Dallas Chapter

August 2020 Meeting – “Just Enough Latin to Go Plant Shopping” with Carol Clark

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We hope you’ll join us for our August meeting on Monday, the 17th @ 7PM, when the wonderful Carol Clark will be presenting one of her many topics. You can join us early at 6:30 for social time and troubleshooting connection.

Registration is required. https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYkdeirqjMuHdbSMiRSxWm9Rgpd4i3ab_LY

The scientific names of plants might seem like a giant pain to learn, but they carry more useful information than you might think. Learning just a few common roots for form, size, color, origins, shape and habitat can help you decipher those names and choose the right plant for the right place, save you time and money, and lead to a whole new avenue of enjoyment in your gardening life. We’ll keep it fun and simple, so don’t let your fear of Latin keep you away. Reference handouts included and can be found here in pdf & Word formats: https://www.npsot.org/wp/dallas/resources-and-links/meeting-minutes-handouts/

“Carol Clark is an amateur botany enthusiast, a Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist, a Texas Master Naturalist, and longtime member of the Native Plant Society of Texas. She and her husband own and operate Clark Haven, a wildlife preserve and custom wildflower seed business in Cooke County. Carol grew up with a nature photographer father and wildlife artist brother, and has spent much of her life looking around in the great outdoors. Her favorite things to do are leading discovery walks in local natural areas, and finding and photographing interesting plants.”

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About the Region

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Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

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 fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason