News and Events

News and announcements from our committee chairs, board members, and chapter leaders. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay up to date. For chapter news, visit Chapters. If you are looking for a calendar of events, see our Events Calendar.

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Margaret Bamberger 1938-2009

**ARCHIVED POST ** Recently we lost a champion of education about conservation of the ecology of the Texas Hill Country. Margaret Bamberger passed away in her sleep on March 6, 2009, after a long and heroic fight against multiple cancers. Margaret was an equal partner with J. David Bamberger in the

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Acacias are NICE! in this part of the Hill Country

Author: Bill Ward Texas has a large number of Acacia, as many as 17 or 18 species and varieties, according to which taxonomist is making the list. Some members of that genus are excellent small trees and shrubs for landscaping in this area. As our water supply in the Hill

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Finding native plants this spring

**ARCHIVED POST ** If we had Frequently Asked Questions here the number one question on the list would surely be, “Where can I find native plants for my own garden?” Its not as hard as you might think. Many local nurseries carry a selection of native plants.  The Lady Bird

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Green tree with dark bark
Boerne

March 2009

NICE! Plant of the Month (Acacia farnesiana) Family: Fabaceae (Legume Family) Other Common Names: Sweet Acacia Type: Small deciduous tree or large shrub, usually multitrunked. Natural Habitat: South and South Central Texas eastward to Houston most often in low moist sites. Growth: Fast growing up to 30 ft tall, spreading

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Acacias can be nice

**ARCHIVED POST ** Texas has a large number of Acacia, as many as 17 or 18 species and varieties, according to which taxonomist is making the list.  Some members of that genus are excellent small trees and shrubs for landscaping in this area.  As our water supply in the Hill

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The Texas Hill Country is Fern Habitat, Too

Author: Bill Ward If asked to name prominent native plants of the Texas Hill Country, would your list include a fern? Probably that would be the last plant named by most people. Ferns are an East Texas thing, aren’t they? Actually, ferns grow in every part of Texas, including the

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Magazine publishes in color

**ARCHIVED POST ** The NPSOT News has just published its first ever full-color edition. The quarterly magazine is an official publication of the Native Plant Society of Texas and contains articles about native plants and plant habitats, as well as information about the society and its activities. The magazine is

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The Texas hill country is fern habitat, too

**ARCHIVED POST ** If asked to name prominent native plants of the Texas Hill Country, would your list include a fern?  Probably that would be the last plant named by most people.  Ferns are an East Texas thing, aren’t they?

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Create a low-maintenance landscape

**ARCHIVED POST ** Turning a landscape into a low-maintenance one isn’t hard at all. It can be done all at once, or over many years — it’s your call! It could cut maintenance bills in half. Plus, any landscape is a candidate.

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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 four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason