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Native Plant Society of Texas

Annual awards presented

NPSOT Archive

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The Native Plant Society of Texas recognized excellence in writing, acts of conservation and public service, and lifetime achievement in the field of Texas native plants during the annual meeting in Kerrville on October 6.

Jim Stanley was awarded the Carroll Abbott Memorial Award for his popular book Hill Country Landowner’s Guide. The award is named for the founder of the Society and is given for writings in the popular vein on Texas native plants.

Ken King and Alfred Richardson were recognized in the field of scientific writing about native flora for their book Plants of Deep South Texas.

Bill Carr was recognized for his work collecting, identifying and preserving thousands of native plants and plant records.

Shirley Lusk received a lifetime achievement award for her volunteer work, identifying, collecting and teaching about the native plants of the north Texas area.

Marilyn Perz wins the raffle quilt. She is accompanied by Lonnie Childs and Tricia Hopkins. photo by Alan Middleton

Mark Bronstad was recognized for horticultural achievement for his work in the commercial propagation of Cyrilla.

Recipients are chosen by an Awards Committee appointed by the State Board. Awards are presented annually during the Fall Symposium each October. Cynthia Maguire chaired the committee and presented the awards. Other committee members were Leslie Bush, Ginger Frazier, Rhoda Poenisch and Peter Schaar. The awards criteria and a complete list of past winners is available on the Awards page

In addition Ron and Ruth Loper of the Tyler Chapter were recognized with the Benny Simpson Fellows Award for their service to the Society and the Amarillo Chapter was named Chapter of the Year.

The awards were presented at a banquet culminating a three day event of workshops, presentations and field trips around the theme of the changing face of the Hill Country ecoregion. Over 280 members participated. Read all about the event.

Over $4300 was collected at an auction and a quilt raffle. The money was donated to a scholarship fund managed by the Native Plant Society of Texas.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: Bill Hopkins

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

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