Groundbreaking for I-35 Monarch waystations

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The planting days for the Monarch waystations at the Interstate 35 Hill County Safety Rest Areas start Thursday, October 13 (northbound rest area) with the public groundbreaking for the project.

Welcome the Monarchs! Field Day includes exhibits setting up around 10:00 am with live butterflies, native plants, and more. Of course we will also be planting the Phase I beds. News media from Austin will be there at 11:00 am.

For those of you joining the planting parties on Thursday and Sunday, they will start at 8:00 am on Thursday and 9:00 am on Sunday. TxDOT would like us to park in the truck parking lot instead of the car parking lot on those days. So as you enter the rest areas, take the right fork. If you are going to be helping with planting don’t forget sun protection and tools, and be prepared for muddy conditions.

The Thursday event will occur at the Hill County northbound rest area on the east side of I-35. From the south exit 362a. From the north, exit 356, go over the freeway and get back on it going north and then exit 362a.

On Sunday we will be at the Hill County southbound rest area on the west side of I-35. From the north exit 362a. From the south exit 364a, go over the freeway and get back on it going south and then exit 362a.

For information about future work days at the site contact Kay Jenkins.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: kayjenkins

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