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

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