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Native Plant Society of Texas

Highland Lakes Chapter

March 15 Chapter Meeting

The next Highland Lakes Native Plant Society meeting will be Saturday,15 March 2025, 1:00-3:00 at the Marble Falls Library, 101 Main Street.

Jess Divin, ISA Master Arborist, will be joined by certified arborists Talia Freeman, Kyle White, and William Johnston to present “Improving the Cultural Practices of Tree Care.”

Jess will address the common questions and qualms of the common tree admirer, and speak on

  • Improving conditions in our harsh climate
  • Common tree care faux pas
  • Common pests of Central Texas
  • How to mitigate tree stressors

Jess, Talia, Kyle, and William are certified arborists for Davey Tree who cover the Highland Lakes area. Both Jess and William are district managers and have made appearances on multiple news channels, from San Antonio to Austin. They’ve also presented at many garden club meetings in their respective areas. However, a day-to-day task is going to individuals’ properties and spotting areas to improve the lives of their trees and shrubs.

Jess is an International Society of Arboriculture Board Certified Master Arborist, Texas ISA Oak Wilt Qualified, and Tree Risk Assessor Qualified. He is currently a District Manager at the East San Antonio Davey Tree, which spans from Rockport to Blanco.
Throughout the years, Jess has arboricultural experience from entry level technician to District Manager at Davey Tree. He was also a wildland firefighter in Colorado, the Park Ranger Superintendent and Urban Forester for the city of New Braunfels. His passion for trees knows no bounds.

Upcoming NPSOT-Highland Lakes Programs: Saturday, 17 May Ashley Landry is the founder of the Native Plant Rescue Project (NPRP), which is a Central Texas-based nonprofit that coordinates plant rescues prior to construction. Ashley has been featured in Wildflower magazine, The Austin Chronicle and on Central Texas Gardener. You can learn more about NPRP by finding them on Instagram @nativeplantrescueproject or by visiting their website, www.nativeplantrescueproject.org.

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