Dallas Chapter

February 2017’s Meeting – Composting with Daniel Cunningham

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February Meeting

On Monday, February 20th Daniel Cunningham of the Water University Team at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas will be presenting Composting!

“Is your trash can full at the end of the week? Did you know that you can reduce the waste carried to landfills by composting more and throwing away less? This program teaches the composting process, the different types and practical methods of composting, its importance and ways to use the best soil amendment for your lawn and landscape.”

“Daniel Cunningham is a Horticulturalist with Water University. His programs focus on sustainable landscaping and food production systems.  Daniel specializes in Texas native plants and trees, vegetable gardening, edible landscaping and rainwater harvesting.  He forages for his own food and provides information for wildlife gardening.

Daniel addresses professionals and the public to provide the most sustainable information about landscape water use from design and plant selection to water conserving landscape management practices.

Daniel received a B.S. in Environmental Horticulture with a minor in Natural Resource Management from Texas Tech University.  While at Tech, he discovered a passion for water conserving landscapes while conducting breeding and trial research with native plant material. While working towards an M.S. in horticulture, also at Texas Tech, his research focused on community development and implementation of integrated sustainable food production systems in arid areas.”

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About the Region

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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