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Native Plant Society of Texas

San Antonio Chapter

San Antonio Chapter Meeting September 2026

Metha Haggard's Property Being Conservation

July 28, 2026 – 7:00pm
Arrive at 6:30pm to share or find native plants at the Native Plants for All table.

This will be a “hybrid” meeting, attend in-person or online.

  • In person: The Gathering Center at the Urban Ecology Center at Phil Hardberger Park, 8400 NW Military Hwy
  • Online: Please register in advance to attend via Zoom.

Presentation by Metha Haggard, Conservationist, NPSOT and Audubon Society member.

Whole and Wild – The Purpose of our Conservation Easement

Metha Haggard has a story to tell about how her family has worked to put their 246-acre property into a Conservation Easement in 2020. As part of this ongoing journey they have worked to restore short grass prairie to the property, removed of hundreds of invasive Chinese Tallows, Chinaberries and Bradford Pears and created a “green cemetery” full of native Texas plants. Metha will share the progress over the years and tell us about the assistance she has received to realize the true meaning of stewardship on her property.

Metha graduated from Sul Ross University with a degree in chemistry. A varied carreer has spanned cake decorating to chemist at an explosive plant to air quality analyst for an environmental consulting firm. Since moving back to the area in 2000 Metha has been a member of the NPSOT and the local Audubon Society.

If you are attending in person, there is no need to register. However, if you are attending via Zoom, please register here before the meeting begins as late registration and entry will not be allowed. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Note: The Zoom recording will be available within days after the meeting on our  YouTube channel.

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