Andy Wasowski

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We are saddened to learn of the death of Andy Wasowski. Andy and his wife Sally were passionate advocates of native plants with many books to their credit and they also played an important role in the history of the Society.

Photo by David Farmer

Andy Wasowski, 73, died peacefully just after 1 pm, August 1, 2012, in Taos, New Mexico, in the arms of his loved ones: wife Sally Wasowski, daughter Sora Brodie, and family friend Martha Bonner. He had a reoccurrence of prostate cancer – radiation and chemo over the past few months weakened him further and he couldn’t fight it.

Andy spent 30 years in the advertising business, writing and producing TV commercials for top ad agencies in Los Angeles and New York and later had his own agency in Dallas. During his career, he received numerous awards, including the Clio, which is advertising’s Oscar.

In the mid-1980s, he took time off to help Sally write a book on landscaping with native plants. That book, Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region, today is used as a main gardening reference by many of us who love landscaping with natives. To date, the book has sold more than 150,000 copies.

Andy never returned to the advertising business. He became a freelance writer and photographer specializing in gardening and environmental issues, and his articles appeared in many well-respected magazines. Since 1996 the Wasowskis made their home in Taos, where they became active with the Native Plant Society of New Mexico.

In September 2005 a profile of Andy and Sally appeared in our magazine.

Memorial contributions may be made to Native Plant Society of Texas Kate Hillhouse Scholarship Fund.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: Bill Hopkins

About the Region

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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