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Native Plant Society of Texas

Collin County Chapter

In Remembrance of Gailon Brehm

We are honoring Gailon Brehm, our late Vice President and great friend, by establishing an account at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney to fund an embossed metal plaque describing his contributions and naming the boardwalk after him.

In addition, we are planning to build a covered bench looking out over the wetlands bearing his name. With sufficient funds, we can apply them to additional projects to make the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary more accessible and enjoyable for children with disabilities.

Donations can be made through the Heard website by specifying “In memory of” and “Gailon Brehm”. Alternatively, you can send a check, noting that it is in memory of Gailon Brehm, via mail to:

Heard Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
Attn: Sy Shahid
1 Nature Place
McKinney, TX 75069

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