Collin County Chapter

November 4th Meeting – Native Texas Plant Show & Tell

Our annual Native Texas Plant Show & Tell program will be on Tuesday, November 4 at 7:00 pm. Members and other attendees are encouraged to show pictures and tell about their favorite native Texas plants, such as:

  • Your favorite native plant(s) in your landscape and their stories.
  • Reminiscing about a stunning native wildflower(s) you photographed on a hike.
  • Why you find a particular native species so fascinating.
  • Your interest in a natural area teeming with native Texas plants.

We’re Looking for Show & Tellers!

This is your chance to share your photos and stories. Everyone is invited to present. Presentations can be done in-person or remotely via Zoom.

  • What to Share: Pictures of your favorite native Texas plants from your home, a park, or any natural area.
  • Time: Presentations have no minimum length, but are limited to a 10-minute maximum.
  • Requirement: Just one! Your presentation must be about native Texas plants.
  • Sign-Up Limit: We have space for a maximum of 10 presenters, so sign up early!

Submission Guidelines:

  • Accepted Formats: PowerPoint, Google Slides, or PDF. (Please convert Apple Keynote files).
  • Important Photo Note: Please do not send individual photo files. To ensure your photos are presented in the correct order, please compile them into a single file. An easy way to do this is using the “Print to PDF” function on your computer.
  • Deadline to Submit: Saturday, November 1
  • Email To: collincountynpsot@gmail.com

Attendance Options

Our meetings are open to the public. This is a hybrid meeting held at the Heard Museum in McKinney and virtually via Zoom.

  • Location (in-person): Laughlin Hall at the Heard Museum. Please enter through the south doors of the building.
  • Zoom Link: https://tinyurl.com/yn85nbzd – Passcode: 571904; Meeting ID: 885 5459 6572
  • Doors and Zoom Open: 6:30 PM (for setup and connection testing)
  • Meeting Begins: 7:00 PM, with a brief update from Chapter President Rodney Thomas, followed by the “Show and Tellers”.

We look forward to seeing you at our program!

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason