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Native Plant Society of Texas

Kerrville Chapter

September 2021 Chapter Meeting – “The What, Why and How of Gardening for Wildlife at Home”

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Next Chapter meeting
Tuesday September 14, 2021
(ZOOM only)

“The What, Why and How of Gardening for Wildlife at Home”

Lauren Simpson, a Houston law professor and gardener, was the speaker at our NPSOT meeting on September 14 at 2 pm. The topic of her presentation was “The What, Why and How of Gardening for Wildlife at Home.”

Lauren showed us how to transform our own yards into beautiful, native-plant paradises that support pollinators and please the neighbors. Her yard is a Certified Wildlife Habitat, a Monarch Waystation and a Certified Butterfly Garden. She has named her garden St. Julian’s Crossing in honor of St. Julian the Hospitaller, patron saint of travelers and innkeepers, because Monarch Butterflies travel through the gardens on their annual migration. She answered any of your questions after the presentation.

UPDATE – This will be a ZOOM Meeting ONLY.  Lauren will speak to us live from her home in Houston. Click here for the Zoom meeting information.  This meeting is open to the general public so please share with your friends, neighbors, co-workers or anyone whom you think might be interested!

A short business meeting will be held starting at 1:30 to catch everyone up on chapter happenings and upcoming events. The presentation will begin at 2 pm.

Additional Resources provided by Lauren.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: beckyleal

About the Region

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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