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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260402T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260402T193000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20260203T140812Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260403T030922Z
UID:10006309-1775152800-1775158200@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Chapter Meeting Thursday\, April 2nd featuring Dr Alan Pepper- "Conserving Texas' Rare and Endangered Native Plants"
DESCRIPTION:April 2\, 2026 Post Oak Chapter NPSOT meeting -Dr Alan Pepper\n\n\n\nChapter Meeting Thursday April 2nd featuring Dr Alan Pepper \n\n\n\nThursday\, April 2nd\, 6 PM Meet and Greet\, 6:30- 7:30 PM Presentation. More Details to Come! \n\n\n\nHaving grown up amongst the flora of Northern California\, Alan Pepper attained a post-doctorate in plant biology along with some graduate work in restoration ecology. Sometime afterwards\, he took a position in the TAMU biology department. His major area of research focuses on how plants adapt to extreme geological\, soil and climatic conditions. \n\n\n\nA large part of his work concerns the genetics\, ecology and conservation of rare endemic plants\, including Texas plants in the mustard family and orchids.  He has also researched the genetics and ecology of invasive species such as KR Bluestem and Giant Arundo. \n\n\n\nAlan is active in several organizations and currently serves on the steering committee of the Texas Rare Plants Conservation Alliance\, where he helps to advise restoration projects and the nursery industry on best practices for selection of genetic materials for the propagation of rare\, endangered and threatened plants. 
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/chapter-meeting-thursday-april-2nd-featuring-dr-alan-pepper/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026.3-PONPSOT-mtg-flyer-edited.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260319T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260319T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20260113T000230Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260311T023524Z
UID:10005930-1773946800-1773950400@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Native Solutions: Real-World Restoration Stories and the Impact of Local Plants
DESCRIPTION:Native plant communities throughout the Lower Galveston Bay Watershed have been on the decline as open green space is rapidly being lost to urban sprawl\, industrial land use\, and poor land management practices. The loss of biodiversity threatens the overall health of our bay system and its ability to provide habitat for wildlife. Local resources for native plant material adapted to our harsh coastal environment are difficult to find\, forcing consumers to purchase material from non-local sources that lack the genetic adaptations to thrive in our coastal ecosystems. \n\n\n\nTo address these challenges\, the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) operates a Native Plant Program that supplies native plant resources for landscape-scale restoration projects. These resources are available to conservation and restoration practitioners\, as well as residential homeowners seeking to utilize native plants in their home landscaping. Through this program\, GBF has implemented a variety of restoration projects across its conservation properties. \n\n\n\nIn this presentation\, GBF will share both successful and unsuccessful stories from these restoration efforts\, illustrating how the Native Plant Program has contributed to the recovery of local plant communities and highlighting lessons learned along the way. These real-world examples will demonstrate the importance of using locally adapted native plants and the impact of restoration work on the health and resilience of the Lower Galveston Bay Watershed.  \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRicci Simmons is the Conservation Stewardship Manager at the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF). She has a B.S. in Wildlife Fisheries Sciences and in Rangeland Ecology Management from Texas A&M University\, in addition to an M.S. in Hydrology from Boise State University. Her responsibility at GBF is to promote high species diversity\, improve hydrologic function\, and increase wildlife habitat through vegetation management on protected lands that are sensitive to the health of Galveston Bay.She also oversees monitoring of GBF’s properties using the Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices\, and manages an upland native plant and emergent freshwater wetland nurseries. Ricci spends most of her free time enjoying the outdoors with her family and especially loves collecting and pressing botanical specimens. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\n(Parking is free at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center on Thursdays.) \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/houston-chapter-meeting-march-19/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_2857-scaled.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260219T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260219T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20260113T000306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T213126Z
UID:10005929-1771527600-1771531200@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Ancient Dune Swales: An Ode to the Coastal HeritagePreserve - February 19
DESCRIPTION:Often overlooked\, the native plants of our Gulf Coast play a major role in habitat restoration while quite literally holding all of us along the coast together. This presentation will dive into the science behind a diverse set of plants native to the Gulf Coast and zoom in specifically on those that inhabit Galveston Island’s ancient dune swale complex. \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker \n\n\n\nLyndsey Ware is an eighth generation Texan with deep roots sunk into the Gulf Coast mud from South Texas to New Orleans\, Ware has been talking to and falling in love with plants all her life. While on a brief hiatus away from her native habitat\, she went back to school and earned a Plant and Soil Science (w/conservation and agricultural horticultural focus) degree from the University of Massachusetts. She has worked the land from an early age\, managed greenhouses\, farms\, and labs\, conducted research as a member of the UMass Extension team\, and often acted as a liaison between growers and academia\, agriculturists and conservationists. While away\, her longing for the Texas and Louisiana ecologies she calls home grew. Upon return to the Lone Star State\, Ware managed Green Star Wetland Plant Farm where she learned more about her beloved hydrophytes that helped her dad navigate duck marshes that he dragged her to as a girl. She then became the Conservation Horticulturist at Houston Botanic Garden before landing her ‘dream job’ stewarding 1\,039 acres of wetlands and prairies\, working with a plethora of unique plants at Artist Boat’s Coastal Heritage Preserve. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/houston-chapter-meeting-february-19/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260115T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260115T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20260112T152447Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260112T152511Z
UID:10005928-1768503600-1768507200@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Below the Roots: Why Native Plants Depend on Soil Function to Truly Thrive - January 15
DESCRIPTION:Native plants are often seen as the solution to degraded landscapes\, yet many native plantings can struggle to fully establish or perform over time. This talk explores what native plants require belowground in order to truly thrive\, and why soil function often determines success long before species selection does. By examining soil as a dynamic system that governs water\, biology\, and resilience\, this discussion reframes native plants not as a shortcut to restoration\, but as indicators of underlying land health. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker \n\n\n\nErik Fritz is an edaphodynamic engineer and founder of Tierra Buena Regenerative\, a firm focused on diagnosing and correcting soil and land systems as functional infrastructure. His work centers on soil as a dynamic system governing water movement\, nutrient cycling\, biological activity\, and long-term landscape performance. Rather than treating surface symptoms\, he designs soil-level interventions that restore function\, stability\, and resilience across agricultural\, urban\, and restoration landscapes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/below-the-roots-why-native-plants-depend-on-soil-function-to-truly-thrive-january-15/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-erik-fritz.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251218T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251218T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20251203T155001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T155002Z
UID:10005708-1766082600-1766089800@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Holiday Social at Bayou Heights Biergarten - December 18
DESCRIPTION:Let’s sprout some holiday cheer together! \n\n\n\nInstead of our usual December educational meeting\, let’s come together for a festive evening of community and connection! We’ll gather in the cocktail lounge at Bayou Heights Biergarten to share food\, drinks (spirited or non‑spirited)\, and good cheer. \n\n\n\nWhatever traditions you celebrate this season\, join fellow native plant enthusiasts to mingle\, meet our board members\, and swap ideas for the year ahead. Bring your wish lists—because we know more native plants are always at the top! \n\n\n\n🚗 Valet parking will be available for $5. In the spirit of conservation\, we encourage carpooling or ride‑sharing to help reduce our collective footprint—just another way we can keep our roots strong and our impact light. \n\n\n\nJoin us any time after 6:30pm. Please RSVP here; food and drink will be up to each attendee. \n\n\n\nBayou Heights Biergarten3905 Washington AvenueHouston TX 77007 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/holiday-social-at-bayou-heights-biergarten-december-18/
CATEGORIES:Social Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Untitled-design-3.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251120T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251120T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20251119T184220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251119T191530Z
UID:10005707-1763661600-1763670600@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Annual Native Plant/Seed Swap and Potluck - November 20
DESCRIPTION:Before you start all of your Thanksgiving festivities\, join us for one of favorite annual events! If you have native plants\, you likely have some new seedlings that have popped up\, clumps that need to be divided\, and seed heads to collect. Gather them up and trade them for some new species! This is always a fun event. What’s better than free plants\, right?  \n\n\n\nPlease only bring specimens that are locally native to Harris County or the Gulf Coast ecoregion and label them if you can. You can also bring other useful plant-related materials you don’t need any more like books or tools. \n\n\n\nThis is a great opportunity to network with your fellow NPSOT-H members\, meet the board\, and enjoy time with other native plant enthusiasts. We hope you can join us! We will be providing Star Pizza; please bring your favorite sharable dish for the meal if you are able. \n\n\n\nNote that we are starting earlier to allow extra time for the dinner. If you don’t have plants or food to share\, please come anyway!  \n\n\n\nHere is a rough outline of our schedule for the evening. \n\n\n\n\n6:00 pm – Set-up plants and seeds/social time\n\n\n\n6:30 pm – Potluck dinner\n\n\n\n7:00 pm – Announcements\n\n\n\n7:15 pm – Election\n\n\n\n7:20 pm – Plant talks\n\n\n\n8:00-8:30 pm – Plant & seed swap\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nOur next live-streamed meeting will be in January. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/annual-native-plant-seed-swap-and-potluck-november-20/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image3-1-jpeg-e1699326829902.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251016T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251016T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20251014T012446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251018T000117Z
UID:10004713-1760641200-1760644800@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Three years\, 75 acres and 100\,000 wetland plants: Creating a wetland at John Paul Landing Park in Katy - October 16
DESCRIPTION:The very large John Paul Landing park on the far west side of Harris County is at the epicenter of rapid neighborhood development\, and the Harris County Engineering Department planned an expansion of the lake in the park to absorb stormwater runoff. Remarkably\, wetlands were designed into the plans from the outset. Mary Carol Edwards’ company Green Star Wetland Plant Farm was subcontracted to source\, propagate\, and deliver the plants for each of the three phases of lake excavation and planting. She will discuss the results\, adventures\, and lessons learned along the way\, as well as introduce some of the key native species that found a new home in the project. \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Carol founded Green Star Wetland Plant Farm in 2018 to meet a need for native aquatic species for all kinds of projects\, from backyard raingardens to large acreage restorations. She previously worked as the stormwater wetland specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Texas Community Watershed Partners\, as well as TCWP’s freshwater wetland restoration program\, at landscape design and landscape architecture firms\, and also in genetics research labs at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University. Mary Carol is a Houston native\, raised on Galveston Bay. She has a BS in Biology and an MA in Architecture from the University of Houston and enjoys bringing both disciplines together to create wonderful natural settings. \n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/three-years-75-acres-and-100000-wetland-plants-creating-a-wetland-at-john-paul-landing-park-in-katy-october-16/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/JPL-3-9-months.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250918T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250918T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20250910T144603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250910T144605Z
UID:10004712-1758222000-1758225600@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Wild Spices: Adding a Taste of Native Texas to Your Table - September 18
DESCRIPTION:Early traders could have saved themselves a lot of time and trouble traveling around the world in search of spices if they had just come to Texas. Our rich plant diversity is filled with wonderful\, native seasoning and spice plants that will satisfy even the most demanding palate. Join internationally recognized foraging instructor and author Dr. Mark Vorderbruggen aka “Merriwether” for a dive into his favorite wild herbs for jazzing up his meals and soon yours! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker \n\n\n\nDr. Vorderbruggen is a preacher of cavemanosity\, forever trying to help people’s health by teaching them what their bodies need based on their ancient evolution. To do this\, he first lures you in with the edible and medicinal plants that still surround us\, followed by opening your eyes to nature\, humans\, and why they co-evolved to need each other. This has led to books\, magazine articles\, hundreds of interviews and nearly 1000 speaking engagements over the last 20 years. When not doing that\, he still creates nature-based products for companies ranging from snack foods to painting chemicals. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/wild-spices-adding-a-taste-of-native-texas-to-your-table-september-18/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2B139795-A903-45F9-B094-DEBF8AE0879B_1_105_c.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250821T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250821T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20250804T042502Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250804T055425Z
UID:10004711-1755802800-1755806400@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:What One Million Rain Gardens Could Do for Houston - August 21
DESCRIPTION:The title of this talk is taken from something Harris County infrastructure czar Art Storey is reputed to have said: “If every building in Harris County had a small rainwater catchment next to it\, we probably wouldn’t need Harris County Flood Control.” This presentation by Dominic Boyer explores the transformative potential of rain gardens in urban design. \n\n\n\nDrawing from several years of hands-on experience designing and creating community-led rain gardens in Northeast Houston\, Boyer sheds light on a vital\, yet often overlooked\, form of green stormwater infrastructure. In neighborhoods historically underserved by conventional flood control systems\, these rain gardens are not just detention basins—they cultivate native plants and wildlife\, serve as community amenities\, enhance public spaces\, and foster civic participation in infrastructure planning and maintenance. \n\n\n\nThrough thoughtful reflection of his work in Northeast Houston\, Boyer will explore the wisdom behind Storey’s observation. \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDominic Boyer is the Director of the Social Design Lab at Rice University and as a member of the Board of Governors of the Rice Sustainability Institute. As one of the founders of the field of Energy Humanities\, he has been writing on energy politics and energy transition for many years. As a designer\, he helped create the world’s first glacier memorial\, which was named a Finalist for a 2020 Beazley Design of the Year Award by the London Design Museum. The same project inspired The Economist to create its first-ever obituary for a non-human. The author of nine books and volumes and more than 100 research articles\, Boyer’s latest book is No More Fossils (U Minnesota Press\, 2023). His Houston-based research currently focuses on green stormwater infrastructure as a means toward greater climate resilience and environmental equity. He is a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/what-one-million-rain-gardens-could-do-for-houston-august-21/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/image.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250717T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250717T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20250715T145645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250715T145646Z
UID:10004710-1752778800-1752782400@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Bees! How We Can Help Them - July 17
DESCRIPTION:July’s talk will focus on our pollinator friends\, bees! Our speaker is Colin McKenzie\, who has worked for the USDA\, the National Park Service\, and the Bureau of Land Management. He will discuss a history of bees and their role in our ecosystem\, as well as their life histories\, taxonomic relationships\, ecology\, and anatomy. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/bees-how-we-can-help-them-july-17/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/image-1.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250619T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250619T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20250617T203858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250619T001720Z
UID:10004709-1750359600-1750363200@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Endangered Species Act: Plant Protection and Beyond - June 19
DESCRIPTION:June’s talk will focus on the basics of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) law\, emphasizing the protections the ESA scheme can offer plants. The ESA is often considered one of the most efficient legal tools we currently have for conservation and has both a fascinating cultural and legal history. Topics will include the ESA’s history\, the administrative process for the ESA\, and current happenings in the ESA field.  \n\n\n\nThis talk will be given by Alex Keiser and Elizabeth Hidalgo\, who help out with our chapter’s newsletter and Instagram\, respectively. Alex and Elizabeth are both practicing environmental attorneys and lovers of the flora and fauna of the Coastal South. \n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/__trashed-3/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250515T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250515T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20250512T235453Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250512T235824Z
UID:10004708-1747335600-1747339200@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Rewilding Our Perception of What Belongs - May 15
DESCRIPTION:In ecological restoration\, especially in disturbed or urbanized areas\, the goal of returning to a singular “climax state” often clashes with the complex reality of the world. We tend to hold onto an idealized vision of a pre-human\, pristine ecological state\, overlooking the diverse outcomes as the result of complex processes interacting. What seems like failure or degradation may actually be the emergence of a new kind of mental interpretational climax\, shaped by input factors\, altered assumptions\, novel assemblages\, and community interactions. By shifting our perspective to recognize multiple expressions of resilience\, our role becomes less about enforcing a template and more about listening\, inquiring\, and collaborating with what exists. Restoration becomes a relationship.  \n\n\n\nPhoto courtesy of Andrea Matthews\n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker \n\n\n\nAndy Newman is the Chief Ecologist at The Earth Partners. He has 15 years of experience working within diverse ecosystems for a wide array of project types. His position places an emphasis leading the technical ecological restoration of projects\, managing construction and adaptive management\, and helping clients meet their compensatory mitigation requirements. His background includes environmental restoration planning\, stakeholder engagement\, construction\, planting\, and ecological uplift assessment. Andy’s specialties include aquatic feature delineations and jurisdictional determinations\, Clean Water Act permitting\, threatened and endangered species identification and consultations\, NEPA compliance\, plant identification\, and community classification. His favorite ecosystems include longleaf pine savannas\, coastal prairies\, and southern Appalachian forests. If his name sounds familiar\, he also leads our field trips!  \n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/rewilding-our-perception-of-what-belongs-may-15/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG_4436-1-scaled.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250417T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250417T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20250410T023051Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T023118Z
UID:10004707-1744916400-1744920000@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Why Native Plants? - April 17
DESCRIPTION:Join us at our April chapter meeting where we take a fun look at the who\, what\, where\, when\, why\, and how of native plants. We will grow your native plant vocabulary\, cultivate some knowledge\, and sow some seeds for the change we want to see in the world. Whether you are a native plant novice or a wildscaping whiz\, this will be a great chance to ask questions all the questions you may have been afraid to ask before. If you stump the board member presenters\, we can poll the crowd or add things to our list of future presentation topics! \n\n\n\nOne of our goals this year is to grow our membership\, and this is a great opportunity to bring a friend\, spouse\, grandchild\, or whoever wants to learn more about native plants.  \n\n\n\nAbout the Speakers – Doreen Gallevo and Josh Kelly \n\n\n\nDoreen has been a board member for the Houston Chapter since 2023\, and was elected chapter president this year. She has been a hard core native plant gardener for seven years\, and is passionate about all ecological services plants provide like supporting declining invertebrate populations\, flood mitigation\, cooling\, and carbon capture. Having completed NPSOT’s Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP)\, she is now engaging in native landscape design projects. Containing well over 100 native species\, her yard is registered as a National Wildlife Federation habitat\, Houston Audubon bird-friendly space\, Texas Pocket Prairie\, and Homegrown National Park.  \n\n\n\nJosh is a native Houstonian and recently became our chapter vice president. He is a commercial landscape construction project manager and is determined to change how our landscape industry functions from the inside. In his spare time\, he can be found botanizing in prairies or volunteering his time on native landscaping projects. He loves not only Texas native plants\, but also Texas critters\, like longhorns and the majestic raptors he has rescued from prairies. He even likes non-native bees\, who he helped tend as a teen/young adult with his father and brothers.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/why-native-plants-april-17/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/avif:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Doreen-and-Josh-Arbor-Day-edited.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250320T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250320T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20250225T045522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250226T185750Z
UID:10004706-1742497200-1742500800@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Native Plants in Houston: Building a Local Supply Chain for a Growing Market - March 20
DESCRIPTION:Matt Stahman will discuss the state of local native plant supplies\, the markets for those supplies\, and the need and formation of a supply chain for future markets for native plants and native plant materials. \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker \n\n\n\nMatt serves as a Regulatory Director for Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) where he specializes in wetlands and endangered species related ecological restoration projects\, especially those associated with mitigation\, and is a registered Professional Wetland Scientist and past president of the Society of Wetland Scientists South Central Chapter (Texas\, Oklahoma\, Arkansas\, Louisiana\, Mississippi\, Alabama) as well as a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner through the Society for Ecological Restoration. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThroughout his career\, he has worked on the design\, permitting\, project management\, construction\, and monitoring of multiple ecological restoration projects\, including wetland mitigation banks and consolidated mitigation areas. He has 30 years of experience in Clean Water Act permitting and mitigation\, Endangered Species Act consultations\, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental impact assessments\, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) filings\, and obtaining various other federal\, state\, and local environmental permits. Matt has worked throughout the United States\, providing environmental compliance consulting for various industries including oil and gas\, public transportation\, telecommunications\, electric utility\, coal mining\, and land development. In his spare time\, he works evenings and weekends for his mom\, who started Stahman Native Plants in 2024\, to develop supplies for native plant hay and other materials for the Houston area. \n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/native-plants-in-houston-building-a-local-supply-chain-for-a-growing-market-march-20/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Matt-in-Peru-2017_02_13-13_50_33-UTC-scaled.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250225T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250225T201500
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20250219T224213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250219T224215Z
UID:10005033-1740510000-1740514500@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Let's Get Growing: Learn to Propagate Native Seeds & Plants
DESCRIPTION:Jonathan Watt\, President\, NPSOT Fredericksburg chapter\, will speak about propagating native plants to use in your landscape at the next chapter meeting. He will talk about seed collection\, cleaning\, stratifying\, sowing\, transplanting and the general care of young plants. He’ll also include pictures of his set-up and the materials he uses. The chapter meeting on February 25 starts with a social time at 6:30 and the presentation begins at 7 p.m. \n\n\n\n“I have always been fascinated by seeds and the miracle of the plants growing from them\,” stated Watt. “I’m looking forward to sharing my many years of experience growing from seed and other propagation methods.” \n\n\n\nWatt has been deeply involved with plants\, from botanic garden-sponsored expeditions in Central and South America collecting and studying Aroids (houseplants like philodendrons and pothos)\, to taxonomy\, landscape design\, installation and maintenance\, plant collection and propagation. He has a deep commitment to encouraging more people in Gillespie County to grow Texas native plants.NPSOT Fredericksburg holds its monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month at St. Joseph’s Halle (212 W. San Antonio St.\, Fredericksburg). There is a social time with snacks at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. \n\n\n\nThe public is invited to attend in person and via online streaming (https://www.youtube.com/@fredericksburgtexasnativeg4884). More information is online at Facebook (@fbgtxnpsot)\, Instagram (@npsot_fredericksburg_chapter)\, and https://npsot.org/chapters/fredericksburg/. Meetings are free and open to the public.
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/lets-get-growing-learn-to-propagate-native-seeds-plants/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Jonathan-Watt-plant-propagation-set-up-scaled.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250220T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250220T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20250224T153513Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250224T154236Z
UID:10004705-1740078000-1740081600@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Reestablishing Native Canopy in the Urban Landscape\, A Practical Guide - February 20
DESCRIPTION:This talk focuses on urban forestry\, particularly in the Greater Houston area\, and the importance of planting native trees in city landscapes. Dr. Stephen Cook shares practical experience and tips from his reforestation efforts in the Montrose super neighborhood\, discusses urban heat island effect\, introduces several beneficial native tree species to consider for city projects\, and provides resources for those interested in native urban forestry. \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker \n\n\n\nDr. Stephen T. Cook is a Texas Master Naturalist\, educator\, and passionate advocate for the reintroduction of native trees in our urban communities. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/reestablishing-native-canopy-in-the-urban-landscape-a-practical-guide-february-20/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250116T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250116T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20241206T191400Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250113T151810Z
UID:10004349-1737054000-1737057600@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:January Monthly Meeting - January 16
DESCRIPTION: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.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/january-monthly-meeting-january-16/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Pollinator-bed-and-sign.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241219T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241219T210000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20241206T163159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241206T163200Z
UID:10004345-1734633000-1734642000@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:NPSOT-Houston Holiday Dinner - December 19
DESCRIPTION:Our holiday tradition continues! \n\n\n\nRather 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4738 Beechnut StreetHouston\, TX 77096713.666.4644 \n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/npsot-houston-holiday-dinner-december-19/
CATEGORIES:Social Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fadis-logo.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241121T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241121T203000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20240624T030659Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240624T030700Z
UID:10003244-1732212000-1732221000@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Annual Native Plant/Seed Swap and Potluck - November 21
DESCRIPTION:Before you start all of your Thanksgiving festivities\, join us for one of favorite annual events! If you have native plants\, you likely have some new seedlings that have popped up\, clumps that need to be divided\, and seed heads to collect. Gather them up and trade them for some new species! This is always a fun event. What’s better than free plants\, right?  \n\n\n\nPlease only bring specimens that are locally native to Harris and surrounding counties or the Gulf Coast ecoregion. You can also bring other useful native plant related materials you don’t need any more like books or tools. \n\n\n\nThis is a great opportunity to network with your fellow NPSOT-H members\, meet the board\, and enjoy time with other native plant enthusiasts. We hope you can join us; please bring your favorite sharable dish for the potluck! \n\n\n\nNote we start earlier than our normal meeting and have a potluck dinner. Here is a rough outline of our schedule for the evening. \n\n\n\n\n6:00 pm – Set-up plants and seeds/social time\n\n\n\n6:30 pm – Potluck dinner\n\n\n\n7:00 pm – Announcements\n\n\n\n7:15 pm – Treasury update \n\n\n\n7:20 pm – Plant talks\n\n\n\n8:00-8:30 pm – Plant & seed swap\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nOur next live-streamed meeting will be in January. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/annual-native-plant-seed-swap-and-potluck-november-21/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image3-1-jpeg-e1699326829902.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241017T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241017T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20240624T030120Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241206T042629Z
UID:10003243-1729191600-1729195200@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Board Member Presentations - October 17
DESCRIPTION:Houston Chapter Board Members Reba Wiles and Doreen Gallevo will share their stories with our membership and summarize their experiences with urban habitat gardening. Join us this evening for two brief presentations on personal stories and helpful tips on garden maintenance that will inspire you on your own native plant journey.  \n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/monthly-chapter-meeting-october-17/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241008T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241008T150000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20240904T204051Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240904T232114Z
UID:10003549-1728396000-1728399600@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Chapter Meeting - "Mowing Practices Along Texas Roads" presented by TxDOT
DESCRIPTION:Join us at Riverside Nature Center (RNC) for a presentation on the mowing practices of TxDot along our Texas roadways.  Social time begins at 1 pm followed by the chapter business meeting at 1:30.   The public is welcome and the presentation if free of charge. \n\n\n\nRNC is located at 150 Francisco Lemos St.\, Kerrville\, Texas
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/chapter-meeting-mowing-practices-along-texas-roads-presented-by-txdot/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Kerrville-txdot-tractor-e1725492045762.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240919T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240919T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20240624T025956Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241206T041810Z
UID:10003242-1726772400-1726776000@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Building Bird-Friendly Communities with Houston Audubon: How to Attract and Support Native Birds Wherever You Live\, Work\, and Play - September 19
DESCRIPTION:Birds are not only beautiful and fascinating creatures\, but they are also essential to balanced and healthy ecosystems. Despite their importance\, bird populations across the United States have faced a staggering decline in the last 50 years. Join Amber Leung of Houston Audubon as she delves into the factors driving this decline and explores how we can make a difference. Whether you live in an urban area\, suburban neighborhood\, or rural setting\, there are practical steps you can take to create bird-friendly environments. Anyone can play a role in safeguarding these vital creatures for future generations. Amber will equip you with the knowledge and tools to attract and support native birds wherever you live\, work\, and play\, ensuring that their songs and presence remain a cherished part of our world for years to come. \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker\n\n\n\nAmber Leung is the Nature Programs Manager for Houston Audubon. She teaches about birds and the rest of the natural world at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary in Houston. Her love for the natural world was nurtured from an early age through camping and hiking adventures with her family in Austin. Her passion for birding took flight during a Coastal Ornithology course while pursuing a BS in Marine Sciences at Texas A&M University in Galveston. In 2015\, Amber became a certified Texas Master Naturalist and went on to serve two terms as president of the Coastal Prairie Chapter. She is deeply committed to promoting the importance of all aspects of a healthy ecosystem\, particularly those that are often overlooked. In her free time\, Amber enjoys cultivating her own native plant garden\, creating wildlife-inspired art\, and immersing herself in nature\, where she delights in observing birds and reptiles.  \n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/monthly-chapter-meeting-september-19/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240815T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240815T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20240624T025426Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240806T040610Z
UID:10003241-1723748400-1723752000@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:From the Bayou to the Hills and Lost Palms of Texas - August 15
DESCRIPTION:Cut and treated Chinese Tallow in Challenger 7 Memorial Park\, Webster\, Texas. Photo courtesy of Eric Ruckstuhl.\n\n\n\nIf you are not aware (but we hope you are)\, an invasive species is defined as a non-native species to the ecosystem whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Our speaker this month\, Eric Ruckstuhl\, has been removing invasive\, exotic plants throughout Texas for more than 25 years. Join us to learn about his work removing invasive species in Texas and witness the unveiling of his results mapping the lost palms of Texas\, Sabal mexicana. \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker – Eric Ruckstuhl \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEric Ruckstuhl is a native Houstonian who has lived in Cypress with his wife and two sons for 27 years. His company\, EBR Enterprises\, has been involved in habitat restoration for 30 years\, and invasive plant removal for over 25 years. He is a fluvial geomorphologist and a native plant and wetland specialist. (Since this newsletter editor had to look up fluvial geomorphology\, I’ll share that it is the study of the physical processes that shape and maintain river and stream form\, recognizing that an in-depth understanding of a river’s history and site specific conditions are critical to successful management and restoration. Now we know.) Eric is also a licensed Herbicide Applicator\, with Aquatic and Land Management certifications. \n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/monthly-chapter-meeting-august-15/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Cut-and-treated-Chinese-Tallow-in-Challenger-7-Memorial-Park-Webster-Texas-jpg.avif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240718T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240718T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20240624T025250Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240717T111813Z
UID:10003240-1721329200-1721332800@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Greener Gulfton: Native Plants for Health\, Resilience\, and Biodiversity - July 18
DESCRIPTION:IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to continued power outage at the Houston Arboretum\, we are not able to offer an in-person meeting this week. We will meet via Zoom only. Please register to ensure we have capacity for all who want to participate:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZclduiorj8oHNeUPLx31SwIQ-Yh6I8MfMoY\n\n\n\nGulfton is a culturally rich neighborhood in southwest Houston with great leadership and a can-do spirit. Yet\, it is a nature-deprived neighborhood\, putting the human community at risk for rising temperatures\, air pollution\, and increased stress levels. Fortunately an effort is underway to plant trees\, provide nature-rich shade shelters\, bus stops and more! Part of this transformation is the Greener Gulfton effort and we will tell that story. \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker\n\n\n\nJaime González is an award-winning conservationist\, environmental educator\, public speaker\, and coalition builder working at the intersection of human health\, biodiversity conservation\, equity\, and climate action. He works to influence policy\, secure funding\, catalyze planning and embed community-based projects that unlock the power of nature for community well-being and environmental health. Jaime serves as board chair for the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)\, as a board member for Madres del Parque\, and as a climate justice advisor to Harris County. He formerly worked for The Nature Conservancy\, the Coastal Prairie Conservancy\, Houston Arboretum & NatureCenter\, and the Nature Heritage Society. \n\n\n\nJaime has won numerous local\, state\, and national awards for his work\, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Houston’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics\, the 2022 Houston Visionary Award from Center for Houston’s Future\, the Prairie Champion Award from the Coastal Prairie Conservancy\, and the Elizabeth Hull Abernathy Award from the Garden Club of America for outstanding contributions to environmental education of youth. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/monthly-chapter-meeting-july-18/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jaime-Gonzales.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240620T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240620T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20240617T135058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240617T135059Z
UID:10003158-1718910000-1718913600@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Night Wings Over the Prairie – Insect Life After Dark - June 20
DESCRIPTION:Moth Night at Deer Park Prairie\, July 22\, 2023\n\n\n\nAs native plant enthusiasts\, you probably know a lot about prairie plants and their associated insect life during the daytime.  But how much do you know about insect nightlife? Join us as we explore nocturnal insect species at three Houston-area prairies—Lawther-Deer Park\, Nash Prairie Preserve\, and Texas City Prairie Preserve. Mary Spolyar will show us who comes to the light when the sun goes down. From colorful microleafhoppers to mantidflies (which are not flies!) and very long-horned beetles to fabulous sphinx moths\, it’s a kaleidoscope of life in the prairie night.  \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker – Mary Spolyar\n\n\n\nMary with with Uhler’s Giant Water Bug\n\n\n\nMary Spolyar is a Texas Master Naturalist in the Gulf Coast Chapter and an instructor for the Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP) classes offered by the Native Plant Society of Texas Houston Chapter. She enjoys volunteering for Houston Audubon’s Natives Nursery\, for which she visits local prairie remnants to collect seeds and helps to grow out native plants. A native Houstonian\, she loves being outdoors\, observing life and stalking small creatures with her smartphone. You can find her on iNaturalist as “rednat.” \n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nThe presentation will start at 7:00 pm\, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/night-wings-over-the-prairie-insect-life-after-dark-june-20/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mary-with-Uhlers-Giant-Water-Bug-rotated.avif
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240516T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240516T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20240513T050200Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240513T050201Z
UID:10003129-1715886000-1715889600@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Who is the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas Committee? Find out on May 16.
DESCRIPTION:We’ve been asked\, “Why are we messing with insects?” If you’ve ever wondered that too\, this program will explain how the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas committee of NPSOT benefits not just Monarch Butterflies but also a host of other creatures\, native plants\, and NPSOT itself. We’ll showcase some of our favorite success stories\, and explain how you too can get involved on lots of levels. \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker – Carol Clark\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCarol Clark is a longtime member of the Native Plant Society of Texas\, a Texas Master Naturalist\, and a Monarch Watch Conservations Specialist. She chairs the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas committee for NPSOT. She and her husband have a 36 acre Monarch Waystation and wildlife refuge in Cooke County where the emphasis is on birds\, insects\, and of course\, native plants. \n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nCarol will be presenting virtually\, but we will gather in person at 7:00 pm! Come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/who-is-the-bring-back-the-monarchs-to-texas-committee-find-out-on-may-16/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/announcement_BBMT_grant_monarch-2-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240418T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240418T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T025503
CREATED:20240313T153533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240313T153534Z
UID:10002855-1713466800-1713470400@www.npsot.org
SUMMARY:Predatory Garden Insects from the Nature Discovery Center - April 18
DESCRIPTION:Join us to have a look at the various predatory insects that can be found in the native plant gardens at the Nature Discovery Center\, such as assassin bugs\, ladybird Beetles\, and Wasps. We will also talk about what you can do to encourage them to stay and prey in your garden. \n\n\n\nAbout the Speaker – Eric Duran\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nEric is the Head Naturalist at the Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire\, Texas. Eric is the primary educator there. He has been an educator and naturalist at Armand Bayou\, Houston Zoo\, Moody Gardens\, Patuxent Research Refuge\, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary\, and Sacha Lodge in Ecuador. He has fieldwork experience with sea turtles\, amphibian call counts\, reptile surveys\, shark surveys\, various bird counts\, nest box surveys\, and King Eider monitoring on the Arctic Tundra. His activities outside of work include herpetology\, wildlife/pollinator gardening\, science blogging\, entomology\, bird watching\, hiking\, baking\, vegetarian cooking\, and social activism. \n\n\n\n\n\nOur 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.  \n\n\n\nJoin us in person at 7:00 pm! Come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks. \n\n\n\nHouston Arboretum and Nature Center \n\n\n\n610 Entrance (preferred)120 W Loop N FwyHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nWoodway Entrance4501 Woodway DriveHouston\, TX 77024 \n\n\n\nMeetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Houston Chapter Page
URL:https://www.npsot.org/event/predatory-garden-insects-from-the-nature-discovery-center-april-18/
CATEGORIES:Chapter Meeting,Virtual
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.npsot.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Milkweed-bug-Eric-Duran-jpg-e1710343855412.webp
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