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Organization: Collin County

Parkhill Prairie

A 436-acre native plant preserve located in northeast Collin County. Parkhill Prairie Park features a 52-acre relic of the Blackland tall-grass prairie and provides magnificent views of the countryside.

Stiff Chapel Cemetary

A two-acre Texas Historic Cemetery dating from 1847. Located in McKinney, the grounds have a wide variety of native grasses and perennials on undisturbed soil.

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center

The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center in Lucas promotes and enhances populations of raptors through rehabilitation, conservation, and education initiatives. In line with their name, the facility has also undertaken large-scale

Invasive Plant Database

National Invasive Species Awareness Week

Today starts National Invasive Species Awareness Week. The week is intended to raise awareness about invasive species throughout the country and world. Through outreach programs and communications, the week is

Smiley-Woodfin Prairie

The 2,100-acre meadow in Lamar County is the largest section of native grassland existing in Texas. This grassland has remained uncultivated, providing an annual harvest of native grasses.

Frankford Blackland Prairie

A historic five-acre nature preserve situated in the midst of north Dallas. The site features a rare remnant of the Blackland Prairie once indigenous to the Dallas area, the historic

Clymer Meadow Preserve

The 1,475 acre preserve in Hunt County contains some of the largest and most diverse remnants of the Blackland Prairie — the Texas version of the tallgrass prairie that once

Connemara Meadow Nature Preserve

The nature preserve, located in Allen, is 72 acres of natural habitat, and rich in floral diversity that is reminiscent of the native tallgrass Blackland Prairie.

NICE Native Plants

Native Plants for North Texas Texas is a large, diverse state, and plants that work for one region may not always be the best choice in a different region. NICE

Newsletters – 2021 & 2022

The Collin County Chapter’s monthly newsletter is provided to inform our members and guests of events, successes, and other local items of interest related to native plants. Listed below are

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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