NPSOT Growing Area Project

NPSOT Austin Growing Area Project, 4th Saturday Workdays, Cancelled due to heat.

Dowell Ranch Preserve 301 West FM 1626, Manchaca, TX, United States

We have started a new collaboration with the Native Prairie Association of Texas, on their 150 acre Dowell Ranch Preserve. In return for allowing us to hold our plant sales and store equipment, we will assist with their prairie restoration. Part of these activities will be to grow native plants that can be used for […]

NPAT Dowell Ranch 2nd Saturday Volunteer Day

NPAT Dowell Ranch 2nd Saturday Volunteer Day

Starting this year, NPSOT Austin will be collaborating with NPAT to promote Texas native plants and restoration of native prairies. As part of that collaboration we would like to encourage our members to participate in NPAT work days. Join us for volunteer projects on NPAT’s Dowell Ranch Preserve. We will be working on various restoration […]

September 2023 Austin Chapter Meeting – Good Bugs and Bad Bugs

Please join us for our Chapter meeting this month with guest speaker Wizzie Brown. Her presentation will cover identification of common beneficials and pests in the landscape. She will also discuss categories of beneficial arthropods and how to determine if and when management may be appropriate. Wizzie Brown is an Senior Extension Program Specialist- IPM […]

NPSOT Growing Area Project

NPSOT Austin Growing Area Project, Prep for October Plant Sale

Dowell Ranch Preserve 301 West FM 1626, Manchaca, TX, United States

We will prepare the growing area to hold plants for the October Plant Sale so they are protected them from being eaten by wildlife. Install tarps, tents. and shade cloth to protect plants from the hot summer sun. Tidy up the surrounding area to look nice for plant sale customers.

Fall Native Plant Sale – Austin

Dowell Ranch Preserve 301 West FM 1626, Manchaca, TX, United States

Visit our plant sale page for more information.

NPAT Dowell Ranch 2nd Saturday Volunteer Day

NPAT Dowell Ranch Prairie Potluck and Ranch Tour

Dowell Ranch Preserve 301 West FM 1626, Manchaca, TX, United States

We'd like to invite volunteers and friends of NPAT's Dowell Ranch to a Prairie Potluck on Saturday, October 14th, from 11am - 2pm. We'll have a ranch tour/fall wildlife walk starting at 11 am, followed by a casual potluck and grill out for lunch. We'll also talk about some upcoming volunteer opportunities. Should be a fun day, and […]

NLCP Class Austin: Level 1, Introduction to Native Landscapes

Registration is open now! Click here for details and to sign up. For more details about the Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP) please click here for the class descriptions and click here for the upcoming class schedules statewide. October 18: The in class portion will be presented via Zoom. October 19: The plant walk portion […]

NPSOT Growing Area Project

NPSOT Austin Growing Area Project, 4th Saturday Workdays

Dowell Ranch Preserve 301 West FM 1626, Manchaca, TX, United States

We have started a new collaboration with the Native Prairie Association of Texas, on their 150 acre Dowell Ranch Preserve. In return for allowing us to hold our plant sales and store equipment, we will assist with their prairie restoration. Part of these activities will be to grow native plants that can be used for […]

Texas Arbor Day

Join Texas A&M Forestry Service in celebrating Texas Arbor Day. The theme this year is "If trees could talk – what would they say?" Join us on Texas Arbor Day to learn all the ways trees enrich our lives and support our environment. To find out more information about the activities please look at the […]

NPSOT Fall Symposium 2023

The NPSOT 2023 Fall Symposium is coming to Nacogdoches, Texas! This year’s event will take place at the historic Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center and will focus on conserving plants native to the Pineywoods Ecoregion of East Texas. For more information, and to sign up to attend in person or virtually, please see the NPSOT […]

November 2023 Chapter Meeting – Williamson County’s Native Plant Rescue Project

*** This meeting is on the second Tuesday of November, instead of the third as we typically do. *** Please join us for our November Chapter meeting with guest speaker Ashley Landry. The Native Plant Rescue Project of Williamson County has hosted over 45 plant rescues and rescued over 225 species of native plants since […]

NPSOT Austin Social Gathering

Join us for some much needed social time at Meanwhile Brewing. RSVP requested. Look for an Invite in your inbox soon.

Dowell Ranch Prairie Preserve: Black Friday Bird Walk

#OptOutside with NPAT Join us for a casual bird walk to see who’s flying around Dowell Ranch Prairie Preserve. The walk will be about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 miles round trip. It’s not uncommon to see Meadowlarks, Bluebirds, Raptors, and an assortment of “Little Brown Birds” this time of year. RSVP with rachel_rommel@texasprairie.org. 301 W. […]

NPSOT Growing Area Project

NPSOT Austin Growing Area Project, 4th Saturday Workdays – Cancelled due to holidays

Dowell Ranch Preserve 301 West FM 1626, Manchaca, TX, United States

We have started a new collaboration with the Native Prairie Association of Texas, on their 150 acre Dowell Ranch Preserve. In return for allowing us to hold our plant sales and store equipment, we will assist with their prairie restoration. Part of these activities will be to grow native plants that can be used for […]

South Austin Plant Rescue

Capital Area and Balcones Canyonlands Master Naturalists and the Native Plant Society of Texas Austin are running a native plant rescue program! Register for our inaugural plant rescue this weekend at a south Austin residence soon to be cleared. The rescue will take place on Saturday (9:30-2:30), Sunday (11:00-2:30) and Monday (9:30-12:30).  The exact rescue […]

South Austin Plant Rescue

Capital Area and Balcones Canyonlands Master Naturalists and the Native Plant Society of Texas Austin are running a native plant rescue program! Register for our inaugural plant rescue this weekend at a south Austin residence soon to be cleared. The rescue will take place on Saturday (9:30-2:30), Sunday (11:00-2:30) and Monday (9:30-12:30).  The exact rescue […]

South Austin Plant Rescue

Capital Area and Balcones Canyonlands Master Naturalists and the Native Plant Society of Texas Austin are running a native plant rescue program! Register for our inaugural plant rescue this weekend at a south Austin residence soon to be cleared. The rescue will take place on Saturday (9:30-2:30), Sunday (11:00-2:30) and Monday (9:30-12:30).  The exact rescue […]

NPSOT Growing Area Project

NPSOT Austin Growing Area Project, 4th Saturday Workdays – Cancelled due to holidays

Dowell Ranch Preserve 301 West FM 1626, Manchaca, TX, United States

We have started a new collaboration with the Native Prairie Association of Texas, on their 150 acre Dowell Ranch Preserve. In return for allowing us to hold our plant sales and store equipment, we will assist with their prairie restoration. Part of these activities will be to grow native plants that can be used for […]

NPAT Dowell Ranch 2nd Saturday Volunteer Day

NPAT Dowell Ranch Winter Bird Count

Starting this year, NPSOT Austin will be collaborating with NPAT to promote Texas native plants and restoration of native prairies. As part of that collaboration we would like to encourage our members to participate in NPAT work days.Join us for volunteer projects on NPAT’s Dowell Ranch Preserve. We will be working on various restoration projects […]

Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – Rare Texas Natives

Join us for our monthly chapter meeting. Our guest speaker this month is Michael Eason, Associate Director of Conservation and Collections of the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. His topic is Rare Texas Natives. Michael Eason joined the San Antonio Botanical Gardens in 2017 as representative of the Center for Plant Conservation. With his extensive knowledge […]

Austin Chapter Meeting – Hello Invasives! Goodbye Texas! – March 19

“What harm can there be in planting one plant in my backyard? Just because it has Japanese, Chinese, Asian, Italian or Mediterranean in its name it will be OK, won’t it?” they ask. It’s easy to think that the plants we cultivate in our landscapes don’t have much impact on our environment, but they do! […]

McKinney Falls Bastard Cabbage Pulling

We have an opportunity to help eradicate Bastard Cabbage at McKinney Falls State Park this Saturday, March 23 from 9-12am. If you'd like to help rid the park of this invasive species please email Marisa Fushille at mfushille@gmail.com

Dowell Ranch Thistle Thwack!

Join us to help our partners at NPAT for an invasive species THISTLE THWACK at Dowell Ranch! (Just south of Austin). Superstar volunteers needed on April 27th to help remove Maltese Star-Thistle. This aggressive plant has popped up in our front pasture restoration area and we need to remove them with people power before it […]

Members Plant Swap and Plant Sale Volunteer Meeting

We are holding a plant swap for Austin Chapter members on Saturday May 11 from 9 to 10AM. If you are not a current member, please join or renew and then join us in the fun! See the plant swap details and RSVP on our invitation. (If you don't have any plants to share, you can still join us! Just […]

Free
Austin Chapter Meeting

Native Riparian Vegetation Beneficial for Holding Together Creeks and Rivers in Texas – May 21 Austin Chapter Meeting

Our guest speaker this month is Ricky Linex. His presentation is a virtual creek walk across Texas identifying riparian plants found in different regions of the state.  Native plants in riparian areas across the state of Texas will be shown and discussed.  Plants are what hold the creeks and rivers together and we need to […]

No Chapter Meeting in July

We take the month off with chapter meetings, so please join us in August for the next chapter meeting.

Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – What’s the rush video with Dr. Doug Tallamy, Aug 13

Doug Tallamy presents on video the science-based solution to the biodiversity crisis and explains why it's so urgent. Native plants are the foundation of the solution, and we can do it together. This is a virtual meeting using Zoom. Please register to get the Zoom for this meeting. https://npsot-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqd-6gpz8sH9yU0Gnv_I3PexdIUvwbJpvi After registering, you will receive a […]

NLCP Level 1 Class – Introduction to Native Landscapes

Join us for Austin NPSOT's NLCP Level 1 Class - Introduction to Native Landscapes at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. This class is full so keep your eyes out for upcoming classes, or look for other opportunities across the state.

Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – Native Plant Seeds with Craig Bruska

Our September meeting will be a hybrid in person and over Zoom meeting. Our speaker will be attending via Zoom, and we will be sure to project the video for everyone to see.  The September Austin Chapter meeting is Tuesday, September 17, 2024.  The meeting address is: Lakewood Clubhouse, 7317 Lakewood Dr, Austin, TX 78750. Schedule: - 6:30PM Social time (both […]

NLCP Level 2 Class – Landscape Design with Native Plants

Join us for Austin NPSOT's NLCP Level 2 Class - NLCP Level 2 Class - Landscape Design with Native Plants at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Register or look for other opportunities across the state.

Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – Native Grasses and Grasslands of Texas – November 19

Lakewood Clubhouse 7317 Lakewood Dr., Austin, Texas, United States

Our guest speaker this month is Chris Best (State Botanist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin, Texas) presenting, "Native Grasses and Grasslands of Texas:  Ecology, conservation, and restoration of native grasslands in Texas."    This will be a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. The in-person location is Lakewood Clubhouse (off 360) 7317 Lakewood Drive, Austin, […]

Opt Outside Black Friday Plant ID Hike

Join us at the a plant ID hike along the Violet Crown Trail for our response to Black Friday. Address to follow soon in an email to members. Join us know to get in on the fun!

Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – Backyard Birds with Natasia Moore

Lakewood Clubhouse 7317 Lakewood Dr., Austin, Texas, United States

In this presentation, Natasia will talk about the importance of birds, how they're affected by urbanization, and ways in which we as residents can provide habitat for birds in our backyards. She will give examples of some of our common urban and suburban birds, including birds of prey, as well as some native plants that […]

Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – Get to know Austin chapter members – Feb 25

Lakewood Clubhouse 7317 Lakewood Dr., Austin, Texas, United States

This will be a hybrid meeting, with both in-person and virtual options. The in-person location is Lakewood Clubhouse (off 360) location at 7317 Lakewood Drive, Austin, TX 78750. If the parking lot is full, you can park along the street on both sides. Socializing starts at 6:30, and the meeting begins at 7:00pm. This month’s […]

Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – Mountain Cedars: Junipers that Benefit Texas Karst Country – Mar 18

Lakewood Clubhouse 7317 Lakewood Dr., Austin, Texas, United States

Our speaker this month is Elizabeth Mcgreevy, Project Bedrock, Founder and Program Director, Land Steward, Owner and Natural Resources Consultant. We will be meeting at 7pm (with social time starting at 6:30). Join us in person at Lakewood Clubhouse off 360 (7317 Lakewood Dr, Austin, TX 78750), or join us over Zoom by registering here: […]

Austin Chapter Plant Sale

Dowell Ranch Preserve 301 West FM 1626, Manchaca, TX, United States

See our plant sale page for more details.

Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – Bringing Monarchs Back to the Reilly School Gardens – May 27

Speaker: Julia Weatherby Monarch butterflies are losing important food and habitat leading their populations to decline. The Native Plant Society of Texas awards grants to schools, nature centers and other gardens. These grants fund spring and fall blooming native plants and native milkweed for our Monarchs to survive and successfully migrate through Texas. This presentation […]

Austin Chapter Meeting

Austin Chapter Meeting – Ways to get involved with native plants and NPSOT

Lakewood Clubhouse 7317 Lakewood Dr., Austin, Texas, United States

We will discuss all the ways you can be involved in using and advocating for native plants. We'll also discuss opportunities to be involved with our local NPSSOT chapter, including plant sales, NLCP classes, leadership, social media, and more. This is a hybrid online and in-person meeting, with the in-person meeting at Lakewood Clubhouse 7317 […]

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 fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason