Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Boerne Chapter

Boerne Chapter Meeting, September 3, 6:00 pm – 8:15 pm

Chapter Meeting, September 3.

The meeting will start with a social time at 6:00pm, at the Cibolo Nature Center Auditorium. Announcements will begin at 6:45pm, followed by the presentation. For the social time, please bring any snacks/appetizers/desserts that you would like to share. 
Our presentation topic is Coexistence – Native Plants, Reptiles, Amphibians, presented by

 Scott Johnson. Scott is a conservationist, certified outdoor educator, and former zoologist who has held positions ranging from reptile keeper to director of education.  Throughout Scott’s career he specialized primarily in reptiles and has worked closely with Louisiana Pinesnake conservation in East Texas, Conservation Education in Florida. He has also worked with Crocodilians in India at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Center for Herpetology. Scott recently left the zoology field so he could be closer to his family in Texas and continues to work on connecting people with nature and promoting conservation initiatives.

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