All Speakers

Lennard Nadalo

Lennard A. Nadalo, MD has a long-standing interest in Ecology, as seen in the survival of millions of plants, animals, and insects during the ongoing climate change. He holds a

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Lonnie Childs

Lonnie Childs enjoyed a 30-year career as a manufacturing and supply chain executive capped by a stint leading his own management consulting firm. In 2001, he semi-retired to the Fredericksburg

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Martha Whitehouse

Martha has been an avid organic gardener and gardening educator since she planted her first garden in 1985. She is a member of The Native Plant Society of Texas, North

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Meg Inglis

In 2021 Meg Inglis was delighted to accept the position of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) Executive Director. Prior to that, she coordinated NPSOT’s Native Landscape Certification Program

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Mike McGee

Mike has a lifelong interest in nature and gardening and currently volunteers with the Native Committee at Mercer Botanic Gardens in Houston. He’s a member of his local chapters of

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Natasia Moore

Natasia Moore received her Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management and a Master’s degree in Wildlife, Aquatics, and Wildland Science and Management from Texas Tech University. She is currently an

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Patrick Smith

Pat Smith has 13 years of experience developing and operating nonprofit centers and social purpose real estate, from housing projects to museums to community gardens. He has worked with local

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Pauline Singleton

Pauline is a retired pharmacist and a long time member of the NPSOT, NPAT, and Texas Master Naturalists. She has served as President of Watson Preserve since 2012.

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Peter Loos

Originally from NY have been in Texas almost all my adult life having come to Texas after serving in the US Army. Received BS and MS degrees at Stephen F

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Ricky Linex

Ricky Linex retired in 2021 as a wildlife biologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and now works as a range and wildlife consultant. With NRCS, Linex worked 52 counties

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Roger Sanderson

Roger was Director of Horticulture at the Texas Discovery Gardens for over 7 years and was the Director of Botanical Gardens /Wildlife Biologist at the Heard Natural Science Museum for

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Sean Markovic

PhD in horticulture from Colorado State University and over 12 years professional experience in greenhouse and nursery sector.

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Shaun McCoshum

Shaun McCoshum, PhD is a landscape ecologist, botanist, conservationist, and author (“Inviting Pollinators and Other Wildlife Into Your Garden”, “Natural Habitats and Wildlife Gardens”, and peer reviewed work) who focuses

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Steve Poole

Steve Poole has been growing native plants, including Bluebonnets, in his yard for several years. He is a member of the Williamson County NPSOT, and the Austin chapter of the

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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