NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS N e w s P · interesting facts about Monarchs, thanks to our very own Vanessa...

November 7, 2019 Meeting"Rewilding" for Environmental Design.

By Kevin Sloan, UTA,Landscape Architect.Details on Page 22

PS O T

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS

N e w sNative Plant Society of Texas,

North Central Chapter Newsletter

Vol 31, Number 11, November 2019

Visit us atncnpsot.org &

www.txnativeplants.org

Chapter of the Year (2016/17)Chapter Newsletter of the Year (2019/20)

November Meeting Rewilding for Environmental Design

Normal Meeting Times: 6:00 Social, 6:30 Business

7:00 Program

Redbud HallDeborah Beggs Moncrief

Garden CenterFort Worth Botanic Garden

Purple Coneflower — Echinacea sp.

© 2

018

Troy

& M

arth

a M

ulle

ns

ncc

npso

t ne

wsl

ette

r lo

go

Airfield Falls

http://ncnpsot.org

http://www.txnativeplants.org

President's Corner by Karen Harden ........................ p. 3What's in a Name by Martha Mullens ...................... p. 4fFlower of the Month, White Mistflower by Josephine Keeney ........................................ p. 6fRiver Legacy by Josephine Keeney ............................ p. 8fPlant Swap by Ray & Kim Conrow ........................... P. 10 Activities & Volunteering for November 2019 by Martha Mullens ....................................... p. 11ffMembership by Donna Honkomp ............................ p. 13 Obedient Plant, NICE! Plant of the Season by Dr. Becca Dickstein ..................................... p. 14Answer to last month’s puzzle and a new puzzle ...... p. 15“November Calendar” Page by Troy Mullens .......... p. 16Oct. 10 Meeting Minutes by Debbie Stilson ............ p. 17fRedbud Leaf-folder by Troy Mullens ......................... p. 19Butterfly Gardening for Texas by Geyata Ajilvsgi A book review by Martha Mullens ............... p. 20fNov. Program Preview by Ray Conrow .................... p. 22President's Corner Field Trip Photos By Karen Harden ............................................. p. 23fOfficer Nominations by Eric Johnson ....................... p. 25Hospitality Report by Corinna Benson .................... p. 25Parting Shots, News & Views by the Editors ........... p. 26ffOliver Nature Park Field Trip by Eric Johnson ....... p. 302020 State Fall Symposium ......................................... p. 31Calming Commelina by Erika Choffel ..................... p. 33fOfficer Nomination Bios and Photos ........................... p. 35NC Texas Pollinator Garden Plants ........................... p. 36 Pollinator Pledge by the Xerces Society ........ p. 37 Half-Earth Pledge by E.O. Wilson ................. p. 38Join NPSOT, Mission Statement, Dec. Meeting ........ p. 39

Index Chapter Leaders

President — Karen Harden [email protected] President — Kim ConrowVice President & Programs — Ray ConrowRecording Secretary — Debbie StilsonTreasurer — Vanessa WojtasHospitality Chair — Corinna BensonMembership Chair — Donna HonkompEvents Chair — Chairperson neededNICE! Coordinator — Rozanna FrancisPlant Sales Coordinators - Gailon Hardin, Sandy Fountain & Josephine Keeney Education/Outreach Chair — Bill Freiheit Webmaster — Frank KeeneyField Trips — Eric JohnsonSpeaker’s Bureau — Theresa ThomasDonations/Grants Chair — Laura PennParliamentarian — Martha MullensFacebook Manager — Sandra FountainNewsletter Editor — Troy Mullens [email protected] Newsletter Editor — Martha MullensSouthwest Subcourthouse Garden Leaders Gailon Hardin & Dawn HancockNative Plant Gardens at the Southwest Regional Library Leaders — Theresa Thomas & Char McMorrowMolly Hollar Wildscape Garden Leader — Ann KnudsenFielder House Garden Leaders — Josephine Keeney & Jane OsterhuisPublicity Chair — Vicki GleasonNLCP Classes Coordinator — Merita Knapp ©

2017

Tro

y &

Mar

tha M

ullen

s

News Flash********************

New OfficerElections

11/7/2019Be there and vote !

mailto:[email protected]


November 2019 NPSOT News North Central Texas Chapter

The President’s Corner - November 2019 - by Karen Harden

I saw a meme on Facebook the other day, about our weather this time of year in Texas. It went like this. Winter is at 6 am; Spring starts at 10 am; Summer is at 2 pm; and Fall starts around 4:30ish. Sounds about right, doesn’t it? Maybe by the time this newsletter is published and in your hands, the weather will be more stable at a cool tempera-ture of 60-70 degrees. Well, we can hope, right?I hope you were able to make it out to River Legacy to enjoy the Fall Fest on October 12-13. During my time there, we were quite busy with the flow of children and their parents coming through the area we were in. It is always fun to watch the excitement on the children’s faces as they learn about pollinators and the benefits native plants are to them. The grownups also learned a few interesting facts about Monarchs, thanks to our very own Vanessa Wojtas who took the time to research and create handouts for them. One gen-tleman learned that Monarchs roost at night and the importance of having trees for them to do so. We were there with the Master Gardeners, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the Southwest Nature Pre-serve in Arlington, which I did not know about. Between all the booths, the children had a variety of activities they could participate in. Our seed packets were quite a hit with them. I attended the NPSOT Fall Symposium last month and I thought it was a very success-ful event. There were great speakers, wonderful plenary presenters, and you couldn’t go wrong on any of the field trips that were offered. The field trip I went on was to the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. This is a prairie restoration site. It was interesting to learn that before any res-toration took place, the site chosen had to be ap-proved before planting could start. This was due to artifacts still lying in the ground from the bat-tle of San Jacinto. After the symposium, a small group of us visited Artist Boat: A Coastal Heritage Preserve which protects over 600 acres of coast-al prairie on the west end of Galveston Island.

Here we enjoyed hearing about their plans to ex-pand land ownership of another 700 acres in the same area. They also have a great educational program that reaches over 1000 students a year. How awesome is that! Another site we visit-ed was Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. This 44,414 acre refuge supports a diversity of coastal wildlife. While we were there, we spotted a baby alligator then came up close and personal with…it’s momma? Not sure, but we were thankful of the railings on the boardwalk. We saw a variety of birds and ducks, a couple of bobcats, a water moccasin, and thousands of dragonflies. The flora was just as diverse as the fauna. It was an excellent day trip!

However, the highlight of the entire Symposium was when our newsletter editors, Troy and Mar-tha Mullens, were announced as having the Best Chapter Newsletter in the Society! Unfortunately, Troy and Martha could not attend, but I was hon-ored to be able to read their acceptance speech and accept the beautiful plaque for them. In their speech, Troy and Martha thanked the con-tributors for their great articles and photos each month. They referred to you as the backbone of each publication, and I agree. Without your arti-cles, we would be just a plain piece of paper with no substance. I would like to extend a big thank you to Troy and Martha for their patience, espe-cially to me since I go beyond the deadline…a lot, dedication to the hours they spend each month on the newsletter, and most of all for their love for our chapter. They must love us to do this each month.

“Volunteers do not necessarily havethe time; they just have the heart.”

Elizabeth Andrew

“Look deep into nature, and then youwill understand everything better.”

Albert Einstein

Symposium Field Trip Photographs on page 23-24

https://www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/san-jacinto-battleground-state-historic-site

https://www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/san-jacinto-battleground-state-historic-site

https://www.artistboat.org/coastal-heritage-preserve/

https://www.artistboat.org/coastal-heritage-preserve/

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Brazoria/wildlife_and_habitat/index.html


What is in a Name - by Martha Mullens

Whenever I see Roosevelt weed in a ditch, be-side the road, or in a pasture, I think to myself where did that name originate? What character-istic would cause it to gain the moniker of poverty weed? I attempt to look it up in the two field guides that I carry in my ve-hicle. Alas, it is in neither Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason nor Wild-flowers of Texas by Geyata Ajilvsgi. I then vow to research it when I get home, but I have always forgotten by the time I get there. Until now.

According to Texas Native Plants Database online, the names* come from the fact that after the great Dust Bowl (1930-40), Baccharis neglecta was planted as a fast and easy way to re-vegetate the severely damaged soil. As with many ‘quick fixes’ in nature (the list is long but salt cedar and KR bluestem come to mind), the very qualities that made it useful then have created problems now. It has be-come an aggressive invader in rangeland from the Blackland Prairie to South Texas. It is drought tolerant, but it is able to grow in wet, as well as, dry locations. It can grow in sun or shade and is adaptable to almost any type of soil, including those high in salt. It is found throughout Texas except in deep East Texas Pineywoods and the High and Rolling Plains.

*(Roosevelt was President from 1932-45 and part of his New Deal was to create the Ag-ricultural Adjustment Administration, the Public Works Administration, the Civilian Conserva-tions Corps, and the Tennessee Valley Authority

which gave impoverished farm workers jobs. Hence the names Roosevelt weed, poverty weed and New Deal weed. I cannot find where the name jara dulce or jar of sweets originates.)

Roosevelt weed is an attractive semi- evergreen shrub with feathery, willow-like branches of dark green leaves. It can grow to about 9 feet high and across. After warm rains in late summer or ear-ly fall, there can be a profusion of creamy white flower clusters followed by a profusion of silvery- plumed seeds that cover the plant like cotton.

Lest I entice you to plant one, you need to be aware of the risks. It is like a seep willow whose deep roots suck up a disproportionate amount of water. They spread fast and will quickly overtake near-by plants. They are also flammable.

"What's in a Name" cont. on Page 5

What is in a name? by Martha MullensRoosevelt weed, Poverty Weed, False-willow, New Deal Weed, Jara Dulce

Baccharis neglecta

©2019 Martha Mullens, Tucker Lake, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park


Once established, they are difficult to eradi-cate because of the deep roots and their prolific production of seeds.

Since it provides poor browse for livestock or deer, and game and songbirds do not eat the seeds, its main value is for erosion control in riparian areas and on sand and gravel bars, and on exposed banks. It traps sediment washing down the creek allowing other plants to become trapped and es-tablished according to Ricky Linex in his book Range Plants of North Central Texas. Some but-terflies are attracted to the plant.

According to Native American Ethnobotany by Daniels Moermans, Navajos used members of the Baccharis family to treat venereal diseases. Cahuillas used the leaves to make an eyewash and treat baldness. Hualapai applied hot poultices of the leaves to swellings, and a cold infusion to bathe the temples as a headache treatment.

The other name, poverty weed, seems to add to some confusion as spear-leaved goosefoot, Monolepis nuttalliana, is also called by the same common name. The one I am referencing is in the sunflower or aster family whereas, the other one is in the amaranth family. At first glance there is some chance of mis-identification because of similar growth patterns, size, and both are found in similar habitats (including salt prairies and marshes) within our area. The goosefoot blooms from January to September (Flora of North Cen-tral Texas states March-May) with green flowers, whereas Roosevelt weed blooms August-Octo-ber (Flora of North Central Texas states Septem-ber-November) with white flowers on a greenish white head. You must look at the leaves to make a determination. Goosefoot has leaves that are al-ternate, simple with 2 lobes at the base, are less

than 2 inches long, thick and lance or spear shaped. The leaves of Roosevelt weed are also simple, and alternate, but have several lobes, giving the appearance of compound leaves and at a distance, seem fern-like because they are very long (3 in.) and thin. Both plants attract butter-flies although, after much research, I have not been able to identify which ones.Sources other than ones mentioned in the article:

Britton, N. L., A. Brown, Flora of North America, 1898, onlineLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas onlineNatural Resources Conservation Service Plants Database, 2016 onlineResume, Tom, 620 Wild Plants of North America, Canadian Plains Research Center, Univ. of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, 2009.United States Department of Agriculture plants profile online

Wikipedia online

Continued from Page 4

What is in a Name - by Martha Mullens

©2018 Troy Mullens, Tucker Lake, Palo Pinto State Park


More Photos on Page 7

White Mistflower — Flower of the Month for NovemberStory & Photographs by Josephine Keeney

White Mistflower, Ageratina havanensisAsteraceae (Aster Family))

What a magnet for all kinds of pollinators, white mistflower is!!

Just at a time when most flowering plants are going to rest for the winter, this plant explodes into gorgeous bloom that covers the entire plant.

Bloom time is late October to early November making it the latest bloomer in the garden and a most delightful sight late in the season.

The scent is intoxicating on warm days, attracting all the flying creatures in the neighborhood with the promise of sweet nectar. I have seen bees, moths, butterflies and all kinds of bugs on it, some looking for nectar and some looking for a quick lunch. It is a lot of fun to watch them in action.

This plant is a deciduous perennial woody shrub that can reach 6 feet in height, but I prefer to cut it back by half in the dormant season to encourage heavy bloom.

Ageratina havanensis is native to the Texas Hill country as well as Mexico, Cuba and the Bahamas. It prefers a sunny location but can live in partial shade although it will not bloom as heavily. It is cold- and heat-tolerant, not picky about soil types, and can take drought fairly well.

It is very easily propagated by soft-wood cuttings in the spring, or semi-hardwood cuttings in the summer.

Needless to say, I think this plant deserves to have a prominent place in every garden so more people and especially all the pollinators can enjoy it.



White Mistflower — Flower of the Month for November

Closeup of white mistflower

With a honey-beeA mixed bed

Photographs byJosephine Keeney


Demonstration Gardens

River Legacy Fall FestivalBy Josephine Keeney

It was a lovely Festival with lots of family activities. We spoke with many children about monarchs and pollinators.

It was long but very good and profitable for the Pollinators.

Entrance to the Mayor’s Monarch Butterfly Festival.

NPSOT Table Right to left, Mayor Jeff Williams, Christine Bartowski Marketing director, Josephine Keeney


Demonstration Gardens

River Legacy Science CenterBy Josephine Keeney

This is the front garden before

This is the front garden after

The Pollinators GroupLeft to right

Jane Oosterhuis, Ann Alderfer, Dick Schoech, Phyl Baloga, Kay Dansby and Kay Sekio. Not pictured, Ellen Ravkind and Josephine Keeney

Hard at Work


October Program Review by Ray Conrow

A group of around fifty native plant enthusiasts, including some new members and visitors, arrived bear-ing a variety of plants for our annual plant swap. A wide range of plants was represented—large and small, short and tall, some readily recognized and some not so familiar. After cordial pleasantries, we took our seats in an extra-wide circle of chairs. Each of us took their turn to introduce their plant by name, its sun or shade requirements, growth habits and other fun facts. Timekeeper Vanessa Wojtas dutifully kept it moving until all had spoken and all plants were deposited in the center. Then the main event commenced as we went around the circle once again to claim our plants, still cordially, then with gathering mirth as the “stealing” began! According to the rules, a plant could only be stolen once, but a person could be stolen from any number of times, and this became the norm as the action rounded the halfway mark. Everyone ended up with a new plant to love. But that wasn’t all—a fair number of extra plants remained, thanks to our thoughtful and generous participants, so for a finale there was a free-for-all dash for the plants as the crowd went wild! Lots of laughs and good times, lots of plants swapped, and lots of valuable plant knowledge and lore were enjoyed. Photos by Kim Conrow

Another one stolen again

Lots to choose from

Hester describes her plant

Getting started, Theresa adds a plant to the floor.


BRIT Tues., Nov. 5 12:00-1:00 PM Introducing a Native Landscape at the National Ranching Heritage Center by Julie & Jason Hodges (free)

Registration Required. $30 members/$35 nonmembers:Sat., Nov. 2 1:00-3:00 PM Starting your Spring Transplants

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge fwnaturecenter.org. $5 Fee Non-members, Members Free: Weekends: 9-11:00 AM Nature Hikes November 2, 3, 9,10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30Wednesdays: 9-11:00 AM Walk with Naturalist November 6, 13, 20, 27Sat., Nov. 9 1:30-2:30 PM To Native or Not to Native (plants) Sun., Nov. 10 1:30-2:30 PM Cross timbers Ecoregion Exploration Sat., Nov. 16 1:30-3:00 PM Leaves’ True ColorsSat., Nov. 23 1:30-2:30 PM The Mystery of Moths Sun, Nov. 24 1:30-3:00 PM Up Close with Wildlife

Native Prairies Association of Texas Fort Worth Chapter Northwest Campus TCC, Fort Worth Room WACB 1123Mon., Nov. 11 6:30-8 PM Grassland Birds and Wind Energy

Cross Timbers Master Naturalist FWBGMon., Nov. 18 7 PM Wild Cats of Texas and the Role of Advocacy - Monica Morrison, Founder and President of Texas Native Cats

Tarrant County Master Gardener AssociationThurs., Nov. 7 10 AM Monthly Meeting

North Central Chapter of Native Plant Society of TexasThurs., Nov. 7 6:30 PM Re-wilding for Environmental Design - Kevin Sloan, UTA landscape designerBoard Meeting: November 26 6:30 PM FWBG

Volunteer Opportunities Cont. on Page 12

November 2019 Activities - by Martha Mullens

http://fwnaturecenter.org


Volunteer* at our Demonstration Gardens

Fielder House Butterfly Garden 1616 W Abram St, Arlington Leaders: Josephine Keeney, Jane Osterhuis, Charlie Amos 2nd & 4th Mondays 9 AM-noon November 11, 25

Molly Hollar Wildscape Veterans Park, Arlington Leader: Ann Knudsen (Josephine Keeney)1st Sat: November 2 (most Saturdays) Every Wed.: November 6, 13,20, 27 9 AM-noon

Knapp Heritage Park Pollinator Garden 201 West Front Street, ArlingtonFirst Monday: November 4 9 AM-noon (contact Josephine Keeney)

River Legacy Park 701 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington Volunteer Manager: Sherrie Ripple3rd Monday: Novemver 18 9 AM-noon (contact Josephine Keeney)Opportunities on website: riverlegacy.org or call 817-860-6752 ext. 109 or [email protected] 817-459-5474

OS Gray Natural Area2nd Saturday: November 9 9 AM-noon (contact Josephine Keeney) Native Plant Gardens at SW Regional Library at Hulen 8 AM-noon, 4001Library Ln, Fort Worth Leaders: Theresa Thomas, Char McMorrow2nd & 4th Thursdays: November 14, 28

SW Tarrant Co. Sub Courthouse* 8:00AM-12:00 PM 6551 Granbury Rd, Fort Worth Leaders: Gailon Hardin, Dawn Hancock 2nd Sat.: Nov. 9, last Wed.: Nov. 27

Volunteer at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd, Fort Worth 76135Volunteer Coordinator: Laura Veloz fwnc.org 817-392-7410Volunteer Positions: Docent, Outdoor Conservationist (Natural Guard). Restoration Greenhouse,Visitor Center Host, Special Events, Animal Care

Volunteer at White Settlement Monarch Waystation Leaders: Sandy Fountain, Merita Knapp 3rd Sat. November 16

Volunteer for Native Prairies Associationfortworthnpat.wordpress.com

Continued from Page 11Nov. 2019 Volunteer* Opportunities - by Martha Mullens

Volunteer Needs Cont. on Page 13

http://riverlegacy.org


http://fwnc.org

http://fortworthnpat.wordpress.com


Continued from Page 12Nov. 2019 Volunteer* Opportunities - by Martha Mullens

Volunteer at BRIT 1700 University Dr, Fort Worth 76107Director of Volunteers: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Maintain native plants, invasive plant control, maintain healthy habitats:Pollinator Pathways Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 9 AM-noonSouth Woods Tuesdays 9 AM-noonTinsley Rock Springs Fridays 9:30 AM-noon

* Note: Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners can get volunteer hours for work performed.

NCC-NPSOT Membership by Donna Honkomp

The North Central Chapter had 17 NEW Memberships join at the Fall Plant Sale 2019 at River Legacy, Arlington, TX. Please welcome them at the meetings.

Russ Gamber MH Kazemo Tom & Leslie KirwanTammy McCune Sue Hicks Justin QuickMatthew Fujita Candelaria Vidana Jackie PowellEric Strickland Troy & Colette Hines Don FinninErin Hatchett Jane Snow Carol McPhersonEd Pischedda Sharon Hunstable

These are our new members that joined online.

Michelle Schneider Julanna Longorio Harold Parkey

As of 10-15-19, we have 225 current/active members.

There were 40 members and 2 visitors that signed in at the General Meeting (Plant Swap) on 10-10-19.

If you are interested in obtaining the permanent yellow badges that members wear at the meetings and events, please plan to attend the North Central Chapter Meeting on February 6, 2020. Bill Hall will be present at 6:00 pm to take orders. Please bring exact change of $7.00 or check as payment when you place your order.

Please continue to help us spread the word about Native Plants and invite your friends, coworkers & family members to join the North Central Chapter NPSOT.

To join go to www.txnativeplants.org, then click on “About”, and then click on “How to Join”.







Fall 2019 Plant of the Season Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter NICE Native Plant Partners Natives Improve and Conserve Environments

Fall Obedient Plant, Physostegia virginiana: Shade to part-sun perennial Description: Fall Obedient Plant, Physostegia virginiana, also called False Dragonhead, is in the mint family. It grows 2-5 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide, with square stems and opposite, toothed leaves that grow up to 5” long and 1.5” wide and are smaller at the top of the stems. The plant’s common name comes from the observation that individual flowers in the flower spike will stay in place if they are manipulated into a new position.

Flowers and Seeds: Fall Obedient Plant blooms in late summer through mid-fall in North Texas. The 2/3-1” white to light- to deep-pink to lavender flowers are found on 4-6” spikes that start blooming at the bottom of the spike to the top. Several cultivars varying in flower color are available. Dead-heading the flowers encourages more blooms. The flowers are followed by seed capsules with small black self-sowing seeds.

Planting sites: Fall Obedient Plant thrives in part shade to sun and a range of soil types, including clay and poor soil. In the wild, it can be found in marshy sites. During drought, it may go dormant.

Watering Instructions: During dry spells, Fall Obedient Plant will appreciate supplemental water, especially if planted in full sun. Unlike many other native Texas plants, it tolerates poor drainage, making it valuable for rain gardens.

Comments: Fall Obedient Plant is great in border, meadow, butterfly, cutting and native plant gardens, as well as pocket prairies or close to a water feature. Taller plants may need to be staked if they become floppy. It is easy to propagate by seed or by digging up the roots. It spreads easily by rhizomes and can be aggressive, a characteristic common to mint family members. However, its shallow roots mean that it can be easily weeded out where it is not wanted. Fall Obedient Plant attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and native bees and is deer resistant. Consider planting Fall Obedient Plant instead of invasive, non-native yellow-flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) and Umbrella plant (Cyperus alternifolius). Although Fall Obedient Plant is related to both Spring Obedient Plants (P. intermedia and P. pulchella), it blooms at a different time. Because all three have otherwise similar soil and water needs, consider growing them as companion plants. Other companion plants include the perennial Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and the annual Texas Bluebells (Eustoma exaltata var. grandiflora). Big Red Sage (Salvia penstemonoides) and Texas Betony (Stachys coccinea) are also suitable companions for Fall Obedient Plant in areas with good drainage.

Look for the NICE Plant of the Season signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating North Texas nursery. Thank you for using native plants in your landscapes.

The Native Plant Society of Texas, North Central Chapter meets on the 1st Thursday Feb thru Jun, Aug thru Dec at 6:30 pm @ Ft. Worth Botanic Gardens, Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center, Redbud Room.

https://media.txnativeplants.org Written by Dr. Becca Dickstein

Photo courtesy of Barbara Brown

NICE! Plant of the Season Reported by Rozanna Francis

[email protected]

http://[email protected]


Answer to Last Month’s Puzzle and A New Puzzle by Troy Mullens © 2019

New Puzzle

Don't put thesebeautiful fall leavesin your bouquet !

Why and what is it?

Answer toLast Month's Puzzle

Yellow PuffNeptunia lutea

or

Yellow sensitive briar.


Pearl Crescent on 4-Nerve DaisyA pearl not white,

but one that takes flight.Are there nerves on a flowerto provide butterfly power?

Why can’t they get the names right?Or did they?

©2019 Martha Mullens


President Karen Harden called the meeting to order at 6:32 PM. She welcomed everyone to the plant swap. She said we have 12 new members. There were no door prizes or blue board informa-tion tonight.

Secretary: Debbie Stilson: Minutes were ap-proved as posted in the newsletter.

Treasurer: Vanessa Wojtas shared the year to date numbers. Income: $19,607, Spend: -$11,050, Net Profit: $8,556 and the bank balance on 10/10/2019: $19,954.33. If anyone has any ideas on how best to donate our funds, please contact Karen or Vanessa before the next Board Meeting on October 22.

Vice President: Ray Conrow said the November program will be UTA Landscape Architect Kevin Sloan: Rewilding for Environmental DesignAnnouncements: Julie Hall of Fort Worth Bo-tanic Garden / BRIT is looking for knowledge-able people to help with and weeding the Polli-nator Pathway. Volunteer Workdays are Monday through Friday, about 8:30 – 12:00. Montana Wil-liams is the volunteer coordinator if you would like to help out on weekends. Dave Craig said that on November 5, voting yes to Proposition 5 would place sales tax earned on sporting goods towards Texas State Parks, as had been previously enacted and intended.

Nominating Committee: Eric Johnson asked if there were any other nominations for the Board for next year. Nominations would only be accept-ed if the person had agreed to it in advance. No new nominees were suggested, so Eric announced

the nominees for the Board for next year: Debbie Stilson for Secretary, Vanessa Wojtas for Trea-surer, Morgan Chivers for Vice President and Gordon Scruggs for President. Elections will take place at the November meeting.

Plant Sale: Vanessa Wojtas said that gross sales were $5,683.68 and the cost was -$2,268.71 for net revenue of $3,414.67, Sandy Fountain said that there were 1,064 plants brought to the sale. Al-though it was about 200 more than last year, there were more plants left unsold than last year as well. She thanked the volunteers for all their hard work and keeping the plants alive through the long hot summer that kept on going into October. Gordon Scruggs said that 17 new members signed up at the sale.

Hospitality: Corinna Benson thanked Denise Carter, Sandy Fountain and Beth Barber for bringing snacks. Marianne Armstrong brought snacks for Beth. Tracie Middleton will be the Hospitality co-chair for the rest of 2019 and 2020.

Demonstration Gardens: Josephine Keeney said they were doing great.

Newsletter: Troy and Martha Mullens won the first ever Native Plant Society of Texas Newsletter Contest. They thanked all the contributors. They could not do it without submissions from the membership, and please send in what you can by October 15 for the next one.

Minutes of the Regular MeetingNative Plant Society – North Central Chapter

October 10, 2019Fort Worth Botanical Garden, Deborah Biggs-Moncrief Center: Redbud Hall

General Meeting Minutes - by Debbie Stilson

Continued on Page 18


General Meeting Minutes - by Debbie Stilson

Events: Vanessa Wojtas is still looking for a chair for Events. River Legacy Park is hosting a big event this weekend. Saturday and Sunday from 11 am – 9 pm. Please let Vanessa know if you can volunteer to hand out recommended plant lists and native plant seeds and play the bean bag game and let people know why you are interested in native plants.

Field Trips: Eric Johnson said there was a good field trip. Story and photos will be in the newslet-ter.

New Business: Kim Conrow mentioned who had gone to the Fall Symposium in League City over the past weekend. On Saturday, the gavel was handed to her and she is now president of the Texas Native Plant Society for the next two years. She said to look for emails from Mary Horn emails about Proposition 5 on November 5. Native Plant week is October 20-27. Please take photos of native plants in the wild and post them on I-Naturalist as part of the Bio-Blitz. Our website txnativeplants.org lists some places that qualify since landscaped yards would not. Kim said there may even be prizes. Please check out #NPSOT2019 on social media. It was created this year and needs more entries. She was excited our chapter has over $19,000 in the bank. She would like to see this money put to good use on our mis-sion, so please let a member of the Board know your ideas. The outgoing Society President Cecil Carter chose Big Bend as the Chapter of the Year mostly because they had donated $10,000 to the Sul Ross Redesign.

There is a program that gives out grants across the state to native gardens called Bring Back the Monarchs. There were 40 applicants and 15 winners. $5,000 was given out this year and Kim would like to see this program better funded. Signage at Native Plant Gardens would be an-other idea. We could give grants for students in Horticulture at TCC or Landscaping Design at UTA. Or we could give grants to local schools that have native plant gardens. There is a lot of good we can do with the money we raise at the plant sales. How would you like to see it used?

Next year will mark the 40th Anniversary of the Fall Symposium and it will be in Denton from November 5-8.

Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

Tonight’s Meeting: Plant Swap.


Who doesn't like red?Did you get this plant at the plant swap?

Scarlet sage - Salvia coccinea

http://txnativeplants.org


Redbud leaf-folder - by Troy Mullens

Happy or upset? Only time will tell.

After 34 years here at our current home in Richland Hills, TX, we finally had a redbud leaf folder on a small redbud tree. Finding a few is kind of cool, but too many can ruin the look or an excess can kill the tree. Fascista cercerisella (Redbud Leaffolder - Hodges#2204)BugGuide link: https://bugguide.net/node/view/29841

Redbud leaf-folder caterpiller

Redbud leaf folder

range map

Life Cycle: The redbud leaffolder overwinters as a pupa attached to a fallen leaf. They may become detached from the leaf and come to rest in debris or on the surface of the soil. Adults emerge in late April and early May and lay eggs on the leaves near the veins during May. The first generation continues through June. Second and third generation eggs are laid in a thin web in a folded leaf. The second generation occurs in late July and August and the third in September and early October. The third generation overlaps the second in the fall. During rainy weather a fungus disease sometimes attacks and kills the larvae.

http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=2204

https://bugguide.net/node/view/29841


Butterfly Gardening for Texas by Geyata AjilvsgiA book review by Martha Mullens

Continued on Page21

I have never been so impressed by a book as I am by this one. When I first opened it and started looking through it, I was flabbergasted at the amount of re-search Geyata put into this book. I immediately went and told Troy. He was involved in something and said yeah, but not too enthusiastically. So I dropped the discussion and went back to studying Butterfly Gardening for Texas. Later, he asked me what book I was going to review. Once again I extolled the vir-tues of the book, but got little response. A week ago, Troy comes to me and asks again what book are you going to review. This time I showed him the book. He says “OMG this is wonderful. The amount of research she put into it is amazing. How are you ever going to review it?” I guess seeing is believing. I reminded him that it might take 10 pages to do a review. (Just kidding.)

Butterfly Gardening for Texas is so full of informa-tion that it should be used as a reference volume. But it is also a beautiful book that can be perused at lei-sure just to look at the photos. A beginning gardener can learn so much. But I believe that even an experi-enced gardener will benefit from using this book. I don’t think that any one person will know everything contained in it.

Geyata writes in a nontechnical style so that anyone who wants to attract butterflies to their yard or garden can follow her tips for making gardens both caterpillar friendly and/or butterfly friendly. There are in-depth profiles of more than 50 butterflies, descriptions of more than 100 food plants for a variety of both cater-pillars (hosts) and butterflies (nectar). There are nu-merous plant lists for easy selection and substitution, depending on where you live and what is available.

If you desire specific advice on what to plant where, Ajilvsgi has designed useful, adaptable landscape plans and extensive planting options for each of the seven state regions. There is a map of the seven re-gions inside the front cover for easy reference.

There are helpful appendices at the back on: How to Photograph Butterflies; Seed and Plant Sources; Butterfly Organizations, Societies, and Publications; Places of Interest include botanical gardens and mu-seums; Gardening Magazines and Newsletters (as

of 2013); Gardening Supplies; Habitat Preservation; and Miscellaneous Information. A 6-page bibliogra-phy and extensive index are finished off with another map of the seven Eco-regions of Texas inside the back cover.

Some people skip the Introduction, but you shouldn’t when reading this book because the author explains the circle of life of butterflies and shares information that will not only be useful and make it easier to cre-ate your personal garden for butterflies but will also bring beauty, wonder, and a sense of being one with nature to your life.

The contents of the book include: Chapter one: Un-derstanding the Butterfly, Chapter Two: Creating a Butterfly Garden, Chapter Three: A Planting Plan, Chapter Four: An Instant Butterfly Garden, Chapter Five: Let Nature Do It-Butterfly-Friendly Pest Con-trols, Chapter Six, A Special South Texas Garden, Chapter Seven: Butterfly Profiles (55), Chapter Eight: Larval Food Plant Profiles (trees: 11, shrubs: 14, vines: 10, herbs: 21) Chapter Nine: Nectar Plant Profiles (trees: 6, shrubs: 14, vines: 3, herbs: 32). At the end of chapters 8 and 9 there are tables which put


Butterfly Gardening for Texas by Geyata AjilvsgiA book review by Martha Mullens

all the information into a concise easy-to-use refer-ence plus some additional information. Not all of the plants and butterflies profiled are native to our area, but the majority are.

In Chapter 7: Plant Profiles: the information given on each of 55 butterflies includes the common and scien-tific names, family, size, broods, flight time, overwin-ter, egg description, caterpillar description, chrysalis description, lists of food plants eaten and the parts of the plants eaten, range, related species and notes with any additional information. There is a photograph of each adult butterfly.

In Chapter 8: Larval Food Plant Profiles: the informa-tion given on each of 56 larval host plants includes the common and scientific names, family, class (native or non-native), height, bloom period, range, cultivation, used by which butterflies, part of plant eaten, related species and notes with any additional information. There is a photograph of the flower or fruit of each plant. Under the topic of cultivation are descriptions of how to obtain and grow a plant in the home garden.

In Chapter 9: Nectar Plant Profiles: the same infor-mation is given for the 55 nectar plants as with the larval host plants. Notice that some commonly seen plants found in a native plant garden are not listed, such as Showy Evening Primrose, Mexican Hat, and Black-foot Daisy because they do not offer plentiful nectar. Geyata recommends that you observe plants in bloom in a nursery or in the wild to see which plants the butterflies are using to gather nectar before you gather seeds or purchase plants. If butterflies are coming repeatedly to a particular species or if several species of butterflies are coming to the same plant, the plant is probably a good source of nectar.

I could literally go on for pages extolling the virtues of this book for the butterfly gardener, but you need to see it for yourself. It is so wonderful that it almost de-fies description. The book itself is so well made with heavy paper pages and durable, flexible cover that it will endure a lot of heavy use. Because of the con-struction and the many color photos, the cost is about $30, but it can be readily obtained at Amazon, on eBay, and in most book stores.

My only criticism is that there are not enough pho-tos of caterpillars. My opinion is that she should have included these in the chapter with the larval food plants along with the pictures of the adult butterflies. I know that would have required a lot more time and effort and probably increased the cost of the book. I don’t really have a problem with this because I can look these up in the book I reviewed in the August newsletter, Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies by Jim Weber, Lynne Weber, and Roland Wauer. But not everyone has that book, although they should if they are truly dedicated to gardening for butterflies. These two books together are just about all you need.


Additional photos continued on Page 25

https://www.amazon.com/Butterfly-Gardening-Lindsey-Merrick-Environment/dp/1603448063/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17FGL8PZ8YZIK&keywords=butterfly+gardening+for+texas&qid=1572365422&sprefix=butterfly+gardening+f%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1


November Program: by Ray Conrow

Kevin W. Sloan

Lecture Title:

“CITY by NATURE : Rewilding the DFW Branch Water Network for Urbanism and Resilience”

The work of Kevin Sloan lives at the intersection of mega cities and Rewilding. Kevin Sloan, ASLA, Honorary AIA is an urban planner, landscape architect, a Professor of Practice in Architecture at the University of Texas – Arling-ton and a writer for the Dallas Morning News. A 2000 Harvard Loeb Fel-low Finalist he earned his Master of Architecture through a Fellowship to the Syracuse University Center in Florence, Italy. The work of his private practice, Kevin Sloan Studio in Texas, is nationally awarded and interna-tionally recognized in design journals such as The Architects Newspaper, in lectures on Rewilding in Dublin and in exhibitions such as the upcoming 2020 Venice Architectural Biennale. The billion-dollar Sprint World Head-quarters Campus, planning for the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University along with the Dallas Urban Reserve and the spring-fed Vitruvian Park in Addison are built works that were step stones toward Rewilding. The recent accomplishment of The Airfield Falls Con-servation Park in Fort Worth demonstrates the new landscape and planting principles. Rewilding is an approach to landscape and environmental design that is sweeping the world and Mr. Sloan’s work and writings have become a preeminent voice in leading its development. In order to better understand the unprecedented problems of 20th century mega city, Sloan established his practice in Dallas Fort –Worth, Texas, to explore and develop new methods to restructure unplanned mega patterns with Nature and Rewilding.

Airfield Falls from the Pavilion



NPSOT State Fall Symposium, Field Trip PhotographsSan Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, Artist Boat, and Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge

by Karen Harden

Symposium Field Trip Photos - November 2019 - by Karen HardenContinued from President's Corner, Page 3


Continued from Page 23Symposium Field Trip Photos - November 2019 - by Karen Harden

NPSOT State Fall Symposium, Field Trip PhotographsSan Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, Artist Boat, and Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge

by Karen Harden


Officer Nominations by Martha Mullens & Eric Johnson

Chair of the nominating committee, Eric Johnson, will announce the nominees for officers for 2020 at the October meeting. New people are Gordon Scruggs for President, and Morgan Chivers for Vice President. Incumbents are Debbie Stilson for Secretary, and Vanessa Wojtas for Treasurer. Elections will take place at the general meeting November 7. Nominations can be made from the floor if the nom-inee has given prior consent. Bios and personal photographs on page 35.

November Hospitality Report by Corinna Benson

For October hospitality I would like to thank Denise Carter, Sandy Fountain and Beth Barber. In November we have Gordon Scruggs, Troy and Martha Mullens, Debbie Stilson, Bob and Mary Reichaedt. For the board meeting this month we have Sandy Fountain, Kim Conrow, Debbie Stilson.

Butterfly Gardening for Texas - Photos by Geyata AjilvsgiA book review by Martha Mullens


Silver-spotted skipper

Southern broken-dashPipevine swallowtail

Common checkered-skipper


Parting Shots - Last Minute News & Views of the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

Blooming nowBy Troy & Martha Mullens

Why is the "Fall Aster" such a favorite? Photo ©2019 by Troy Mullens, Plant by Martha Mullens

A NPSOT member would say, "It's hardy, blooms late, and photographs well". An artist would say, "Complementary colors, yellow and violet".What do you say? Send comment to [email protected]

21 Reasons Why Forests are Importanthttp://tinyurl.com/y7v8reme

Trees blanket Pine Creek Gorge in Pennsylvania's Tioga State Forest. (Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli [CC BY 2.0]/Flickr)


http://tinyurl.com/y7v8reme


Parting Shots Page 2 - Last Minute News & Views by the Editors by Troy & Martha Mullens

Fees for Fort Worth Botanic GardenJust a reminder that as of July 19, 2019, there will be a fee to enter Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. This fee does not apply to attendance at meetings, such as NCC NPSOT or Master Naturalist’s. The regular admission is $12 for persons age 16 and older, $10 for seniors 65 and older. $6 for children 6-15. No charge for children 5 and under. $1 for adult SNAP/SIC recipients and no charge for their kids under age 15. Yearly memberships are $50 for individuals and $80 for families. There are many programs that offer free admission under certain circumstances, such as active military are free between Memorial and Labor Day, and local students may enter free from 3-6 PM if they are Fort Worth residents.

The money collected in fees will be used for repairs, especially to the conservatory which was closed in 2016. Restoration will allow the return of such programs as Butterflies in the Garden in late February 2020.

Other planned maintenance and repairs will include upgrading of greenhouse service, renovation The Gardens restaurant and restoration of its adjacent fragrance garden with increased color plants. Also planned, is a new, open-air electric tram service to transport patrons throughout the gardens.

Fort Worth will now join most of the nation’s largest cities in charging admission to its botanical gardens and conservatory.

Ray Conrow adds:The Botanic Gardens now charges for admission during normal operating hours. However, admission will not be charged for our general meetings. The Gardens will close for regular public events at 6:00 and a security guard will be stationed at the main (clock) entrance off University. The north entrance off Trail Drive will be locked. Tell the guard you are there to attend the NPSOT meeting. Park where you usually do and enjoy!

Odds & Ends

Best NewsletterIt's official, your North Central Chapter of the Na-tive Plant Society of Texas Newsletter has been selected as best newsletter in the state of Texas by NPSOT. Thanks to all the contributors that help make this a success. Proud plaque recipient.

Faces behind the scene.Your Newsletter editors.Troy & Martha Mullens.That's Martha on the left.

(the good-looking one)



"Goodbye Summer" from Trees at Night

https://www.brainpickings.org/2019/08/06/trees-at-night-art-young/

From Brainpickings by Maria Popova

"Goodbye Summer" from "Trees at Night" by Art Young © Art Young

https://www.brainpickings.org/2019/08/06/trees-at-night-art-young/



Winter grasses !

Can you name these colors/grasses ?

See how many different colors/texturesyou can photograph this winter.

Photo challenge



We visited Oliver Nature Park, located in Mansfield, TX, on Saturday, September 28. Meet up was at 10 am, at the main building, next to the parking lot. Our group consisted of Karen Harden, Debbie Stilson, Vicki Brady, Vanessa Wojtas, Melissa Humasson, and me, Eric Johnson. The weather was good, low 80’s and breezy. The park has plenty of blooming plants, but the flowers are not as thick as they were in the spring, when we last visited this area. We identified false foxglove, broomweed, Turk's Cap, ragweed, buffalo bur, western horse nettle, morning glory, and wild petunia. There were extensive dried horsemint plants standing tall near the trail. We visited the working windmill they have, and along the way we saw several critters, including two green tree snakes, and one queen butterfly. There were dragonflies about, as well. Note that Wal-nut Creek flows along the south side of the park. When we arrived back at the main building, we saw a hummingbird feeding on a patch of Turk's Cap. It was getting warm as the day progressed, and we ended around 11:30am.

Field TripOliver Nature Park

By Eric Johnson

River Legacy - NPSOTFall Festival

By Donna Honkomp

Fall Festival-River Legacy 2019NPSOT Table



Action Item

Pesticide Sulfoxaflor affects bee colonies

In July the EPA approved a pesticide which it calls “very highly toxic” to bees. It has been proven to impair the ability of bees to reproduce. Colonies exposed to sulfoxaflor produced 54% fewer male bees and no queens. The EPA admits that sulfoxaflor spray on certain crops has the poten-tial for colony-level risk. These crops include alfalfa, citrus, cucurbits, soybeans and strawberries. Colony-level collapses have a cascading effect on entire ecosystems. There are 250,000 species of flowering plants and trees that rely on bees to ensure reproduction, including blueberries, cher-ries and almonds. Continuing hive collapse threatens the survival of plants and animals that rely on those plants as a food source which disrupts the entire food chain. France has already banned its use. Legislation has already been in place to ban the use of neonicotinoids (another bee-kill-ing pesticide) in other US states. We who are concerned about the future of bees in Texas need to advocate for banning these pesticides. To do so contact your governor and representatives or [email protected] Website: (Environmental Action).

2020 Fall Symposium by Kim Conrow


https://environmental-action.org



2019 Date Name Title of Presentation

February 7 Suzanne TuttleFort Worth Nature Center (Retired)

Winter Deciduous Woody Plant Identification

March 7 Denis BenjaminBRIT

Ethnomycology: Mushrooms and Human Culture

April 4 Megan Davis McConnell Monarch Stewardship in Parker County

May 2 Cameron Barlow, Montana WilliamsBRIT

The Pollinator Pathway Project

June 6 Michael EasonNPSOT Big Bend Chapter

Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert

August 1 Karen HardenKim ConrowVicki Kygar

Native Gardens of our Members

September 5 Michelle VillafrancaFort Worth Nature Center

Native Neighborhoods: Helping Pollinators across Fort Worth

October 10DATE CHANGED—Second Thursday this month

Show and Tell and Trade! Native Plant Exchange

Bring a Texas Native Plant to exchange for another. FUN!!!

November 7 Kevin Sloan—UTA,Landscape Architect

“Rewilding” for Environmental Design

December 5 Holiday Social Pot Luck Dinner, Awards and Introduction of New Officers. FUN!!!

Updated Programs


Calming Commelina - by Erika Choffel

Prior to Master Gardening and Native Plant courses, every Spring I’d find a stringy unwanted “weed” that popped up in a small garden section in between pan-sies, lilies and daffodils. It looked like it had “knobs” at each leaf apex and each leaf had a line down the center. As a dutiful gardener, I plucked it out to make room for those I purposely planted. And then in the Fall, these green stems worked their way back. When I pulled them out again, I noticed they had a small tuber at their root. The next Spring I was so late on my weeding that I was able to see tiny blue intricately designed flowers on these “weeds” that reminded me of the wild forget-me-nots from my childhood. I have not pulled any out since that day.

It’s true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I admit that some wildflowers leave a lot to be desired in their appearance. Not so with this one… if you are patient. The calming color blue is the most common choice as one’s favorite color--- the color of a calm ocean and clear sky without storms. And this blue does not disappoint. The Commelina erecta common names are day-flower, or widow’s tears, or whitemouth dayflower. It is a monocot in the spiderwort family of Com-melinaceae. It grows in Arizona, Illinois, New York, to Florida, and between all those states, “though is approaching endangered status in some of the North-ern ones. It grows in temperate regions of North and Central America as well as in the tropical regions.” 1 It grows best in dry sandy soil, though can survive in clay, with partial shade and is propagated by the tubers or by seeds or cuttings. It grows well in mass plantings in wooded areas, and can be quite prolific. There is variety in the shape and shade of the flowers and leaves, which has led some to view variations as several species.

Commelina erecta is a perennial herb with alternate, simple leaves, with parallel venation. It blooms May through October, but is often not found in the peak summer months. The jointed stems grow up to 3 feet along the ground, unless there is a support structure nearby. “The ephemeral flowers, about 1 in. across, have two larger, showy, blue petals and one much smaller white petal. Flowers with 2 large, ear-like, blue petals and one smaller petal bloom in small clusters,

in a bract, at the top of several erect branches. They only bloom for a day, but there are several buds on a plant that open 3-4 days apart. The principal leaves are linear to somewhat lance-shaped.” 2


Courtesy Joseph A Marcus,Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Courtesy of San Antonio River Authority,


Calming Commelina - by Erika Choffel

According to one site 3 , Commelina erecta has been used to treat wounds, spider bites and fungal disease in mammals (human ones too). It is a preferred food source for white tailed deer and cattle graze on them also. Seeds are difficult to collect by humans, but not by bobwhite quail, white winged doves and mourn-ing doves. Commelina erecta “germinates best when there are about 12 hours of daylight at 75-85 degrees and 12 hours of darkness at 50-60 degrees” 4…hence Spring and Fall.

As I finish writing this article, I see that the wildflower.org has it front and center on the main page of their website. I feel honored to have also noticed this true blue beauty.

1 http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flo-ra_id=1&taxon_id=222000043 2 https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COER3 http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Commelina+erecta 4 https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_coer.pdf


Erika's front yard

Erika's front yard

Last minute links - by Editor

Don Young's Prairie Notes 154 All things Smallhttps://www.tandyhills.org/notes/all-things-small-smaller

Palo Pinto Mountains State Parkhttps://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/palo-pinto-mountains

Interpretive Signshttps://npsot.org/wp/wilco/resources/interpretive-signs/

Recent Half-Earth Dayhttps://www.half-earthproject.org/half-earth-day-2019-highlights/

Mottled Tortoise Beetle

http://wildflower.org

http://wildflower.org

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000043

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000043

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COER

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COER

http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Commelina+erecta

http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Commelina+erecta

https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_coer.pdf

https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_coer.pdf

https://www.tandyhills.org/notes/all-things-small-smaller

https://www.tandyhills.org/notes/all-things-small-smaller

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/palo-pinto-mountains

https://npsot.org/wp/wilco/resources/interpretive-signs/


Officer Nominations for 2020 - by Editor

Gordon Scruggs for President, and Morgan Chivers for Vice President. Incumbents are Debbie Stilson for Secretary, and Vanessa Wojtas for Treasurer

Vanessa Wojtas, Treasurer Hello everyone! I want to share a few things with you about me. I’ve been in corporate accounting for nearly 20 years now. What I like most about account-ing is that numbers are the concrete view of an orga-nization’s passion. Right there in black and white you can see what a group’s priorities are and I can see our chapter’s mission and passion in the reporting. I bought a house in Arlington about four and a half years ago and the yard was one of the things that sold me. You can see in my garden my education on native plants. I started with all my misun-derstanding of exotics and now the native plants are just everywhere. My friends and family all know that at some point in any phone call I’ll exclaim, “There is a humming-bird/butterfly/hawk in my garden!”.

Debbie Stilson, SecretaryThe Native Plant Society is such an amazing organi-zation. I love that it looks to the past to preserve the future. That it recognizes the importance of relation-ships: from the geology deep in the earth to the soil to the plants to the insects and animals to the air we breathe and to all life on this planet. As a first time secretary and board mem-ber, I learned how people communicate and cooperate and accomplish things. It turns out we do a lot: plant sales, demonstration gardens, field trips and educational and entertaining programs, to name a few. Volunteering is a great way to help out and to learn a lot.

Morgan Chivers, nominee for V. P.Morgan Chivers has been involved with na-tive plant cultivation for much of his adult life, in both California and Texas. Intense curiosi-ty drives Morgan's life; he has a broadly varied educational background and is a Librarian at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Gordon Scruggs, nominee for PresidentI am a civil engineer with a passion for native plants. In 2017, I retired as Director of Engineering from the City of The Colony. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with Honors from The Univer-sity of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Civ-il Engineering from The University of Texas at Ar-lington. I have served on the City of Irving Munic-ipal Solid Waste Advisory Committee and several committees for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. In retirement, I am doing some consulting though my engineering firm and volunteer work. I have been a member of the NPSOT for about two and one-half years and that quickly became the focus of my volunteer work after retiring. During that time, I worked on several gardens, helped at plant sales, assisted with the Walk On The Wildside children’s learning program at Molly Hollar Wildscape, and helped man the Chapter’s table at differ-ent local events. I have also volunteered for the American Water Works Association, BRIT, and the Texas Exes. I love the outdoors and go hiking and camping as often as I can, preferably with my grandchildren.


This is meant to be a starter list only and by no means is inclusive of all the wonderful native plants that can be in a pollinator garden. Ask your local NPSOT Chapter (npsot.org) or native nursery’s staff for advice on other choices for your pollinator garden.

Small Trees: Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis), Goldenball Leadtree (Leucaena retusa), Eve’s Necklace (Styphnolobium affine), Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria), American Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus)

Bushes/shrubs: Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides), Turkscap (Malvaviscus drummondii), Autumn sage (Salvia greggii), Cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens), Flame acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus),

Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala), Kidneywood (Eysenhardtia texana)

Milkweeds: larval host plants for Monarch and Queen butterflies. Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Antelope horns (Asclepias asperula), Zizotes (Asclepias oenotheroides), Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis)

Others: Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea), Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii), Winecup (Callirhoe involuncrata), Four-nerve daisy (Tetranuris scaposa), Zexmenia (Wedelia hispida), Gayfeathers (Liatris spp.), Goldenrod (Solidago spp.), Maximillian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani), Fall blooming asters (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium), Purple coneflower (Echinacea spp.), Pitcher sage (Salvia azurea) , Scarlet sage (S. coccinea), Frostweed (Verbesina virginica), White mistflower (Ageratina havanensis), Gaillardia (Gaillardia spp.), Little Bluestem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium), Sideoats grama grass (Bouteloua curtipendula), Blue Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri), Inland Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

NPSOT mission: Promoting research, conservation and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach and example. (npsot.org)

For information on plant bloom times, sizes, water needs and more go to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s native plant data base. wildflower.org

The following sources have more information on pollinators.

Xerces - protecting invertebrates and their habitats. https://xerces.org Audubon - protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. http://www.audubon.org NABA - North American Butterfly Association http://www.naba.org Monarch Joint Venture - Partnering to conserve the monarch butterfly migration. https://monarchjointventure.org

All photos copyright: K. Conrow 2017

Short List of Plants for a

North Central Texas Pollinator Garden


The Pollinator Pledge - by the Xerces Society Reported by Troy Mullens

The pollinator protection pledge is part of the Xerces Society’s Bring Back the Pollinators campaign. This cam-paign is based on four simple principles: grow pollinator-friendly flowers, provide nest sites, avoid pesticides, and spread the word.

You can join this campaign. With these core values, pollinator conservation can be adapted to any location, whether you tend an urban community garden or a suburban yard, work in a city park or on a farm.

If you register a garden or landscape in the United States, it will also become a part of the Million Pollinator Gar-den Challenge, an initiative of the National Pollinator Garden Network.

We make the commitment to you that we will work every day to protect pollinators and their habitat. Will you make a similar commitment to the pollinators?

To Bring Back the Pollinators, I will: 1. Grow a variety of bee-friendly flowers that bloom from spring through fall. 2. Protect and provide bee nests and caterpillar host plants. 3. Avoid using pesticides, especially insecticides. 4. Talk to my neighbors about the importance of pollinators and their habitat.

Sign the Pollinator Protection Pledge Today! https://xerces.org/pollinatorprotectionpledge/

https://xerces.org/pollinatorprotectionpledge/


The Half-Earth Pledge - by E. O. Wilson Reported by Troy Mullens

Take the Half-Earth Pledge!“We ourselves are part of the living world and the only species with the intelligence and thereby the moral responsibility to serve as its caring steward.” —E.O. Wilson

Species are the foundation of a healthy planet. Today, species are going extinct at an alarming rate. Introduced by acclaimed biologist and naturalist E.O. Wilson, Half-Earth offers a solution to the global species extinction crisis: conserve half the Earth’s lands and seas for nature, and ensure the long-term health of our shared planet.Each action, each conservation project, each species saved is an achievement on the path to this grand goal.

The Pledge: As a global citizen, I pledge to do what I can to support the Half-Earth Project:

• Take action to support species conservation; start by exploring the Half-Earth Map conservation priorities areas, as well as information about my home and other areas of interest to me. • Share information about the Half-Earth Project with my network; ask friends and family to join me by signing the Half-Earth Pledge; share my pledge with my social media fol-lowers. • Participate in local conservation events; attend a Bioblitz or join a nature group in my area; use the iNaturalist app and upload species observations on my travels in nature. • Support policies that protect the Earth’s lands and oceans; keep up-to-date on local policies; contact your representatives and share your thoughts and opinions on policies, because each policy action plays a role in reaching the grand, achievable Half-Earth goal.

Together, we can protect half the Earth for biodiversity to ensure that species and people have the space they need to thrive together, today and for future generations.

Recent Half-Earth Dayhttps://www.half-earthproject.org/half-earth-day-2019-highlights/

https://www.half-earthproject.org/half-earth-day-2019-highlights/


December 5Holiday Social,Potluck dinner,

Introduction of new officers

Visit us on the Webat

www.txnativeplants.org

The purpose of the Native Plant Society of Texas is topromote the conservation, research, and utilization of the

native plants and plant habitats of Texas througheducation, outreach, and example.

Join the Native Plant Society of Texas!

Become a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas. Membership is open to any individual, family, or organization. Membership is renewable annually and extends for a year from the date we receive your original payment. Note new prices effective April 1, 2019. If you wish to join, please indicate your category of membership, then clip and mail this application with the appropriate remittance to:

Native Plant Society of TexasPO Box 3017, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

___ Student $35 ___ Family (2 or more) $60___ Senior (65+) $35 ___ Patron $100___ Limited Income $35 ___ Benefactor $250___ Individual $45 ___ Supporting $500___ Lifetime $1200 ___ Additional Chapter(s) $6Name: ________________________________________________________Address: ______________________________________________________City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________County: ______________________________________________________Phone: _______________________________________________________Chapter Affiliation: _____North Central Chapter_____________________E-mail: _______________________________________________________ Go to https://npsot.org/wp/join-renew/ for an on-line sign-up form or for additional information. A printable form is also available there.

The North Central TexasNPSOT News

is a monthly publication ofthe North Central Chapterof the Native Plant Societyof Texas.

For changes of address orinformation about contribut-ing to the newsletter, pleasecontact the newsletter editor.The deadline for submittingarticles for inclusion in thenewsletter is the 15th of everypreceding month.

Troy Mullens, [email protected]

Newsletter Requirements1. All submissions due by the 15th of the preceding month. Exceptions are at the discretion of the Editor.2. Articles (text) should preferably be in plain text form. (No pdf ’s). Any special formatting requirements should be noted.3. Photographs & charts should be sent separately as large as possible. Location within the article should be noted. Please include a caption with each photograph and note any individual names of people.


https://npsot.org/wp/join-renew/


NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS N e w s P · interesting facts about Monarchs, thanks to our very own Vanessa...

Documents

Transcript of NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS N e w s P · interesting facts about Monarchs, thanks to our very own Vanessa...