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Native Plant Society of Texas

Big Bend Chapter

Call for PATRICIA ROSE MANNING 2025 UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP Applications

The Big Bend Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas is pleased to announce that the 2025 Patricia Rose Manning undergraduate scholarship applications are now ready to go out to prospective applicants. Patty Manning was a long-time grower of native plants in the Big Bend, a field botanist, a NPSOT member and co-founder of Twin Sisters Nursery. We owe a great debt of gratitude to her for all that she has contributed to our community over the years.

Sul Ross Junior and Senior students in the Fall of 2025 are eligible. There will be two awards for tuition: one for $3000 and one for $4000.

Students must either be…
1) Majoring in any field with an emphasis on Texas native plants or their ecosystems such as biology, Natural Resource Conservation, Natural Resource Management, Range Wildlife Management, etc.
OR
2) Planning a career related to Texas native plants and/or the conservation and restoration of native plant habitats in Texas
OR
3) Planning to attend graduate school in preparation for a career devoted to the study, conservation, or utilization of Texas native plants.

The deadline for submission is October 31, 2025, 11:59 PM. These scholarships will be awarded on November 15, 2025. You may download the application from the QR code on the attached flyer, or copy and paste the URL (https://tinyurl.com/ymknhjch) above the QR code in the flyer in a browser.

Flyer for application: https://tinyurl.com/ymknhjch

If you know anyone that meets any of these criteria, please alert them to this announcement.

Thank You

Tom Kennedy
NPSOT Big Bend
Program Manager; Scholarship Director

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

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