In the age of smartphones, our phones often double as our primary cameras. This is especially true of gardeners, who tend to have only their phones available while gardening. In this presentation, Lauren Simpson shares tips for taking clear, beautiful, and impactful photos of native plants―and the wildlife they feed―with a smartphone.
Since early 2015, Lauren Simpson has spent her spare time transforming her Houston home gardens into a pollinator-friendly habitat, currently a Certified Wildlife Habitat (National Wildlife Federation), a Monarch Waystation […]
Since early 2015, Lauren Simpson has spent her spare time transforming her Houston home gardens into a pollinator-friendly habitat, currently a Certified Wildlife Habitat (National Wildlife Federation), a Monarch Waystation (Monarch Watch, Waystation No. 10925), and a Certified Butterfly Garden (North American Butterfly Association).
She promotes insect conservation and wildscaping through presentations, events, interviews, a website, and an educational Facebook community entitled St. Julian’s Crossing-wildlife habitat–the name adopted for her family’s Monarch Waystation. Ms. Simpson is a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas (Houston Chapter) and the North American Butterfly Association (Butterfly Enthusiasts of Southeast Texas Chapter).
She has also received Level 1 and Level 2 certifications through the NPSOT Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP), has attended the “Monarch Conservation Workshop: Train the Trainer” training, and serves on the NPSOT subcommittee for NLCP Level 4. Ms. Simpson is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Houston Law Center, where she teaches Lawyering Skills and Strategies. She is a spring 2016 recipient of the University of Houston Teaching Excellence Award (Instructor/Clinical category); one of three 2018 AALS Teachers of the Year selected by the Law Center; and the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021 Student Bar Association Professor of the Year for Law Center faculty teaching in the part-time program.
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
