Houston Chapter

Wildscape workshop and native plant sale

Houston Chapter, 2021

***Archived Post***

Houston Chapter’s annual Wildscapes Workshop will be online again in late September & early October. Four presentations over four evenings with an online plant & book sale held immediately afterward.

This is a mostly online event spanning three weeks starting September 28. We will have a speaker each Tuesday and Thursday evening of the first two weeks. The native plant sale follows with online purchasing for registrants on October 9, for the public on October 10. Pickup will be on Saturday October 16, at a central location. One $15 registration entitles you to a link to the presentations and also one day of Earlybird online shopping for Wildscapes attendees only.

New this year, they have established the Wildscapes Grant Program to create new opportunities for creating or conserving native wildlife habitats and educating the public, particularly in underserved communities in the Houston area. They also seek to increase opportunities for participation for our members and the public.

Tuesday, September 28, 7:00 pm
Author Doug Tallamy – Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard
Tallamy will discuss simple steps that each of us can- and must- take to reverse declining biodiversity and will explain why we, ourselves, are nature’s best hope.

Thursday, September 30, 7:00 pm
Glenn Olsen – Creating A Hummingbird Garden
The co-founder of GO Native Landscaping for Birds and Butterflies will enlighten us as to what trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers to plant to attract hummingbirds to our yards and gardens. Also, we’ll learn interesting facts about hummingbird diet and behavior, as well as learn how to properly hang and maintain hummingbird feeders.

Tuesday, October 5, 7:00 pm
Karla Klay – Saving Wild Places On A Barrier Island with Developers
Learn how Artist Boat worked with two developers to save 775 acres to date; how the work continues to save a 1,400 acre bay to beach complex; and how to begin work in your community on land conservation.

Thursday, October 7, 7:00 pm
Mark Morgenstern – Native Plants of South East Texas
The owner of native plant nursery Morning Star Prairie Plants will help you create your shopping list for the plant sale.

Plants & books will go on sale October 9 for Wildscapes ticket holders. And October 10 for everyone. Purchases will be picked up on Saturday, October 16. More information on the Houston Chapter website including plants lists and book lists.

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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