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Native Plant Society of Texas

Martha Whitehouse

Martha has been an avid organic gardener and gardening educator since she planted her first garden in 1985. She is a member of The Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter, and will soon be a certified native plant specialist under their auspices. She runs the Instagram channel @intrepidurbangardener, where she shares organic gardening tips from her home garden, and is currently serving as the Neighborhood Engagement Chair for the West Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association. In that role, she is responsible for the WMNA Annual Garden Party & Plant Swap, which includes a children’s plant & nutrition education activity she developed called “Grow to Eat & Eat to Grow.”

Outside of gardening, Martha’s professional career spanned three decades in public speaking and marketing. During her professional career, she worked with Apple Computer as a Market Development Executive.

Martha is a consultant for Native Garden Partners LLC, a business formed to support and educate urban gardeners on sustainable gardening techniques and promote better health through gardening. Her motto for organic gardening is: “If I can’t eat it, I don’t feed it to my garden!”

Contact Martha Whitehouse

Tarrant County, TX, USA

Member-Native Plant Society of Texas, Member of Homegrown National Park, Member National Wildlife Federation Certified Garden

  • Consideration: Open to Discussion
  • Driving Distance: 20 miles
  • Online Presentation: Yes
  • Online Platforms: Zoom, Microsoft Teams
  • Recording Allowed: No
  • Uploading Allowed: No

Presentations Offered:

Native Plants for Food Gardens – Combining Native Plants with Food Crops for Better Harvests and Fewer Problems

Food crop gardens benefit by being anchored with native perennials. This presentation goes over the benefits of growing vegetable and fruit crops close to Texas native plants. This presentation uses […]

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

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 fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason