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