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Fredericksburg Chapter

25 Native Plant Lessons from 25 Years of Experience

Long-time residents and newcomers can be equally frustrated with landscaping in Gillespie County. Weather, water (or lack thereof), and weariness can all weigh heavily on your gardening success. Whether you’ve been here for 30 years, or just moved here last week, this month’s speaker at Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas monthly meeting will provide you with the tips you need to succeed.

Matt Kolodzie, owner of Friendly Natives Nursery, will share his 25 tips for planting natives from his 25 years in the nursery and landscaping business here in Fredericksburg on Tuesday, October 22 – 6:30 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Halle.

“There are hundreds of wonderful Texas natives in Texas, but trying to figure out which ones do the best in your particular area of Gillespie County, can take time,” noted Kolodzie. “I’m going to share with you what I’ve learned in the last 25 years so you can shorten your learning curve, be more successful faster, and save money.”

“Planting natives in the Hill Country is a lot different from gardening in Dallas or Houston,” added Deborah Simmons, president of the Fredericksburg Chapter of NPSOT. “And with our current drought, even people who’ve lived here a long time are facing challenges. Everyone makes mistakes while they’re trying to figure it all out, but with Matt’s tips, hopefully you’ll make fewer mistakes along the way.”

Kolodzie began Friendly Natives in 1998 as a landscape design and build operation, working in the suburbs north of Dallas. In 2008, he found a piece of property in Fredericksburg and opened Friendly Natives nursery, where he consults with clients on landscape design using native and adapted plants, garden refurbishments, and ongoing organic-based maintenance in Fredericksburg and Gillespie County.

The Fredericksburg NPSOT chapter 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. The public is invited to attend in person and via YouTube. Meetings are free and open to the public. More information is online at Facebook, and Instagram.

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. 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