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.
“Texas Native Plant Week” signed by the Governor
Author: Bill Ward Effective September 1, 2009, there will be an official Texas Native Plant Week, celebrated annually the third week in October. During the 2009 Texas legislative session, Representative Donna Taylor of Austin authored a bill entitled “An Act relating to a recognition week to celebrate Texas native plants”
Bluebell gentian, favorite wildflower of the drought
The showy blue-purple blooms of the bluebell make it a favorite wildflower. Supposedly, those eye-catching flowers have led the plant to extinction in certain places where people could not resist picking them all.
SUN award to Debbie Reid
**ARCHIVED POST ** The Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant Society recently presented Debbie Reid with the SUN Award (Standing Up for Natives Award). Reid has been one of this area’s most innovative and influential stewards of native plants and the general ecosystem.
Houston presents wildscape workshop
**ARCHIVED POST ** Learn how to introduce beautiful native plants into your home landscape, and gain the benefits of lower water and maintenance requirements, pollution reduction, environmental restoration and increased sustenance for butterflies, birds and other wildlife.
“Texas Native Plant Week” signed by governor
Since 2009 there has been an official Texas Native Plant Week celebrated annually the third week in October.
What we gonna do when the well runs dry?
**ARCHIVED POST ** The drought in the Hill Country this year has caused many of us to focus on the looming water shortage problem in Texas. That will the subject of the South Central Texas Water Conservation Conference to be held in Brenham on October 3.
Native Plants and the Drought — Some Random Observations
Author: Bill Ward Everyone complained about the poor crop of wildflowers in the Hill Country last spring, but the lack of wildflowers was expected in the midst of our prolonged drought. No rain, no flowers. However, from my random and non-expert observations, it seems to me the reaction of many
Native plants and the drought
Some botanists think profuse flowering by some plants during the severe drought probably is a mechanism for survival of the species.
Fredericksburg to present wildscapes workshop
The Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will sponsor Wildscapes Workshop, an educational seminar on perennials, produce and pollinators, on Saturday, September 12, 2009.
July-August 2009
NICE! Plant of the Month (Rivina humilis) Family: Phytolaccaceae Other Common Names: Rouge Plant, Rivina, Bloodberry. Baby peppers. Type: Perennial herb. Leaves and berries are toxic to humans if ingested. Natural Habitat: Native to the Edwards Plateau; found throughout Texas and most southern and western states in moist woodlands and
Pigeonberry — perfect for shady spots
What can you plant in the shade under the live oaks? For the answer, look no farther than pigeonberry.
Pigeon-berry — NICE! plant for shady spots
After “Do deer eat it?”, probably the second-most-common question asked by Hill Country gardeners wanting to grow native plants is “What can I plant in the shade under the live oaks?”. For the answer to that, look no farther than the Operation NICE! (Natives Instead of the Common Exotics!) plant
