Beverly Blondell

My name is Beverly Hill Blondell, and I am a passionate landscape designer based in Houston, Texas. My journey into the world of landscape design began in my own backyard after my husband and I bought our first home. What started as a simple gardening experiment soon turned into a profound love for native plants and their incredible ecological benefits.

With a background in fashion design, I bring a unique aesthetic sense to my landscape projects, merging beauty and functionality. After experiencing the challenges of alternating Houston droughts and freezes, I sought to deepen my understanding of Texas native plants. Through the Native Plant Society of Texas, I earned my levels 1-4 Certification in the Native Landscape Certification Program and became thoroughly engaged in local educational resources.

Today, my backyard is home to around 100 different species of native plants, serving as a vibrant test-kitchen for learning about these diverse flora. I have come to appreciate the critical role that native plants play in supporting our local wildlife. I am thrilled to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with others, helping them appreciate that native landscapes can be both stunning and low-maintenance.

At Bayou Native, my mission is to redefine the perception of native plants in our communities. I am here to show Houstonians that with a little creativity and the right guidance, we can achieve beautiful, intentional, and sustainable landscapes that are not only cost-effective but also beneficial for our environment. Together, let’s create spaces that enhance both our homes and the natural world around us.

Harris County, TX, USA

Bayou Native (owner)

Presentations Offered:

designing intentional and low maintenance landscapes

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