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Organization: Austin

Field of yellow flowers

NPSOT Plant Collection Policy

The Native Plant Society of Texas, in keeping with its basic purpose of education, conservation, and preservation of the native plants of Texas, has created this policy for its members

Plants of the Month

June 2023 Plants of the Month

These plants really shine in June as the sun starts heating up Click for more details Blanket Flower Skeleton Leaf Goldeneye Rock Rose Inland Sea Oats Horsemint Pearl Milkweed Vine

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NPSOT Chapter Membership Contest Award

NPSOT AUSTIN #1 Go Team Austin We just received this in the mail and I wanted to share it with everyone. Congratulations to all of our hard working officers and

Chapter

Austin Chapter Meeting: May 16, 7pm-9pm

For the zoom link to our chapter meeting Click Here Mycology 101: All Mushrooms are Magic Our speaker this month, Angelica Torres, is a local mushroom farmer, and native, edible

Activity

Shield Ranch Field Trip Report

What a great day, perfect weather, gorgeous wildflowers, and so many knowledgeable botanists in our group. Bill Carr, a well-known Austin Area botanist, lead us across a lush prairie, along

Activity

Field Trip: Shield Ranch – April 29

Join us for a Field Trip to Shield Ranch in Dripping Springs. At Shield Ranch, stewarding and protecting the Hill Country ecosystem is their solemn purpose. Located 18 miles southwest of

Chapter

Volunteer Appreciation Week

National Volunteer Week, which is 17 April – 21 April, is an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges,

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. 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 four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason