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Annual awards announced for 2024

Craig Dalton

Photo credit: Kathleen Scott, Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) in Landa Lake, Landa Park
Bald Cypress in Landa Lake, Landa Park, Kathleen Scott.

From the Awards Committee:

Every year the Native Plant Society of Texas recognizes organizations and individuals that advance our mission. Their work was honored during our 2024 Fall Symposium held November 10-12, in New Braunfels, Texas.

Benny Simpson Fellows Honorees

The Fellows Award is a high honor in our Society and is presented to individuals whose work enriches the Society at the state or chapter level. They are chosen by the membership from a list of members with ten years of continuous commendable service. This year’s Fellows are Kim Conrow, Cecil Carter, and Betsy Farris.

State Board Awards: Appreciation, Native Star and Digital Media

Award of Appreciation is given for work that furthers our mission. This year’s award goes to a Kyle Cowart for being an ambassador for planting Texas bluebonnets by making presentations to multiple groups, creating a display for outreach, and giving away seeds.

Native Star Award is for a specific act of conservation or public service in the field of Texas native plants. The award goes to the Lingleville ISD PTO for mobilizing, inspiring, & enlisting the community to create an outdoor learning environment for Pre-K through 12 students as a hands-on living lab to enhance education.

Digital Media Award recognizes outstanding digital publications featuring Texas native plants. The award goes to Joe Marcus for his significant contribution as program coordinator of the Native Plants of North America database and website for the  Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Memorial Awards: the Society has seven awards that help us to stay connected to the people from the past who were important in the study and advancement of Texas native plants and to people who founded and developed our Society. Through these awards we show our respect and admiration for those who are continuing these efforts today

The Mary Jo Laughlin and Dr. Eula Whitehouse Memorial Award is awarded for visual art that illustrates, interprets, or promotes Texas native plants. The award goes to Jane Felts Mauldin for her beautiful and enticing illustrations highlighting Texas native plants in the Herald-Zeitung newspaper in New Braunfels.

The Shirley Lusk Memorial Award honors a community scientist for collecting and preserving Texas native plants for public education by providing outstanding contribution of herbarium vouchers. The award goes to Mary Curry for collecting herbarium vouchers for BRIT concentrating on specimens of botanical, geographic, & taxonomic significance.

The Carroll Abbott Memorial Award is for writings in the popular vein on Texas native plants. The award goes to Amy Martin for her book Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature around Dallas-Fort Worth which explores the ecology, natural history, and flora and fauna of North Texas and where to experience them.

Nancy Benedict Memorial Award is for a specific of conservation or public service in the field of Texas native plants. Ashley Landry for founding & leading the Native Plant Rescue Project in Central TX resulting in 1000s of plants & seeds, 275+ species, being saved from development & given to botanic gardens, nurseries, & the public.

The Lynn Lowrey Memorial Award is for horticultural achievement. The award goes to Patty Manning for work done through Twin Sisters Native Nursery in the Big Bend region, developing propagation protocols and providing new plant species to the Sul Ross State University Plant Material Center, and donating to living collections for botanical gardens throughout Texas.

The Charles Leonard Weddle Memorial Award is for lifetime achievement in the field of Texas native plants. The award goes to Barney Lipscomb for serving as Director of BRIT Press & Library, Editor-in-Chief of botanical journals, Leonhardt Chair of Texas Botany; doing research & fieldwork, co-authoring several flora books and multiple journal articles, & speaking dynamically to NPSOT audiences on multiple topics.

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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