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Native Plant Society of Texas

Fredericksburg Chapter

The Fredericksburg Post Office native plant garden is an acclaimed “Pollinator Garden”

If you’ve ever visited the Fredericksburg branch of the U.S. Post Office, you’ve probably admired the native plant garden as you walked into the building. On April 30, 2025, the native plant garden at the post office was recognized as a Pollinator Garden Property by the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) and Texas Master Naturalist-Hill Country Chapter (TMN-HCC) through the Pollinator Garden Assistance & Recognition Program (PGARP). 

Kimberly Lewis, representing NPSOT-Fredericksburg, and Lisa Kolaja, on behalf of TMN-HCC, accepted the PGARP certificate for the Post Office native garden.

 

In 2014, NPSOT-Fredericksburg member Kathy Lyles worked with the Post Office staff and property manager to create the native plants garden beds as a resource for the whole community. Lyles saw it as a great way to educate the community by demonstrating the virtues of native plant landscapes – drought- and freeze-tolerant, low-water usage, and high resilience.

The need was severe!

NPSOT-Fredericksburg supported the concept and installation of the garden beds, and provided plants, soil, amendments and bark/rock mulch.

Volunteers amended the soil and worked through the summer of 2014.

NPSOT-Fredericksburg volunteers did all the work in late May and early August 2014. Long-time chapter members Linda Ross and Kimberly Lewis were there initially and, along with a great group of volunteers from NPSOT-Fredericksburg and TMN-HCC, continue to maintain the native plant demonstration garden. Lewis has led the project over the last several years with an annual budget of only $150 from the NPSOT chapter.

The Island in 2018
Acclaimed “Pollinator Garden”

PGARP is a partnership between NPSOT and Hill Country Master Naturalists, and program volunteers help plan native pollinator gardens. This free service includes a site visit, discussion, and advice at local residences, businesses, and large-acre sites. More information about PGARP can be found online at https://txmn.org/hillcountry/pgarp.

Volunteers are needed throughout the year to help maintain the native plant gardens sponsored by the Fredericksburg chapter of NPSOT at both the Post Office and Cross Mountain Park. The Cross Mountain Monarch Garden, near the park’s parking lot/gated entrance, is developing into an attractive display that demonstrates the beauty of native plants in a garden setting.

If you’re interested in helping weed, water, and maintain the Fredericksburg Post Office or Cross Mountain Monarch gardens, please contact the chapter at fredericksburg-chapter@npsot.org.

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 four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason