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.
What’s blooming this brown spring
This year early spring is brown ….. dry brown! All the green is left over winter green: mountain laurel, evergreen sumac, silktassel, juniper, and live oak. And very little is in bloom.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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.
February 2009
NICE! Plant of the Month (Rhus virens) Family: Anacardiaceae Other Common Names: Tobacco Sumac, Lentisco Type: Perennial multi-trunked shrub Natural Habitat: Gullies and dry hillsides in the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos, and Northern Mexico. Growth: 8 to 12 feet. Deer Resistance: No and often browsed. Wildlife: Valuable food for bees,
Evergreen sumac – a favorite shrub that bears another mention
When my wife and I first hiked the trails in Friedrich Park several years ago, it was a sunny winter day. Most of the trees and bushes were leafless, but we kept admiring some shrubs and low trees that still had shiny green foliage. “That would be a great plant to have in our yard,” I said. “I wonder what it is?”
