30 - 15:30 (America/Chicago)
Come shop or volunteer to help out! Plant sale with a percentage of the sales benefitting NPSOT-SA at The Nectar Bar, which is one of our NICE Partners! We will be providing six plant associates to assist customers over various 2.5 hour shifts between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm. To register, click here.

Download a sneak peak of plant list for the sale!

Lake Mineral Wells State Park Pollinator Garden Work Day, Volunteer Opportunity, Cross Timbers Chapter, Mineral Wells, Saturday, 2/15/2025 at 10 a.m.
2025-02-15 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
🌿 Calling All Native Plant Enthusiasts! 🌿 Be a Pollinator Protector! 🐝🌸

Join us for a morning of volunteer magic at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. 🌼✨

You can help maintain the pollinator garden at Lake Mineral Wells State Park! 🌼🦋 This wonderful community effort supports our local ecosystems and provides habitat to facilitate the important work of pollinators. This garden provides educational information to visitors and is utilized by the park staff to explain the importance of native plants and their benefits.

Here are some suggestions on clothing and what to bring:

Work Clothing: Wear comfortable work clothing appropriate for the weather. Layers are great for adjusting to changing conditions.

Gloves: If you have gardening gloves, bring them along. They’ll protect your hands while working with plants and soil.

Gardening Tools: If you own any gardening tools, such as nippers, shovels, spades, pitchforks, or wheelbarrows, feel free to bring them. Buckets and brooms are also useful. These tools can be incredibly helpful for various tasks.

Water: Stay hydrated! Bring a water bottle to keep yourself refreshed during the work.

Hat: A hat with a wide brim provides shade for your face, neck, and ears, protecting you from direct sunlight. It helps prevent sunburn and reduces the risk of skin damage caused by UV radiation. In case of cooler weather, wear a hat to keep warm.

Additional Details:

If the temperature is below 40°F or if it’s raining, the workday will be canceled.

For any specific questions or further information, you can reach out to Cindy Crump at cindyleecrump@gmail.com or Vicki Brooks at vicki.brooks@icloud.com

Location:

Lake Mineral Wells State Park, 100 Park Road 71, Mineral Wells, Texas.

Before entering the park gates, take a left into the administration building parking lot.

Meeting Point:

Meet at the garden located near the administration building entrance (before paying at the gate).

Let’s come together and contribute to the beauty and health of our local environment! 🌿🌸
