We want you! – to lead a symposium workshop

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Ever thought about teaching a class or workshop about some aspect of native plants or native habitats? Or maybe you just have an idea for a topic that you would like to know more about?

We have allocated 16 time slots of 45 minutes each at our upcoming fall symposium in Huntsville on November 3-4. We’re inviting our members and the public to fill these slots with workshops to share knowledge about some aspect of native plants or native habitats.

A workshop may be “hands-on” or it may be a presentation. Topics can run the gamut from planting and propagation, research, pollinators, landscaping designs, nature photography, to resource conservation, and restoration, just to name a few topics. A few slots will be reserved for best practices for chapter management, such as outreach, membership development, holding a plant sale, or financial management.

If you would like to lead a workshop send an email to our coordinator Pam Middleton about your proposal. Include the following information:

  • Name of the presentation.
  • In a few sentences, explain “what participants will learn.”
  • What kind of equipment will you need? (powerpoint, projector, screen, etc.)
  • Include a brief bio to help promote your workshop.

If you can’t lead a presentation but have an idea for a topic or for some other aspect of the symposium send our coordinator your suggestion. We’re also looking for volunteers to help with field trips and other aspects of planning and managing the symposium.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: cecilcarter

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