Clear Lake Chapter

Chapter Meeting: Native Plant Society of Texas—Who are we and what can we do for you?

Monday, February 12 • 6:45 p.m.
Online Meeting

Please join us for our chapter meeting on Zoom!

6:35 Meeting Opens
6:45 Business Meeting
6:55 Plant of the Month
7:00 Guest Speaker

Our February speaker will give an overview of programs offered at the state level, and the perks, events, and benefits that local chapters provide. Carol Clark will cover the Native Landscape Certification Program, grants and scholarships, Texas Native Plants magazine, the annual symposium, and the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas program, along with a host of fun things like field trips, plant sales, and plant rescue digs. Some of the Society’s online resources offered will also be featured.

About the Speaker

Carol Clark is an amateur botany enthusiast, a Texas Master Naturalist, and longtime member of the Native Plant Society of Texas. She chairs the Bring Back the Monarchs to Texas committee for NPSOT. 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.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

This is a FREE EVENT, but please register to join the meeting and participate in the Q&A. This meeting may also be live streamed on our Facebook page.

Meetings are open to members and non-members. If you would like to become a member, you may join online. For more information about the Native Plant Society of Texas and the benefits of membership please visit: www.npsot.org.

Hosted by the Environmental Institute of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake.

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