New slogan contest

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Unleash your imagination and help us come up with a new motto!

For many years we have used the slogan Grow Native! as our motto. You’ve seen it on several different varieties of bumper sticker, on posters and other places.  We want to refresh our motto to better convey our Mission and new Vision statements. Our old motto has served its purpose, but tends to suggest that we are only a gardening society. While we do seek to encourage native gardening, we also strive to do so much more for native plants and habitats.

The contest rules are as follows:

  1. The motto should clearly and simply communicate the Mission and Vision statements while conveying a positive image of our society.
  2. A preference will be given for mottos of 5 words or less.
  3. The motto must not be in current use by another organization or violate trademark/copyright laws to your knowledge.
  4. All legal and commercial rights to the motto will be surrendered to the Native Plant Society of Texas if it is chosen as the winning entry.
  5. Only one entry will be accepted per individual. The contest is open to both members and non-members.
  6. Entries must be sent via email by 12 midnight on May 31, 2013, to president@npsot.org.
  7. The winning entry will be chosen at the July 20, 2013, State Board meeting. We reserve the right to choose no winning entry.
  8. The winner will be recognized in our member magazine and website and receive a free one year membership at their current level. If the winner is not a current member, they will receive a free membership at the individual level.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: Bill Hopkins

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