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Native Plant Society of Texas

Trinity Forks Chapter

Native Plant Art Exhibition

The Texas Native Plant Art Exhibition is an annual collaborative project sponsored by the Trinity Forks Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas, the Elm Fork Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist and Texas Woman’s University, College of Arts and Sciences. The purpose of the project is to raise awareness of the importance of native plants and educate the students about the role of native plants in conservation and our natural heritage. 

The Texas Native Plant Art Exhibition began with one school in 2009 in recognition of Texas Native Plant Week. The project has expanded to 25 Denton ISD elementary schools. Over 800 works of art of native plants have been created by fourth grade students in their art classes. Their art teachers are provided with information about Texas native plants to share with their students.

The reception is held at the end of April each year. The reception is to honor the students and their art teachers as well as recognize the display hosts and the project sponsors.
The art teachers, the students and their families come to see the artwork and enjoy refreshments and other displays. Every picture that was submitted is displayed. One best of show picture is selected from each school. These pictures are framed and receive special recognition. 

All of the artwork is returned to the schools in May along with a Certificate of Accomplishment for every art teacher and every student that participated. 

For more information contact:
Marilyn Blanton at
 marilynblanton42@gmail.com

Native Texas Plant Art Exhibition Submissions

Native Texas Plant Exhibition Displays

The artwork is continuously displayed from November through April. The displays share the artwork with the community in public locations where it is seen by hundreds. The display sites are happy to showcase the artwork every year.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers from Trinity Forks Chapter and the Elm Fork Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists, under the leadership of Marilyn Blanton, helped make this activity happen.  Not only did these volunteers work hard, but they also had fun coming together to organize, sort, judge and set up the displays. These volunteers also took down the displays and moved them from venue to venue six times between November and April.

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason