“Wildscape” Gardening: Creating an Urban Wildlife Habitat
As urbanization expands, there is an associated decrease in natural resources available to birds, butterflies, and other native species. The generation of “heat islands” and the lost opportunity for citizens
7 Simple Steps: Garden Design Made Easy
Learn the tricks of the trade from professional landscape designer and award winning author Cherie Colburn. Whether you want to start new, fill-in, or fill-out your home’s landscape, Cherie helps
A Garden Oasis for Birds, Butterflies, & Yourself
Learn how to create a garden habitat that is attractive to people, and a beneficial oasis for birds and pollinators. Tips and Techniques for which plants to select and how
A Texas Flora Kaleidoscape
The flora of Texas is as diverse as any in the U.S., which creates natural landscapes that are as unique as they are beautiful. The result of a vast diversity
Agaves, Yuccas, & Related Plants of Texas
Provides background on this family of plants with details on most prominent species including information on use in landscapes
Backyard Birds
In this presentation, I talk about urbanization and its effects on bird populations, common backyard birds in Central Texas, and ways in which residents, neighborhoods, and cities can provide habitat
Benefits of Native Plants
You may already have heard about some of the benefits of native plants–savings on water, time, fertilizer, and pesticides—but there are many more reasons to choose native plants for your
Blackland Prairie: Then and Now
The Blackland Prairie ecosystem of Texas, is one of the rarest in the world, and vanishing quickly. Only small remnants remain of what was once a vast area. See the
Botany Skills for Naturalists
2 hour workshop/presentation Do you visit a woods or a prairie and just see undifferentiated blobs of green? Maybe it all looks pleasant, but you don’t really see individual plants.
Build a Native Plant List Suitable for Your Garden
Learn this step-by-step process using science-based online resources to create lists of county-level native plants suitable for your lighting and water conditions. County-level plants are most likely to perform well
Collecting Native Seeds
Seed knowledge, seed collecting ethics, identify when seeds are ripe, cleaning seeds, when to plant seeds, seed storage
Conservation of East Texas Native Plants
Virtual PowerPoint or in-person tour of Mercer Botanic Gardens
Creek Walk Across Texas
In this 30 minute presentation, riparian vegetation is highlighted across several major creeks and vegetational regions of Texas. The good, bad, and ugly will be shown as we take a
Deer Survey Techniques
We’ll cover the who, what, where, when, why AND how of gathering population data for whitetail deer. Participants will learn the history of different techniques used to count bucks, does,
Drought and Wildfire Impacts on Native Plants
Presentation shows the impacts of the 2011 wildfires by showcasing damage in Palo Pinto county. Five sites were evaluated for seedling regeneration by collecting soil and Planting to see what
Early Texas Botanists of the 19th Century
Background information on scientific exploration in Texas in the 19th century. Examines stories of important botanists of the era. Can be customized for some eco-regions based on the botanists who
Earth’s climate is warming. What should NPSOT members know about it?
Earth’s warming climate ultimately affects its ecosystems. How do we know the global climate is warming? Why is it happening? What are the consequences? What (if anything) can we do?
Edible Plants of North Texas
Participants will learn about 42 common edible plants that can be found in north Texas pastures and rangelands, as well as across much of the rest of the state. Using
Effective Landscape Use of Native Plants
Basic landscape techniques to help plants show more effectively and let neighbors know you have a plan!
Encouraging Native Landscapes in HOA Neighborhoods
Tips and tricks for encouraging the use of native landscapes that are HOA compliant. Includes tips on working with the HOA, how to create beautiful native landscapes that are HOA
Enjoying Our Local Ecology
Introductory workshop for getting started exploring nature, including leave no trace principles, nature journaling, and exploring local flora and fauna and hiking locations. Can be tailored to specific focuses: nature
Ferns of Texas: Why the Lone Star State is So Diverse
Texas has a surprising number of native ferns and lycophytes, 127 in all, the most of any state in the continental U.S. This is particularly unexpected given that most people
Fifty Shades of Green “Lite”: 40 Neat Natives for Your Landscape
Presentation will feature 40 species of native plants that are beautiful, and sometimes unusual, that can be used in your native landscaping. Some of these can be purchased, but many
Fifty Shades of Green: 50 Neat Natives for Your Landscape
Presentation will feature 50 species of native plants that are beautiful, and sometimes unusual, that can be used in your native landscaping. Some of these can be purchased, but many
Fish Pond Management
In this 1.25 hour presentation, we’ll cover the land management needed above the pond, fish identification, stocking rate recommendations, how to correct an out of balance pond, aquatic plant identification,
From Landscape to Wildscape: Gardening for Wildlife at Home
The average neighborhood yard may look pretty, but doesn’t support the wide range of wildlife that is crucial to a healthy environment and community. The good news is that yards
Fruitful Choices
This presentation explores a variety of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs that thrive in Central Texas, focusing on both native species and well-adapted cultivars. You’ll learn how to select the right
